We Live in Time review: Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield deliver on movie's tear-jerking promise

Everyone needs a good cry now and then, so if you feel like you're due, then We Live in Time is just what the doctor ordered. The romance drama stars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as the central couple of Almut and Tobias, whose relationship is told in a free-flowing, time-jumping style. The duo's brilliant chemistry and an honest, if incredibly heightened, script give ample opportunity to get the waterworks flowing.

Full disclosure, I didn't cry (never been a big crier with movies), but that doesn't mean I didn't register the emotional gut punches sprinkled throughout the movie. And they are numerous, many coming from Pugh, who absolutely knocks it out of the park in these dramatic moments. 

There are three distinct storylines being told in the movie: the early days of Almut and Tobias' relationship, their attempts to get pregnant and the eventual birth of their daughter, and how they deal with Almut's cancer diagnosis (the last one is not a spoiler, it's introduced in the opening moments of the movie and is featured in the trailer). Some viewers may need a little bit of time to get their bearings with the jumping around (though to be fair it's not nearly as complicated as a Christopher Nolan timeline) but the structure allows for emotional moments to be quickly alleviated with ones of joy and laughter. That makes We Live in Time a movie that, despite the hardships, many will fall for and want to watch more than once.

We Live in Time is the latest script from writer Nick Payne, who has definitely found a niche in writing emotional movies (previous credits include The Sense of an Ending and The Last Letter from Your Lover). The highlight of his work here though is how honest and intimate the relationship feels. There's a Hollywood declaration of love or two, but the script also features the fights and the little intricacies of a realistic relationship.

That being said, the meet-cute that brings these two together is surprisingly contrived. Again, previewed in the trailer, Almut hits Tobias with her car. But while they try to lay the groundwork for all the little things that eventually lead up to that fateful traffic accident, it has so many holes that if you think about it for more than a minute it feels unrealistic. Still, Garfield and Pugh are able to glide over it in the moment with their charm.

There are other examples of these overly heightened moments, whether it's the situation when Almut gives birth or the fact that she takes part in the cooking Olympics as she deals with her cancer treatment. In a lesser movie, these could be eye-roll inducing or head-scratching. In We Live in Time, they're executed to the point where they are among the more memorable moments of the movie.

I haven't mentioned director John Crowley (Brooklyn) yet. That's not meant as a condemnation of his work in the movie, it's just that the performances, the writing and even the editing (by Justine Wright) shine a bit more. He still did an excellent job bringing it all together.

The MVP of the movie though is Pugh, who is spectacular as Almut, giving another brilliant performance in an already notable career. She definitely gets the bigger moments than Garfield (who is good, maybe just short of great) and she does the most with them. Is a second Oscar nomination on the way for her? Maybe, but I certainly wouldn't complain if she wins over voters with her inspired performance.

Most audiences are sure to fall in love with We Live in Time. Just be prepared with a tissue or a shoulder to cry on.

We Live in Time opens in select US movie theaters on October 11, and then releases nationwide on October 18. The movie premieres in the UK on January 1, 2025.