The Adam Project, directed by Shawn Levy, is a not-so-futuristic story of a man named Adam (Ryan Reynolds) who time travels from the year 2050, accidentally ending up in 2022, where he encounters his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell). Together, they must work to save the future.

The film also stars Zoe Saldaña, who plays future Adam’s wife and Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, who play Adam’s parents. A sense of deja vu is felt among audiences as we get to see the 13 Going on 30 stars on screen together once again.

The Adam Project serves as 13-year-old Walker Scobell’s very first acting job and he has quickly risen to fame, as Scobell has already begun shooting for his next movie, Secret Headquarters, which is scheduled to be released later this year.  It has also recently been announced that Sobell will be starring as Percy Jackson in the new Disney series Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Coincidentally, Scobell is a huge Deadpool fan, and can recite nearly the entirety of the films from start to finish. So, acting alongside Reynolds was like a dream come true for the young actor and he flawlessly captured Reynold’s persona.

The Adam Project was a heart-warming story of family, romance and flying time machines. The film was diverse, catering to all different audiences. I am someone who commonly enjoys movies within the horror/thriller genre, so this science fiction dramedy was not something I would commonly pick for Friday movie night. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this movie for its ability to balance humor and heart. With Adam coming back to 2022, you get this funny moment where he remembers how small and awkward he was as a child, but at the same time, we see a man seeing his mother without her realizing it was him.

While human actors may play some part in making films like these, we must acknowledge what makes them truly great: the animals. Adam has a dog named Hawking (Marilyn), who plays a crucial part in the movie; his name alluding directly to the film’s main theme: time travel, which was theorized by Stephen Hawking.

With loud barks and an adorable face, Hawking is the one to make younger Adam realize that he has just met his future self. When the dog excessively barks at the two, they both turn to the dog in comedic fashion, simultaneously yelling, “Hawking! Zip it!” The younger Adam turns, as he realizes just who has crashed into the woods behind his house. This type of humor makes this unique amongst much of the sci-fi genre, which often is more serious in nature.

Whether it be the light humor, heart-warming moments or the adorable Hawking, this movie left me with a smile on my face, and hopefully, it will do the same for you!