[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TiMER_9403.jpg]]

->''"Take the guesswork out of love."''
-->-- '''[=TiMER=] product advertisement'''

A 2009 [[ScienceFiction sci-fi]]/[[RomanticComedy rom-com]] film written and directed by Jac Schaeffer and starring Creator/EmmaCaulfield, ''[=TiMER=]'' takes place in an {{alternate history}} version of the United States in which, at some point in TheNineties, the [=TiMER=]--an incredibly accurate device that counts down to the day the wearer will meet his or her destined mate--was invented, changing the way people thought and acted about romance and relationships.

The story follows Oona (Caulfield), an unfortunate woman whose [=TiMER=] remains blank, indicating that her “one” has yet to even get a [=TiMER=], and her solution to this has been (unsuccessfully) dating numerous [=TiMER=]-less men and forcing them to get one installed. Oona is forced to change her dating habits when she meets Mikey (John Patrick Amedori), a young and impulsive grocery clerk and drummer with a functioning [=TiMER=]. He invites Oona to live in the present instead of stressing about the future.

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!! This film provides examples of:

* AerithAndBob: {{Lampshaded}} when Mikey admits that he found Oona's practice because "there aren't many orthodontists with your first name."
* AlliterativeName: Oona O'Leary
* AppliedPhlebotinum: The [=TiMER=] wrist implants. Basically if you and your soulmate both have a [=TiMER=], it is able to discern not only that you have a match but the very day you will meet. Whether it's tomorrow or decades from now. If your soulmate is not wearing a [=TiMER=], it will stay blank and may remain so if they never own one. Most importantly for the story they do in fact function as advertised, boasting an incredible 98% success rate, which is utterly miraculous considering current US divorce rates of around 50%.
* BatmanGambit: Oona's father, Rick O'Leary orchestrates his own separation through a gesture of affection. [[spoiler: He knows that things are not going to work out with Marion, so has them both get a [=TiMER=] implanted. Once their respective [=TiMER=]s went active and they weren't soulmates, it would mean the end for them. Rick's didn't even start, whilst Marion's began a countdown for someone else.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Mikey, in spades.
-->'''Oona:''' When do you get off?
-->'''Mikey:''' What?
-->'''Oona:''' Do you want me to repeat myself?
-->'''Mikey:''' Yeah, into the loudspeaker if you don't mind.
* DisappearedDad: Oona's biological father, Rick O'Leary, separated from her mother at a young age and hasn't seen his daughter in many years. Apparently when her mother got a [=TiMER=] a countdown began, it meant someone else was her soulmate, so they split. Oona believes her father never got an implant due to his more "bohemian" lifestyle, [[spoiler: however Rick reveals he does have one. In fact it was his idea to get [=TiMER=]s in the first place. Once Marion knew they weren't soulmates, something Oona's father already surmised, she would finally admit they wouldn't work out.]]
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Oona dreams about boiling eggs with her one, who is wearing a mask. Later, when she [[spoiler: breaks up with Mikey, he's boiling eggs. Then when she sees Dan, he has the same mask.]]
* DumbAndDrummer: Mikey. Among other foibles, he interrupts a brief conversation ''twice'' because he doesn't know the words being used. [[spoiler: His idiocy helps make the outcome less of a foregone conclusion based on the [=TiMER=] alone.]]
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Steph to Oona after Oona decides to keep her [=TiMER=].]]
* FallingInLoveMontage: Early on the film shows a montage of various couples talking about finding each other via the Timer implant as part of an advertisement.
* {{Handwave}}: Whilst there's some talk about personality variables and oxytocin levels, it's never really explained how the [=TiMER=] functions; it's simply an accepted fact that it does. [[spoiler:Even by Mikey.]]
* HappilyMarried: Oona’s mother and stepfather.
* TheHedonist: Downplayed with Steph. She frequently enjoys partying, drinking and having casual sex with men who have active [=TiMER=]s (so they'll want no attachments). The reason for this is that her [=TiMER=] countdown won't expire until she's 43. Steph's known from a very early age she won't meet her soulmate for decades and still has ''another'' 13 years to go, so decided to enjoy being single as much as possible and gives little thought to ambition or future plans.
* HiddenDepths: Mikey can speak Spanish and his band is talented enough to become fairly well known locally.
* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Unromantic but still oddly sweet - when Mikey's roommates start ruining the mood when he and Oona are about to have sex, he yells at them about how he's about to score way way ''way'' out of his league, and they'd better not get in the way of it. Oona cracks up and looks flattered at the same time.
* TheLadette: Oona’s stepsister Steph is the crudest person in the entire film.
* LikesOlderWomen: There is a good eight-year age difference between Mikey and Oona by the end of the movie.
* LoveAtFirstSight: Averted. [=TiMER=] employees are quick to note that most romances develop over time, some of them are outright [[LoveAtFirstPunch belligerent]] in the beginning, and it's also mentioned by several people that they didn't fall in love because the [=TiMER=] told them to, it just lead them to each other. All relationships are said progress and grow naturally.
* {{Magitek}}: The [=TiMERS=] magically tell when you will meet the one you love.
* MalignedMixedMarriage: Luz and Marion agree that they would have preferred that Jesse and Soledad’s relationship play out with them both carrying on in secret over the years, then being outraged when they found out and the couple eventually marrying to force their families to accept them. Amusingly they've both had the wind taken out of their sails, what with them being soulmates and all.
* MeaningfulName: Oona sounds like "one" in Latin, Spanish, and several other Romance languages.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Dan’s last name is never revealed; he is simply known as “Dan the Man” (even in the credits).
* OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Oona finds her soulmate in Dan but in doing so she breaks the heart of Mikey and damages Steph's friendship with both herself and Dan. Steph also removed her [=TiMER=], potentially robbing her of that potential soulmate later in life.]]
* RedStringOfFate: The [=TiMERS=] basically invoke this. Once it begins you know you're going to meet someone you'll be happy with for the rest of your life and when it goes off that's the person for you. Even if it's your enemy.
* TheReveal: Oona's soulmate is [[spoiler: Dan. It's revealed he got his own Timer moments before Oona had her implant removed.]]
* SeinfeldianConversation: Mikey at one point has a long, thoughtful monologue about "what's up with those women whose breasts point in different directions." Oona is annoyed enough by the inanity of it to break up with him. [[RelationshipRevolvingDoor Again.]]
* StarCrossedLovers: Downplayed but even without factoring in [=TiMER=]s Oona and Mikey have quite a lot stacked against them, there's 8 years between them, she's also more mature and intelligent. [[spoiler: They are dead in the water once Oona's Timer starts counting down. Mikey's just able to admit it first.]]

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