Mega Time Squad doesn’t rewrite the heist-gone-wrong formula. On its face, a straight-forward comedy-heist movie feels ripe to tick off the tropes and phone it in like The Hangover Part III. However, Mega Time Squad, the latest from director Tim Van Dammen, adds some visual and comedic flair to keep a tried-and-true plot entertaining. At its core, Mega Time Squad is about an aloof and lowly criminal trying to find the confidence to branch out in life. Protagonist John, played by Anton Tennet, doesn’t know it, but he’ll undoubtedly find himself through life’s misadventures. 

John is yearning for bigger things in life in hopes of escaping out from under an inept local crime boss Shelton, Jonny Brugh (What We Do In The Shadows), who somehow manages to run his rickety criminal enterprise with the expertise of a drunk toddler. John takes a typical job from Shelton – to steal money from the Triad cash deposit. During the robbery, John steals a magical Chinese bracelet that allows the wearer time travel abilities. Shelton learns of John’s petty-crime betrayal and orders his goons to kill John, which fails miserably and kicks off John’s time-traveling antics. 

“The special effects in two standout scenes will have you scratching your head…”

Mega Time Squad disregards your typical time traveling rules in the name of comedy. For example, John meets multiple versions of himself, creating his own gang, which is a no-no in your typically dry time travel movie. But in Mega Time Squad, the meeting of the Johns is necessary for John to find himself as a person. It’s quite literal. 

The acting is excellent with a strong cast of dry-witted actors delivering one-liners and slapstick comedy gags at lightning speed. Not every joke lands and some pick the low-hanging fruit, but it’s hard to let those get in the way of a movie that has a heart. 

“Mega Time Squad is about finding yourself as a person, and for John, that means literally.”

Another high-point in the movie is the special effects. The special effects in two standout scenes will have you scratching your headat the underlying technical accomplishment for getting these scenes to work. One is more certainly more comedic while the other shows prowess in the special effects department. 

Mega Time Squad isn’t looking to teach you the dangers of time travel or how meeting up with multiple versions of your self will destroy the space-time continuum. Mega Time Squad is about finding yourself as a person, and for John, that means literally. The movie sits at the edge of the genre space, but there’s enough fun here for time travel fans looking for something different. 

MEGA TIME SQUAD made its world premiere at the 2018 Fantasia International Film Festival.