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‘Long Story Short’ Review: Fast Forward to the End

After his wedding night, a workaholic gets cursed with previewing how his life will turn out, one year at a time.

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By Nicolas Rapold

The British TV comedy “Spaced” had a recurring bit where Simon Pegg would half-apologetically remind his chatty friend to hurry up her story: “Skip to the end?” The same urge came to mind while watching the Australian romantic comedy “Long Story Short,” which is like a recurring bit at feature length.

It’s a what-if story: Teddy (Rafe Spall), a workaholic, gets cursed with previewing how his life will turn out, one year at a time. The fast-forwarding starts after his wedding night. He wakes up to find his wife, Leanne (Zahra Newman), pregnant and their house fully furnished. Baffled, he asks surprised questions and gets surprised responses. Soon he’s leaping to another year, and another, and another. The baby becomes a toddler; Leanne’s frustrations with Teddy worsen; separation, an old flame, and a robust bearded period for Teddy follow.

Spall summons a kind of early Ryan Reynolds haplessness, talking a mile a minute while catching up. But a sheepish pall steadily creeps over the whole endeavor (written and directed by Josh Lawson, who’s also in the movie), and it doesn’t help that the wanly drawn Leanne could use her own movie to snap out of her own character’s malaise independently.

The dangers of going through life on autopilot are clear early on, though the movie gives Teddy’s buddy Sam (Ronny Chieng) cancer to drive the lesson home. It’s a bit of a torturous premise for Teddy — one long I-told-you-so — and even though Lawson shows mercy by the end, I began to wish the bliss of total day-to-day oblivion for the guy.

Long Story Short Rated R. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

‘Long Story Short’ Review: Time Isn’t on Rafe Spall’s Side in Middle-Ground Rom-Com Hybrid

This romantic comedy about a newlywed jumping forward through life isn’t a quantum leap for the genre, but it’s not a complete waste of the audience’s precious time.

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A hapless romantic learns about the dangers of procrastination while attempting to save his crumbling marriage in “ Long Story Short ,” Australian actor Josh Lawson ’s harmless, heart-filled follow-up to his 2014 directorial debut, “The Little Death.” Though the high-concept relationship movie frequently trips over its own well-meaning sentiments, the sweet, earnest performances and sharp technical craftsmanship deliver a blissful feeling when the material comes up short.

Teddy ( Rafe Spall ) is perpetually late to everything important. His poor time-management skills have led him to arrive at a New Year’s Eve party in the final seconds of the countdown to midnight, only to swoop in and lay a big smooch on … Leanne (Zahra Newman), a total stranger he mistakes for his flighty girlfriend, Becka (Dena Kaplan). Making matters worse, he goes into anaphylactic shock right after their kiss because she’d been eating almonds. Haphazard though their introduction may have been, the couple hit it off, getting engaged after a perfect four-year courtship. He assumes he can coast along for another few years before walking down the aisle. Wrong.

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Things take a drastic turn for Teddy when he’s approached by a mysterious stranger (Noni Hazlehurst) in a cemetery, who bestows upon him a gift – one he’ll get after he marries Leanne. The wedding ceremony and reception go off without a hitch, but the bride and groom’s first night as husband and wife hits a snag: Teddy falls asleep and wakes up one year later. It doesn’t stop there. His life begins to move at a rapid pace, fast-forwarding a year into the future every 20 minutes or so, and each time he witnesses his marriage decaying. He comes to the slow realization that he can no longer procrastinate if he wants to win back the woman he loves.

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Not quite as intuitive as similar fantastical devices in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the time-skips raise certain logistical questions the movie leaves unexplained. Still, the resulting misunderstandings and shenanigans serve up droll hilarity or heartfelt poignancy, sometimes finding a satisfactory balance of both.

Lawson makes a rookie mistake, however, by revealing this film’s obvious mystery box too early — a sealed tin can with a note indicating it should not be opened for 10 years — sabotaging how the cycle might end. The narrative is so intently focused on how Teddy will dig himself out of his stifling situation that Lawson forgets to illustrate the reasons why he’s stuck there in the first place.

Obviously, the character needs to adopt a new outlook on life and will predictably be seizing the day by film’s end, though Lawson doesn’t bother addressing the root of why Teddy drags his heels making decisions. Also, any career-minded individuals with financial stability get the Hallmark Movie treatment, shamed as workaholics. The movie interlaces both the “Live to work, not work to live” and “YOLO” mottoes, alternately mocking and embracing that annoying internet colloquialism.

A performer who gives himself a supporting role, Lawson shows a gift for directing actors. He and his troupe capably modulate tonal fluctuations with a casual ease. Spall is an assured performer and a skilled leading man. He illuminates hidden facets within his character, giving the role a special snap, sparkle and sheen. Newman is an equally magnetic and charismatic presence, her work infused with grace and open-hearted vulnerability. Supporting players are given impactful moments to shine as well. Standup comedian Ronny Chieng, who plays Teddy’s best friend Sam, brings sincerity and heart with his very limited screen time.

Aesthetics also earn high marks. Lawson resists overly stylizing things through extraneous camera movements or other flashy techniques to push the narrative’s broadly comedic overtones. He demonstrates dexterity in visualizing the passage of time as the image pixilates and turns granular, like sand flowing through an hour glass, cohering in another space in time. Composer Chiara Costanza’s touching, tender work complements the movie’s magical realism without overwhelming the performances.

While this feature falters in delivering earned, meaningful resonance and intriguing ruminations on the fleeting nature of time, and instead gives us puddle-deep platitudes that grace wall plaques found in HomeGoods stores, at least Lawson’s made his time count on this middling effort. And that feels totally on-point to his film’s overarching message.

Reviewed online, Los Angeles, June 29, 2021. Rating: R. Running time: 94 MIN.

• Production: A Saban Films release of a Screen Australian, See Pictures production, in association with Spectrum Films, Screen NSW. Producer: Michael Pontin, Isabel Stanfield, Jamie Hilton. Executive producers: Josh Lawson, Sonia Borella, Josh Pomeranz, Charlie Tynan, Will Gammon.
• Crew: Director: Josh Lawson. Screenplay: Josh Lawson. Camera: Matt Toll. Editor: Kasra Rassoulzadegan. Music: Chiara Costanza.
• With: Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman, Ronny Chieng, Dena Kaplan, Noni Hazlehurst.

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Long story short, common sense media reviewers.

Playful romcom about life priorities has lots of swearing.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Make time for those you love. Sometimes when somet

Romantic comedy from a male perspective, reflectin

Story revolves around love and marriage. Sexual re

"F--k" used frequently. Also "a--hole," "bitch," "

Flashy sports car bought to express "YOLO."

Champagne toasts at a celebration.

Parents need to know that Long Story Short is a romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist that's about appreciating those we love by giving them our time and attention. The morning after his wedding, Teddy's (Rafe Spall) life keeps jumping forward a year every few minutes, letting him peek into how his life is…

Positive Messages

Make time for those you love. Sometimes when something "bad" happens to you, something can be learned from the experience to bring good into your life.

Positive Role Models

Romantic comedy from a male perspective, reflecting a man who expresses his emotions. Women and men, even ones who are comically Mr. and Ms. Wrong, are shown as rational, reasonable, and patient (though male characters have more agency than female ones). Diverse characters.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Story revolves around love and marriage. Sexual references/implications.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"F--k" used frequently. Also "a--hole," "bitch," "s--t," "slut." "Oh God! and "Jesus" used as exclamations.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Drinking, drugs & smoking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Long Story Short is a romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist that's about appreciating those we love by giving them our time and attention. The morning after his wedding, Teddy's ( Rafe Spall ) life keeps jumping forward a year every few minutes, letting him peek into how his life is affected by misplaced priorities. While this is a love story for adults, the message certainly extends to families and friendships. It's a romance that's told from the male point of view, and Teddy isn't afraid to express his emotions. The female characters are a mixed bag -- they don't have as much agency as the male characters, but they're portrayed as reasonable, intelligent, and mature. Other than notably strong language -- especially many uses of "f--k" -- iffy content is minimal. Expects some kissing and frisky newlywed talk, as well as a couple of morning-after scenes in which characters are dressed. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

Amazing movie! i recommend for 13 because of bad words.

What's the story.

In LONG STORY SHORT, Teddy ( Rafe Spall ) falls in love with Leanne (Zahra Newman) but puts off marriage because he's too busy. Observing their predicament, a mysterious stranger gifts Teddy a true wedding "present." The morning after his marriage, Teddy's life starts jumping forward a year every few minutes, letting him peek into how his life is affected by misplaced priorities.

Is It Any Good?

Josh Lawson 's romantic comedy about a wedding present for a guy whose priorities are askew is a truly funny, heartwarming comedy. Nothing is unusual about the way Teddy is written: He's a slightly more evolved man-child. But the way Spall plays Teddy makes him mesmerizing and connects us to his plight. Spall is one of Edgar Wright' s mainstays, and Teddy's droll banter with his love (Newman), best friend ( Ronny Chieng ), and ex ( Dena Kaplan ) is reminiscent of the authentic yet hilarious style we've come to love from Wright's dynamic duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Yes, there are plenty of the expected romcom elements in Long Story Short . But even as Teddy gets weary of his forced time-jumping, the concept never feels forced, and the story doesn't get tired. Sure, the busy partner/parent who's too career obsessed to enjoy the true loves of his life is a total cliche, except for one thing: It's a real-life trap that many people get sucked into. The time-travel romance genre continues to prove that getting swept away in a fantasy that somehow relates to our own lives is an effective device. The place where a lack of creativity is felt is in the script's overreliance on "f--k" as an adjective, noun, verb, and adverb. It's the only thing that prevents this film from being appropriate for a broader age range. Persistent profanity in dialogue that would othewise be smart? Now, that's tired.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Long Story Short 's message concerning the value of family and interpersonal relationships as compared to work and career.

Why are time travel movies popular? What makes them work well in the romance genre? How does this one compare to others you've seen in this category?

Adults: If you knew then what you know now about life, what -- if anything -- would you change?

Families can also talk about how life can throw us curveballs that feel like a nightmare, as Teddy expressed, but often turn out to work out for the better. How can we keep this in mind as we're facing challenges?

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 2, 2021
• On DVD or streaming : July 2, 2021
• Cast : Rafe Spall , Zahra Newman , Ronny Chieng
• Director : Josh Lawson
• Inclusion Information : Asian actors
• Studio : Saban Films
• Genre : Romance
• Topics : Friendship
• Run time : 90 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : language throughout
• Last updated : February 17, 2023

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Long Story Short (2021)

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Long Story Short Movie

Who's Involved:

Rafe Spall, Josh Lawson, Ronny Chieng, Zahra Newman, Noni Hazlehurst, Dena Kaplan

Release Date:

Friday, July 2, 2021 VOD / Digital

Plot: What's the story about?

Serial procrastinator Teddy (Rafe Spall) wakes up the morning after his wedding to discover that every few minutes he's jumping forward to the next year of his life. Watching his future flash before his eyes, Teddy must make every second count if he is to win back the woman he loves in this feel good comedy about second chances.

3.86 / 5 stars ( 7 users)

Poll: Will you see Long Story Short?

Who stars in Long Story Short: Cast List

Prometheus, Men in Black: International  

Zahra Newman

I Met A Girl  

Ronny Chieng

M3GAN, Joy Ride  

Dena Kaplan

Noni Hazlehurst

June Again  

Who's making Long Story Short: Crew List

A look at the Long Story Short behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Josh Lawson last directed The Little Death . The film's writer Josh Lawson last wrote The Little Death .

Josh Lawson

Screenwriter

Production Companies

Watch long story short trailers & videos.

Official Trailer

Production: what we know about long story short, filming timeline.

• 2021 - June : The film was set to Completed  status.

Long Story Short Release Date: When was the film released?

Long Story Short was a VOD / Digital release in 2021 on Friday, July 2, 2021 . There were 11 other movies released on the same date, including The Boss Baby: Family Business , The Forever Purge and Summer of Soul .

Q&A Asked about Long Story Short

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• Wed., Jun. 2, 2021
• added photos to the photos gallery
• added Official Trailer to movie trailers & videos
• changed the US film release date from TBA to July 2, 2021
• set film release to VOD / Digital
• set the MPAA rating to R for language throughout
• added a poster to the photo gallery
• added Saban Films as a distributor
• added Josh Lawson as director and screenwriter to movie credits
• added Noni Hazlehurst as actor to movie credits
• added Dena Kaplan as actor to movie credits

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‘Long Story Short’ Ending & Time Cycle Explained

Hilarious, Rafe Spall finds himself trapped in a “Groundhog Day” paradox but with a twist. In Long Story Short , he repeats the same day, but the year keeps on ascending. Life in a snapshot, as one likes to call it. For anyone trapped in such a stream-loop would find himself cursed. He would try to figure out the solution to save himself. But, each year, the character Teddy is given only one minute in the timeline. Is it enough to find a cure?

Long Story Short is directed by actor/writer/ producer Josh Lawson. He plays a brief but noticeable role in the movie. The genre treats the set-up as a romantic comedy, and thus, one is obliged to enjoy the film rather than scrutinize it. Rafe Spall’s comic timing keeps you entertained.

‘Long Story Short’ Summary

On New year’s eve, Teddy (Rafe Spall) accidentally kisses Leanne (Zahra Newman). She was wearing the same dress as Teddy’s girlfriend, Becka. The confusion led to interaction. A quick montage establishes how a chance encounter brings them together. Finally, they get married.

On the first day of his marriage, Teddy finds himself a year ahead of yesterday. He wakes up on the same date, i.e., his marriage anniversary, but the year isn’t the same. Teddy finds a pregnant Leanne entering the bedroom that sends chills down his spine. Before he can figure out what’s happening, he transports into another year.

In simple words, Teddy gets trapped in a cycle of time jumps that transports him to another year, every few minutes. But what happened?

Why was Teddy trapped in a cycle of time?

Two weeks before his marriage, Teddy met a strange woman in the cemetery. She overheard him talking to his father’s grave. Teddy seemed like a nice man for the peculiar woman, but he was always in a hurry. According to her, Teddy liked to postpone things in life rather than living the moment. He didn’t really follow the concept of YOLO (you live only once). The woman wanted Teddy to live life rather than spending time. She wanted him to cherish each moment, each second, and not just float in time.

The strange woman had a gift. She was waiting to hand on the gift to another suitable person but in all these years never found one until she met Teddy. She arranged Teddy’s marriage and promised to send him the gift as a wedding present.

Initially, Teddy thought the woman was crazy. But, her unusual gift, a tin can, trapped him in cycle of time.

Significance of the Tin Can?

On his wedding day, the woman sent Teddy a wedding present, as she promised. The gift was a tin can with a tingling object inside. The present came with a note, “Do not open for Ten Years.”

The tin can can be perceived as a time machine into the future. But it was not like a conventional gadget that works on will. It was more like an automated time gadget that sends a person on a cycle of time, showing him the snippets of his future life, minute by minute.

Teddy never realized that this tin can was the root of all causes. In later life, the woman appeared again and symbolically suggested the gift she sent, “A Tin Can.” Teddy ran back home, hopeful of finding it and breaking the cycle of time.

‘Long Story Short’ Ending Explained

Looking at life minute by minute, Teddy realized that he was always in a hurry. Either he was delaying things or not paying attention to things happening around him. Teddy was so busy with a corporate job that he never paid attention to Leanne and his daughter. He didn’t even cherish the friendship he had with his lifelong friend, Sam (Ronny Chieng).

Teddy was obliged to pay attention because his life was fleeting away minute by minute. Through the years, Teddy learned that you only live once and therefore cannot afford to waste even a single minute of your life. He didn’t have to rush in life but rather enjoy the details it had to offer.

In the tenth year, Teddy met the strange woman again in the cemetery. She revealed the truth to him that she blessed him with the cycle of time. Teddy thought it was a curse, but it wasn’t. The gift didn’t change his life but just showed what his life could have been if he would be careless all the time. By the end of the conversation, she suggested the tin can, which was the solution to break the time cycle.

Teddy promised to give one element to Leanne every year on their anniversary. But all these years, he kept on forgetting the anniversary date. The curse made him live his anniversary day so many times in a day that he won’t possibly forget it again. However, the tenth element for the tenth anniversary was tin. Teddy ran back to Leanne’s house and found the tin can. He begged her to open it. Leanne found their wedding ring inside the can, which was lost in time. As soon as they kissed, the spell got broken. Minutes Later, Teddy woke up the next day of his wedding, where it all had began.

The first thing he did was to make necessary changes in his life and his outlook towards it. He called his friend Sam to regularly check with a skin doctor for signs of skin cancer, which became a cause of his death in the future. Teddy decided to hand over the gift/tin can to his ex-girlfriend, Becka, because he felt that she needed it the most after him. Why?

In one of the future timelines, Becca came to stay with Teddy. In an emotional state, she expressed that Teddy was never her first choice. She always loved her husband. If she knew things then, they would have still been together. But she figured out things too late. The whole conversation suggested that Becca needed to visit the cycle of time to make necessary amendments in her life and live a life without remorse. Teddy was actually listening to her grief and thus remembered to help her ex-girlfriend. A significant change in Teddy’s character.

Long Story Short is a 2021 sci-fi romantic comedy film written and directed by Josh Lawson .

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Long Story Short

Imagine that your world was out of control. Every few minutes, you’ve moved forward another year. You miss all of the moments of your life except for those few minutes when you get a chance to observe the path your life is on, based on actions that you don’t control. You see how the past year of your life impacted people in jumps rather than as a normal progression of actions and reactions.  Long Story Short looks at this. It challenges the concept that we’ve been desensitized to our own actions and decisions, that seeing the outcome of a year of poor choices without experiencing those choices being made will act as a wake-up call to change our ways. And it is brilliant.

In  Long Story Short , we follow Teddy (Rafe Spall) on a truly messed up journey. Teddy’s biggest problem is that he is focused on work and everything else can happen “later.” After his wedding, Teddy goes to sleep only to wake up on his first wedding anniversary and discover that his wife, Leanne (Zahra Newman), is pregnant. From here, Teddy finds himself jumping forward and experiencing a brief period of time on his anniversary each year. He sees how the path he was on impacts those around him and how “later” isn’t always an option.

Here’s the thing – the film is billed as a romantic comedy and, it ultimately is, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The film left both my wife and I in tears and it gets pretty deep and dark at times. Consider it a bumpy ride on Teddy’s path to enlightenment.

It’s hard to talk about a film where every few minutes represent another year and a huge change to the story, so, instead, I want to talk about the emotion of the film. As I said, the film brought me to tears. I think that the messaging in this film is important. It highlights the importance of the adage, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” We live our lives every day, so we don’t see the incremental changes driven by our choices. Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and were shown a snapshot of your life a year in the future or two years in the future or more. Would you make changes to your life as you currently live it? Are you accomplishing everything you want to? Are you loving everyone you should? Are you telling the people you love that you love them?

This movie is about more than entertainment, although it is highly entertaining. This film is much more philosophical than I expected, it has a deeper message that really deserves further thought. Are you doing things that make you unhappy? Are you doing things that make others unhappy? Are you living your best life? I, for one, constantly say, “I’ll do that later.” Often, later never comes. For me, at least, this movie was about that… it was thought-provoking and made me more introspective than I’ve been in a long time.

This may be a much deeper movie review than I intended it to be… then again maybe it’s entirely superficial and the film just has me feeling like it is deeper than it really is. Either way,  Long Story Short is worthy of your time whether simply as a form of entertainment or as a tool to drive self-reflection. It is, simply put, a great film.

Long Story Short will be released in theatres and On Demand and Digital on July 2.

Movie title: Long Story Short

Movie description: Serial procrastinator Teddy (Rafe Spall) wakes up the morning after his wedding to discover that every few minutes he's jumping forward to the next year of his life. Watching his world fall apart, Teddy must make every second count if he is to win back the woman he loves in this feel good comedy about second chances.

Date published: 2021-07-02

Director(s): Josh Lawson

Actor(s): Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman, Ronny Chieng , Dena Kaplan, Noni Hazlehurst

Genre: Romantic Comedy

• Giggles & Grins
• Dena Kaplan
• Josh Lawson
• Noni Hazlehurst
• Ronny Chieng
• Saban Films
• Zahra Newman

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LONG STORY SHORT: Charming High Concept Romantic Comedy

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Long Story Short , written and directed by Josh Lawson , explores what happens where the traditional romantic comedy would end and does so in a fantastical and emotional way.

Style and Structure of the Time Travel

Long Story Short establishes Teddy’s expedition along his personal relationship timeline through creative transitions and shifts in how each character looks.

Some of the most memorable aspects come in these moments right when time shifts again, surprising Teddy with the unexpected which can be anything from a kiddie pool in the exact spot he was standing to something as simple as having more facial hair.

Long Story Short takes inspiration from Groundhog Day , and mentions this probably too many times within the film, but offers a unique vision of that story style. There is also some focus on the meta aspect of this aspect of the premise, utilizing direct references to point out the tropes and structure of films like Groundhog Day and what they usually signify in the character.

Strong Performances

Rafe Spall gives a charming performance as a man constantly confused by himself–not recognizing or accepting his changing physical features–and everyone around him.

Teddy always feels a little lost, and like his actions come from someone who struggles with accepting that others have moved on, but we can tell he has a hard time accepting it because barely any time has actually gone by in his mind.

For him, minutes have passed, and this comes across well in his mindset when interacting with the other people in his life. But everyone else experienced a full year, so a decision remaining unmade strengthens their view that Teddy always pushes every decision further and further away until he forgets about them altogether.

Rafe Spall does a wonderful job of capturing the mindset Teddy would be in and how his actions progress along a different timeline structure. In one of the more memorable moments, Teddy spends time with his daughter who he doesn’t recognize at first. The confusion is played well, yet we can see how much Teddy cares and wants to make sure she does not see him as a bad father.

There is a speed and frantic nature to Rafe Spall’s delivery in certain moments through Long Story Shor t which brings to mind the confused and somewhat naïve nature of the classic 1930s screwball man. Teddy has to learn his own shortcomings and accept them in order for his relationship to work.

Zahra Newman gives a natural and nuanced performance, clearly showing the differences between Leanne – who lives within a rapidly expediting timeline – and Teddy who is an unnatural visitor to this life. Her performance also is reminiscent of the screwball structure, where the woman is more in control and familiar with the world in which they reside.

A Little Heavy Handed in its Theme

There are moments where Teddy realizes things about himself and his relationships or other characters repeat statements Teddy frequently says – especially mentioning his attitudes towards time – that come across too much like the film is repeatedly making sure the audience realizes what the film is really about.

It’s good that Teddy has issues to work through and solve, but the exact specifications of his faults do not need to be alluded to – or outright stated – in every scene for the audience to know what the film is about and what they should feel. The relationship between Teddy and Leanne is already strong enough of a story element that the audience does not need to be pushed to feel a certain way. The performances already work well enough to give life to the characters and make you invested in the relationship.

Rafe Spall and Zahra Newman make even these more heavy-handed moments work through the emotion with which they play their respective characters. By the end of the film, the character growth and performances outweigh the number of times we have been told the film would be leading here.

Do you like high-concept comedies like this? What are some of your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Long Story Short releases July 2, 2021 in the US.

Watch Long Story Short

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‘Long Story Short’ Review: Time Isn’t on Rafe Spall’s Side in Middle-Ground Rom-Com Hybrid

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A hapless romantic learns about the dangers of procrastination while attempting to save his crumbling marriage in “ Long Story Short ,” Australian actor Josh Lawson ’s harmless, heart-filled follow-up to his 2014 directorial debut, “The Little Death.” Though the high-concept relationship movie frequently trips over its own well-meaning sentiments, the sweet, earnest performances and sharp technical craftsmanship deliver a blissful feeling when the material comes up short.

Teddy ( Rafe Spall ) is perpetually late to everything important. His poor time-management skills have led him to arrive at a New Year’s Eve party in the final seconds of the countdown to midnight, only to swoop in and lay a big smooch on … Leanne (Zahra Newman), a total stranger he mistakes for his flighty girlfriend, Becka (Dena Kaplan). Making matters worse, he goes into anaphylactic shock right after their kiss because she’d been eating almonds. Haphazard though their introduction may have been, the couple hit it off, getting engaged after a perfect four-year courtship. He assumes he can coast along for another few years before walking down the aisle. Wrong.

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Things take a drastic turn for Teddy when he’s approached by a mysterious stranger (Noni Hazlehurst) in a cemetery, who bestows upon him a gift – one he’ll get after he marries Leanne. The wedding ceremony and reception go off without a hitch, but the bride and groom’s first night as husband and wife hits a snag: Teddy falls asleep and wakes up one year later. It doesn’t stop there. His life begins to move at a rapid pace, fast-forwarding a year into the future every 20 minutes or so, and each time he witnesses his marriage decaying. He comes to the slow realization that he can no longer procrastinate if he wants to win back the woman he loves.

Not quite as intuitive as similar fantastical devices in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the time-skips raise certain logistical questions the movie leaves unexplained. Still, the resulting misunderstandings and shenanigans serve up droll hilarity or heartfelt poignancy, sometimes finding a satisfactory balance of both.

Lawson makes a rookie mistake, however, by revealing this film’s obvious mystery box too early — a sealed tin can with a note indicating it should not be opened for 10 years — sabotaging how the cycle might end. The narrative is so intently focused on how Teddy will dig himself out of his stifling situation that Lawson forgets to illustrate the reasons why he’s stuck there in the first place.

Obviously, the character needs to adopt a new outlook on life and will predictably be seizing the day by film’s end, though Lawson doesn’t bother addressing the root of why Teddy drags his heels making decisions. Also, any career-minded individuals with financial stability get the Hallmark Movie treatment, shamed as workaholics. The movie interlaces both the “Live to work, not work to live” and “YOLO” mottoes, alternately mocking and embracing that annoying internet colloquialism.

A performer who gives himself a supporting role, Lawson shows a gift for directing actors. He and his troupe capably modulate tonal fluctuations with a casual ease. Spall is an assured performer and a skilled leading man. He illuminates hidden facets within his character, giving the role a special snap, sparkle and sheen. Newman is an equally magnetic and charismatic presence, her work infused with grace and open-hearted vulnerability. Supporting players are given impactful moments to shine as well. Standup comedian Ronny Chieng, who plays Teddy’s best friend Sam, brings sincerity and heart with his very limited screen time.

Aesthetics also earn high marks. Lawson resists overly stylizing things through extraneous camera movements or other flashy techniques to push the narrative’s broadly comedic overtones. He demonstrates dexterity in visualizing the passage of time as the image pixilates and turns granular, like sand flowing through an hour glass, cohering in another space in time. Composer Chiara Costanza’s touching, tender work complements the movie’s magical realism without overwhelming the performances.

While this feature falters in delivering earned, meaningful resonance and intriguing ruminations on the fleeting nature of time, and instead gives us puddle-deep platitudes that grace wall plaques found in HomeGoods stores, at least Lawson’s made his time count on this middling effort. And that feels totally on-point to his film’s overarching message.

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Long Story Short Parent Guide

Ironically enough, this would have been a better film had more time been invested in character development..

Digital on Demand: The day after his wedding, Teddy discovers to his horror that he's skipping through time. Every few minutes, he moves ahead to his next wedding anniversary, only to see the damage he causes to his marriage.

Release date July 2, 2021

Run Time: 94 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by savannah sillito.

The morning after his wedding, serial procrastinator Teddy (Rafe Spall) wakes up to find that a whole year has passed, and it is now his first anniversary. Badly confused, Teddy soon realizes that he is traveling forward through time to his next anniversary every few minutes. As he watches his life change in the blink of an eye, Teddy finally realizes that his procrastination has brought him nothing but misery. Has that lesson come too late?

Inadvertent time travel movies aren’t new; we’ve all seen Groundhog Day. Apparently so did the writers of Long Story Short since the characters directly reference it multiple times. Although not wholly original, the premise of this film has potential. Watching your life happen in snapshots so that you can go back and live life to the fullest is a good concept, and the added pressure of a marriage in trouble raises the stakes for the story. Although the message is good (and one our fast-paced culture needs) the finished product unfortunately doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

I don’t want to sound too harsh; this isn’t a bad movie. I enjoyed it well enough and didn’t find it to be a complete waste of an evening. I just think there’s a better film hiding in there somewhere that could have emerged under more skillful hands.

As far as negative content is concerned, the major consideration here is the five dozen profanities dumped into this romantic drama. To be fair, my understanding is that the “F-word” is not considered as big a deal in Australia as it is here in North America, so perhaps the language is less troubling to our friends Down Under. But I don’t think this is going to be a hit for family movie night with teens. Whatever your views might be about swearing in cinema, this offering isn’t really a movie for younger viewers since I don’t think they’d be terribly enthralled by the realistic challenges of marriage. Perhaps, instead of watching a film about seizing every moment, you could just go out and do that for yourself.

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Savannah sillito, watch the trailer for long story short.

Long Story Short Rating & Content Info

Why is Long Story Short rated R? Long Story Short is rated R by the MPAA for language throughout

Violence: A woman slaps a man’s face. Sexual Content: Adult couples kiss throughout the film. Sex is alluded to in conversation. A woman tells her husband she wishes they were having more sex. Profanity: There are over 35 uses of extreme expletives, along with around 10 uses of terms of deity and 15 or so mild and moderate expletives. Alcohol / Drug Use: Background characters are seen social drinking at a party. Alcohol is mentioned in conversations. A woman offers a man a mimosa. A woman briefly mentions a time that a man ate an edible containing marijuana.

Page last updated October 2, 2021

Long Story Short Parents' Guide

What lesson does Teddy learn about procrastination? What does he resolve to change about himself and his life in the end?

Have you ever struggled with procrastination? What has helped you? What other things can you do to get control of your own schedule and productivity?

Time: Psychologists Explain Why You Procrastinate – And How to Stop

Lifehack: How to Stop Procrastinating: 11 Practical Ways for Procrastinators

Related home video titles:

The classic story of reliving the same day is Groundhog Day , starring the inimitable Bill Murray as a weather man who keeps waking up on the titular day.

Two teenagers find themselves in a time loop, repeating the same day while everyone else carries on as usual in The Map of Tiny Perfect Things .

Also traveling a similar path is Just Another Christmas . This Brazilian film follows a Grinch-y dad who hates Christmas. Then he wakes up on Boxing Day to discover that it’s Christmas all over again. And again. And again.

Time loops get the horror treatment when a girl gets killed repeatedly by a serial killer in Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U .

Long Story Short - Film Review

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Long Story Short

• Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam Charles Koplinski There's more than a bit of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol' as well as desperation in Josh Lawson's "Long Story Short," a romantic comedy that ends up being neither.
• Blu-ray.com Brian Orndorf "Short" is after a case of the cutes for the most part, even name-checking "Groundhog Day" during the disorientation, inadvertently pointing out a far superior take on the same idea.
• Mark Reviews Movies Mark Dujsik Long Story Short is a comic fantasy with a genuine sense of emotional and metaphysical weight.
• One Guy's Opinion Frank Swietek Nice enough but oddly pallid, a riff on taking time to appreciate life that rushes through one man's without leaving much of an impression. Just call it 'Long Story Slight.'
• Lyles' Movie Files Jeffrey Lyles Has a lot of heart, just the right amount of humor to make you laugh without feeling silly and some charming, engaging performances.
• Common Sense Media Tara McNamara Yes, there are plenty of the expected romcom elements in Long Story Short. But even as Teddy gets weary of his forced time-jumping, the concept never feels forced, and the story doesn't get tired.
• 25YL (25 Years Later) Don Shanahan If you see sweetness in its gracious sentiment, there's much more where that came from in the romance at the center of this little gem.
• Variety Courtney Howard This feature falters in delivering earned, meaningful resonance, and instead gives us puddle-deep platitudes that grace wall plaques found in HomeGoods stores.
• New York Times Nicolas Rapold A sheepish pall steadily creeps over the whole endeavor...
• In Review Online Steven Warner Long story short, if you are in the mood for some romance and a few laughs, you can do better than this repetitive and grueling film.
• FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) Wade Major It's a wonderful trick, and I think [writer-director] Josh Lawson is super clever.
• FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) Lael Loewenstein A really lovely writer-director calling card. I would love to see more from Josh Lawson.
• Cinemalogue Todd Jorgenson One of the least inspired uses of time-loop plot mechanics in recent memory, this Australian romantic comedy is labored and predictable.
• Film Inquiry Amanda Mazzillo Long Story Short is a pleasing romantic comedy with charming performances especially from Rafe Spall and Zahra Newman, a modern screwball tone, and just enough similarities to the Groundhog Day-style of rom-com.
• eFilmCritic.com Peter Sobczynski Long Story Short wants to remind viewers about the preciousness of time and how it shouldn't be waste -- this is ironic considering that the film itself wastes 90 minutes of time before getting to its all-too-predictable conclusion.
• AIPT Nathaniel Muir The movie is a standard one that brings nothing new to the equation. The cast and some genuinely funny moments carry the film.
• Movie Nation Roger Moore You almost certainly have to have a few years on you to "get" or at least empathize with "Long Story Short," which is "Where'd the time go?" writ large.
• Reel Honest Reviews Pamela Powell "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Groundhog Day" and "A Christmas Carol" with plenty of room for its own unique flare to become a romantic comedy.
• Film Focus Online Rebecca Johnson Long Story Short is well acted and charming, and though it doesn't have too much to offer in the comedy department, it makes up for it in heart.
• Mr. Movie's Film Blog Nadine Whitney Writer/director Josh Lawson has created a charming and kind film that keeps its pace brisk and entertaining. Audiences invest in Teddy, not only because he's likable, but in many ways, he's relatable.

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