“You choose your destiny, or does your destiny choose you?” This is the opening narration of this unique film, with a different take. Two friends, Dylan (Arran Kemp) and Molly (Adele Congreve), both get mobile phones on the same day, and they ring simultaneously! They hear a voice on the other end claiming to be from the future. They are told they must help to secure the future. As the narrator adds, “If you had the choice to do what you’re told, or to save the world, what would you do?”
Despite these two being chosen to save the future, they are still preteens and Dylan is not pleased at all when he’s told by his parents they are moving, and in just two weeks. They both insist it’s a done deal, and Dylan asks, “There isn’t a good cop, is there?” He uses the situation, however, to ask for an expensive mobile phone. Later, he and Molly go to a phone store and they get a bargain, with Molly being able to get one too because of a great deal. But when they go outside and they receive calls at the exact same time, and they see the mobile store closed as soon as they left, they know something unusual is happening. The call is from the year 2048!
The voice on the other end says that physical time travel is not possible but data transmission from the future is. All sorts of wild ideas result from this “time” anomaly, including Dylan’s mom’s theory that he has a phone app which links him with the future! Dylan attempts to do some “quantum” computing, but he only knows that the future looks bleak unless something can be done to alter the future. The story stays grounded in showing such things as Molly becoming frustrated with Dylan, and Dylan telling his mom he’s not moving, after which she sends him to his room. Still, Dylan and Molly must battle flying drones and things that most teenagers would never have to contend with.
The film is fairly wholesome, although the dad makes a comment to Dylan, saying, “It’s time to evolve, young man” and the word “sucks” is used a few times. But his mom sends him to his room when he talks back, but ultimately both Dylan and Molly are good examples of kids trying to do the right thing.
THINK ABOUT IT: The themes are good, emphasizing how much our lives are determined by the choices we make, and what is handed to us by life. The importance of making decisions based on the good of all is also nicely featured. Lines such as, “Do we have our own free will or is choice an illusion?” are used. These ideas are nice topics for parents to discuss with their children. And a good discussion can result from this line: “Who decides what’s right and what’s wrong?” This would be an opportune place in which to discuss the Lord and the Bible. The film has earned our Dove seal for Ages 12+, as the subject matter might be a bit heady for young kids.
THE DOVE TAKE: This film features kids as the would-be heroes and emphasizes the importance in decision making in determining the future.
