Instructions Not Included: An Unexpected Twist In Life

"I've learned that seven years can feel like seventy and that $10 for a cab can be the greatest investment in life."

"My two great loves. One taught me to be ready to face life. The other taught me to face life without being ready. Now, they are teaching me to face life without them."

- Valentin Bravo

Surprises abound in life. Some are plain fun and interesting. Others seem sad, scary and simply unwanted. In most cases though, even the latter can turn into something pretty if one simply let it be.

Instructions Not Included is comedic even by its title alone. It spans the tale of Valentin, the playboy of Acapulco, living for the tourists of the city, who was one day dumped with a baby in his arms by a woman who he didn't even really remember. Convinced in his inability and the lack of desire to care for a child, he traveled to Los Angeles to trace the woman and return the baby, but he ended up getting a job as a stuntman (and became really famous at it) and settling down as a single parent for the little girl, Maggie. After seven years though, Maggie's mother, Julie, showed up, wanting to take her back. It is during this time when the truth comes out, bringing all three of them together back in Acapulco.

Surprised is what most viewers would feel all throughout the film. Surprises in various degrees abound in this story of love between a father and his child. It is very much like life where we do not have control as to what arrives when and how. Above it all, we are puzzled as to why everything is happening as it is. Why the party that is a bachelor's life suddenly put to a halt? The answers do not always come fast. They rarely do. In fact, most of the answers come in the end of the story when there is nothing much you can do. You are lucky if you did your best and enjoyed the journey, which is exactly what Valentin did as he strove to be the best parent for Maggie, providing her everything she needs and wants and even making it possible for her to feel the love of a mother she has never actually met.

While the first part of the film is funny in its presentation, it is easy to notice a drama unfolding in the far horizon. The reappearance of Julie with her life partner Renee brought about a storm of emotions on the non-English-speaking Valentin. After a couple more of surprises, the mother was given the right over Maggie, prompting Valentin to bring her to Mexico. This is where tears start falling.

Life happens and it brings with it its own type of surprises. Be it lemons, apples or oranges, it is really just up to you what you do with them, so they can end up to be the sweetest one you'll ever have. For Valentin, Maggie was his best surprise.

About Time: The Essence of Every Minute

"Suddenly, time travel seems unnecessary because every detail of life is just delightful."

- Tim Lake

                                                                                                                  

The chance to undo what has been done. The ability to go back and do what was not actually done. These possibilities make time travel such a hit for many people, which is why it always makes an interesting story line for a film. 

About Time, a romantic-comedy-drama film released in the latter part of 2013, tackles the impact of time travel capability on a regular-looking, nice-but-boring, ordinary guy who went through life making good things happen for himself and his family with a little help from the special talent that he acquired from his dad (as it was passed on from the men in the family). He met and had a family with the girl of his dreams, looked after his little sister and spent quality time with his parents especially with his dad, who was actually diagnosed with cancer and was using his own ability to time travel to spend more time with his family.

While time travel is not proven to be scientifically true, numerous speculations have been brought in the open about it, ranging from its actual possibility, its nature and its consequences. After all, every action comes with a corresponding reaction. In About Time, time travel was more like an option, which results to its own series of results. Going back to a time prior to a child's birth, for instance, eliminates the chances of said child's birth. It is in such cases where one has to choose between two important things. In making such a decision, it is not about who is more important but the nature of the situation and determining which is less good than the other. The protagonist chose the existence of his first child over the accident of his little sister. After all, the incident involving the latter might have been necessary for her to learn certain lessons in life. At the latter part, he also had to choose his third child's life over that of his father. The latter has lived a full life. It is, however, quite an emotional moment when prior to the third child's birth, he took the time to travel back to a time when his dad was alive, and they spent moments of father and son bonding. 

The greatest realization in the movie is about how, at certain points in time, there is actually no need to desire or even think about time travel simply because "every moment is delightful", which is exactly how the protagonist felt. Though there are stresses, pressures and struggles each day, it is important to accept them as a part of existence. This way, one gets to appreciate them as well as the days that are free of such. In the end, time travel cannot solve all problems as it can also bring its own set of concerns. In the end, it is all about how one perceives the situation and just face it head-on.

Probably the best thing about this movie is the fact that there is no need for a time machine. All the effort of building something to take you back in time is unnecessary. All you need is a dark space and the power of your imagination. I wish I can have that. Or maybe not. Whatever.