Amazon’s ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things’ puts a sweet teenage spin on the time loop story
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The Groundhog Day-style time loop movie has been done so much that any new one is at risk of feeling as monotonous as the day it depicts. But while Prime Video's The Map of Tiny Perfect Things might not be built off an original concept, its sweet and charming story makes it feel new.
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things shares a lot of parallels with last summer's Palm Springs. There are two people stuck on the same constantly repeating day — the likable, slightly dorky 17-year-old Mark (Kyle Allen) and the similarly aged, quiet-about-herself Margaret (Kathryn Newton); the pair's first run-in is by the pool; and they even aim to solve their recurring 16-hour existence with science. But what makes this story unique is that Mark and Margaret are trapped on a day that's positioned on the terrifying cusp of adulthood, and moving forward also means growing up.
The two deal with the weight of the potential future, as one does in a time loop. But they also live it up to the fullest, not only by doing things like winning the lottery and memorizing what everyone's about to say but also by adventuring around the town to catch all the little, perfect moments in time — like when a janitor pauses his job to play piano in what he thinks is an empty room or when a skater girl shows off that she's mastered a trick all the boys keep failing at.
What really makes The Map of Tiny Perfect Things stand out is that even though it at times might feel familiar, the narrative is so well-crafted that it doesn't matter.
The pair's journey to appreciate the good things of the day sends them to all sorts of pretty, vibrant locations that are nice to look at. But it's even more delightful to see these two bond through activities they wouldn't normally do in a non-time-loop world, like biking through the school hallways and tearing up a model home. This is in part because it's so easy to watch Allen and Newton together. Both of them — but especially Allen (who is set to appear in the upcoming West Side Story remake) — bring a charisma to their friendship that makes it feel authentic. And this, in combination with a snappy, funny script — which doesn't force Mark and Margaret into an instant relationship, but lets their connection develop slowly — allows viewers to have a good time watching them turn the town into their playground.
What really makes The Map of Tiny Perfect Things stand out is that even though it at times might feel familiar, the narrative is so well-crafted that it doesn't matter. I've had the misfortune of watching many teen movies that get lazy and manufacture melodrama in an attempt to keep things interesting. Yet somehow, inside these wildly unrealistic circumstances, these characters' situations feel more real than most. Their dialogue, filled with references to things like Pokémon and Doctor Who, is witty and believable — the early plot points are smoothly tied to the end — and the big twist comes naturally. (And no, for once it has nothing to do with either of the teenagers being sick or dying!)
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things' tiny, little flaws are easy to overlook because it's just so fun. At its core, it's a refreshing, feel-good teen story perfect for anyone who wants a little escape from reality. And right now in time, nothing sounds better.
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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Brooke Bajgrowicz is an Entertainment Fellow. She used to write about music for Billboard, but now she tackles movies and TV shows for Mashable.
