Time Changer

''Time Changer'' is an independent science fiction Christian seriocomic film written and directed by Rich Christiano, released by Five & Two Pictures in 2002. The screenplay concerns Dr. Norris Anderson (Gavin MacLeod), who uses his late father's time machine to send his colleague, Bible professor Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin), from 1890 into the early 21st century. The film had a limited nationwide release.

Plot

Bible professor Russell Carlisle (D. David Morin) confronts and lectures a boy who has stolen marbles from his neighbors, calling his action unjust. The year is 1890 and Carlisle has written a new manuscript entitled ''The Changing Times'', which promotes good morals without discussing Christ. The book is on track to receive a unanimous endorsement from the board of the Grace Bible Seminary, until colleague Dr. Norris Anderson (Gavin MacLeod) objects, fearing that Carlisle's book could harm coming generations, arguing that teaching good moral values without mentioning Christ is wrong.

Dr. Anderson invites Carlisle' to his home later that evening to show him something that would prove his point. Using a secret time machine, Anderson sends Carlisle over 100 years into the future, offering him a glimpse of where his beliefs will lead.

Arriving in the early 21st century, Carlisle is shocked to find that half of all marriages end in divorce (instead of 5% in 1890), teenagers talk openly about deceiving their parents, films contain blasphemous language and people who go to church are so bored by the sermons that they need extra activities. Before he returns to his timeline, he guest speaks at the local church and expresses his shock at how godless and wicked the generation has become, even in the church, reminding everyone that the faith is something to take seriously, and their souls are in jeopardy if they don't truly commit to Christ. He tries to convince a laundromat worker, Eddie Martinez ( Paul Rodriguez), to go to church and read the Bible.

Two churchgoing police investigators grow suspicious of Carlisle, who acts as if he is seeing everything for the first time, realizing his identity from history, believing it is something he is posing as. They confront him as he is about to be transported back to the past. As the sky grows thunderous, Carlisle seems delirious as he talks about how the second coming of Christ is drawing near. Carlisle vanishes. The men look at where he vanished and one of the men says with dread, "I think we just missed the Rapture."

Carlisle rematerializes in 1890 and excitedly tells Anderson he will revise his book. He gives the thieving boy his own set of marbles and explains that it is Jesus Christ who demands honesty. Anderson decides to find out the world's end by trying to send a Bible to the future. The machine won't operate with a target date of 2100, so he tries with progressively earlier decades 2090, 2080 and 2070, which fail. As the film ends, he makes at least two more failed attempts, aiming earlier and earlier.

Cast

* D. David Morin as Russell Carlisle
* Gavin MacLeod as Norris Anderson
* Hal Linden as The Dean
* Jennifer O'Neill as Michelle Bain
* Paul Rodriguez as Eddie Martinez
* Richard Riehle as Dr. Wiseman
* John Valdetero as Tom Sharp
* Dan Campbell as Rex
* Evan Ellingson as Roger
* Crystal Robbins as Mrs. Matthews
* Patty MacLeod as Norris' Wife
* Paul Napier as Dr. Butler
* Charles Hutchins as Dr. Henry
* Callan White as Carlisle's Wife
* Ross McKerras as Pawn Shop Guy
* Ruben Madera as Bellhop
* Mike Wilson as Sam
* Arthur Roberts as Man In Pew
* Rod Britt as Pastor
* Ron Sey as Hot Dog Vendor
* Emily Trapp as Young Girl
* Brad Heller as Boutique Manager
* Alexander Polk as Security Guard
* Teresa Vidak as Waitress
* Paige Peterson as Girl In Booth
* Alana Curry as Girl In Booth
* Nan McNamara as Tom's Wife
* Cassie LaRocca as Rex's Wife
* Alfred Jackson as Student
* Michael Gier as Group Leader
* Chipper Lowell as Visitation Guy (as Chip Lowell)
* Linda Kerns as Lady Prospect
* William Bowerman as William
* Michelle Dunker as Secretary
* Kevin Downes as Greg

Production

''Time Changer'' was Rich Christiano's first feature-length film. In August 2001 Christiano Film Group announced the film's cast, and that shooting would begin on October 6, 2001 in Visalia, CA, for an August 2, 2002 release.
In February 2002, the website stated that the film was being edited in Los Angeles.
In March, the first rough cut was completed, work began on a second pass, and streaming video was made available.
In a press release, the theatrical release date was listed as October 4, 2002.
Editing wrapped in June, while music score, sound design, and visual effects work continued, and two scene sneak previews were linked on the website.
On August 2, the trailer was released online.
On August 6 the press release changed to show a theatrical release date of October 11.
On October 4, 2002, the film was announced as "ready to go", with a theatrical poster available which showed the final release date of October 25, as did the simultaneous press release.

Releases

The film premiered in limited nationwide release on October 25, 2002. It was released on VHS and DVD in 2003; The DVD included a "making of" featurette, commentary tracks, deleted scenes, promos and the trailer. ''Time Changer'' was one of the first Christiano films offered through the Sky Angel Video On Demand service.

A 140-page tie-in novel, ''Time Changer (A Novel)'', was released in 2001, co-authored by Christiano and Greg Mitchell.

Reception

In the '' Charlotte Observer'', Lawrence Toppman praised the acting work, but had questions about plot holes and how some of the film's premises would be accepted by Christian viewers. Toppman wrote, "technically, the film can stand with most releases", and gave it 2.5 stars out of four. ''Variety'' reviewer Scott Foundas described the film as "goofy fantasy hokum" with a message, one scene as "subpar", and some monologues as "distinctly uncinematic", but other scenes as "surprisingly enjoyable." Foundas found the film "hard to read" – often having "its tongue planted firmly in its cheek", but at other times "sweetly naive". Joe Baltake of ''The Sacramento Bee'' gave 1.5 stars (of 4) to the "whimsical if predictable" film "marred by a willful single-mindedness." He found the film's beginning "interminable", and overall, "very strange".

, the film holds a 22% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 2 out of 9 critics giving it a positive review with an average rating of 3.9/10.''Time Changer''
Rotten Tomatoes.

See also

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References

External links

Official site
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* {{tcmdb title, id=438428

2002 films
2002 comedy-drama films
2002 science fiction films
Films about evangelicalism
Films directed by Rich Christiano
Films about time travel
American independent films
American science fiction films
Films produced by Kevin Downes
Films set in 1890
Films set in a movie theatre
Films set in the 21st century
2000s English-language films
2000s American films