And this is true of both the characters in the movie and the viewer. Well the latter should rather try to enjoy as much as possible. Because the science behind it all does not really mix well together. A problem that the movie is not alone with. Mingling with time and trying to make it plausible is almost impossible. Just a few have managed to get the "technical" things right or rather the things right that would seem logical.

But throw logic out of the window, because this is about teenagers. And while you get the obvious "what would you change, if you could" discussion, in the end it all boils down to personal advantage (mostly). And can you blame them? The twist at the end is kind of redundant, but it's there and better than the alternate endings that can be watched on the disc/special features. Enjoyable if you don't think too much

Project Almanac name checks some of its influences. Back to the Future, Doctor Who and Bill & Ted. Yet its superficial charms never amounts to much.

Geeky teenager David Raskin (Jonny Weston) wants to go to MIT but cannot afford to do so. When he finds some designs to build a time machine in his late father's attic.

David and his friends (Quinn and Adam) build it from available parts they can get from the local Home Depot store. David watches a video tape of his birthday party when he was a kid and noticed a glimpse of him as an adult in there. David is convinced that the project will be a success.

David's sister Christina films everything regarding the project and lo and behold they travel back in time. They take revenge on a school bully, one of them takes frequent attempts to pass a chemistry test, attend Lollapalooza, win the lottery and David goes out with the high school hottie.

However all the going back in time causes a ripple effect. Each time David tries to fix the problem he makes it worse.

I found it hard to believe that one of David's even more geekier friend could not pass the chemistry test first time. Even more difficult to believe that they mess up with the lottery numbers so they do not win the top jackpot prize.

If you are going to win lots of money why do you care about passing a high school test or getting some revenge on the local bully?

Also these were clever people, before they time travelled they should had checked up on some do's and don't about time travel.

The first part of the movie was frivolous and fun. When the film steps up from its premise it loses its way as the characters become selfish and shallow.

PROJECT ALMANAC is another teen-friendly time travel movie that feels much like THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, although not as interesting. The main problem with it is that the main characters are a group of hyperactive children who run around shouting and arguing a lot. When they finally figure out how to go back in time, they decide to cheat at school and go to a massive party, which seems very silly and superficial and a waste of a decent premise; compare this with the plot of the excellent Spanish thriller TIMECRIMES, for instance, to see where I'm coming from. Indeed, PROJECT ALMANAC only gets good in the last half an hour or so, when the stakes are raised and the film manages to build suspense quite effectively. This is also a found footage movie that seems to go out of the way to feature as much camera shake as possible; it's not something I have a particular problem with, but your mileage may vary.