Two stars might seem generous after sitting through "The Greatest Hits," a film that attempts to blend the sweet nostalgia of classic tunes with the sci-fi twist of time travel, only to miss the mark on both counts. Harriet, our protagonist, finds that certain songs can zap her back to bygone moments with an old flame, a concept that initially sounds as charming as a mixtape from a high school sweetheart. However, this cinematic journey quickly devolves into a clunky mashup of "Back to the Future" and a broken jukebox that skips the best tracks. The movie tries to tug at the heartstrings with its sentimental trips to the past, but the nostalgia is as authentic as an '80s tribute band playing from a crumpled setlist.
The real discord begins with the lack of chemistry among the cast. Harriet's adventures in time should add layers to her character, yet they flatten her into a two-dimensional figure less lively than a vinyl record's B-side. Her emotional tug-of-war between the past boyfriend and the new guy is as compelling as choosing between stale bread and slightly staler bread. The plot hopes to weave these relationships into a tapestry of learning and growth, but instead, it unravels faster than cheap headphones. Each flashback, meant to be a poignant peek into what once was, feels more like stumbling upon an awkward old Facebook photo that everyone forgot to untag.
Moreover, the film's attempt to imbue depth through music-driven time travel ends up feeling like a gimmicky afterthought. Each musical cue that sends Harriet hurtling through time is predictably on-the-nose, with song choices so literal that they'd make even a karaoke DJ cringe. By the final act, one can't help but feel that the only thing this movie transports us back to is a time when we hadn't yet watched it. "The Greatest Hits" tries to hit high notes with its innovative premise but ends up stuck in a loop of missed opportunities and flat performances. In the end, the only thing I wanted to rewind was my decision to watch it.
The real discord begins with the lack of chemistry among the cast. Harriet's adventures in time should add layers to her character, yet they flatten her into a two-dimensional figure less lively than a vinyl record's B-side. Her emotional tug-of-war between the past boyfriend and the new guy is as compelling as choosing between stale bread and slightly staler bread. The plot hopes to weave these relationships into a tapestry of learning and growth, but instead, it unravels faster than cheap headphones. Each flashback, meant to be a poignant peek into what once was, feels more like stumbling upon an awkward old Facebook photo that everyone forgot to untag.
Moreover, the film's attempt to imbue depth through music-driven time travel ends up feeling like a gimmicky afterthought. Each musical cue that sends Harriet hurtling through time is predictably on-the-nose, with song choices so literal that they'd make even a karaoke DJ cringe. By the final act, one can't help but feel that the only thing this movie transports us back to is a time when we hadn't yet watched it. "The Greatest Hits" tries to hit high notes with its innovative premise but ends up stuck in a loop of missed opportunities and flat performances. In the end, the only thing I wanted to rewind was my decision to watch it.