Domhnall Gleeson may be about to give audiences a fresh dose of nostalgia with his leading role in The Paper, but Peacock’s hotly anticipated spin-off of The Office isn’t the first instance of the actor sending audiences back in time. 12 years ago, Gleeson took the lead in one of director Richard Curtis’ latest and most beloved films, delivering a performance so endearing that it rivals the appeal Hugh Grant accumulated over the course of his own long creative partnership with Curtis. More entertaining than Love Actually and at times even more devastating than Four Weddings and a Funeral, 2013’s About Time is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking accomplishment that has easily become a modern rom-com classic.

For those lucky enough to have yet to experience About Time for the first time, the film follows Gleeson’s Tim Lake, a tragically awkward young man struggling his way through adulthood until his father (Bill Nighy) reveals a life-changing secret one New Year’s Eve after Tim has turned 21: As unbelievable as it sounds, the men of Tim’s family can travel back in time. Specifically, they can travel back to any prior moment in their lives — as Nighy so charmingly explains, no killing baby Hitler — and instead of vying for fortune or fame, Tim excitedly uses this gift to fulfill his long-running wish of getting a girlfriend. What follows is a poignant tale of some love lost and true love gained, as Tim embarks on a brief series of non-linear misadventures before he meets the love of his life in Rachel McAdams‘ charismatic Mary.

Despite the film’s focus on romantic relationships, About Time is also a film that transcends the typical tropes of its genre while simultaneously pulling them off better than almost any other modern rom-com. Underneath the infectious chemistry of its leads, failed and then successful proposals, and the film’s fleeting attempt at a one-sided love triangle, About Time wields its fantastical core premise as a thematic weapon to explore what it means to truly appreciate the time people have together. As Tim’s relationship with his dad progresses with an emotional deftness guaranteed to shred even the most jaded viewer’s heartstrings, About Time likewise evolves into a mature depiction of love that never fails to feel charming. As a result, this movie is a rare gem of a rom-com that manages to be more profound than most mainstream dramas, balancing adorable moments and dark revelations with a level of skill most audiences seldom see in the genre.

Domhnall Gleeson’s Performance Grounds ‘About Time’s Celebration of the Present

Like the best Hollywood rom-coms, About Time is also anchored by its memorable supporting cast, with Margot Robbie notably playing the one who got away just before she skyrocketed to fame with The Wolf of Wall Street, and Tom Hollander bringing a hilarious level of snobbishness to Tim’s irascible roommate. Yet, from the beginning, About Time is Gleeson’s show, and he knows it. What’s so refreshing about Gleeson’s performance as Tim is the level of understated, relatable awkwardness the actor manages to channel through his character’s smallest moments. Whether he’s unsure of how to ask to walk Mary home, or hilariously struggling to help his wife pick out a dress, Gleeson imbues his rom-com lead with a level of sweetness that never becomes overbearing.

While Grant and other iconic rom-com actors usually make audiences swoon with their natural charm, Gleeson has to clumsily come into his own charisma throughout About Time, but this departure from the genre’s norm ultimately works to the film’s advantage. In a movie that celebrates embracing a messy, imperfect present in favor of trying to control fate, Gleeson’s lack of initial confidence allows About Time to appreciate the trial-and-error inherent in being human, allowing audiences to appreciate what also makes Gleeson so underrated in the process. Curtis’ film isn’t perfect, and, in particular, About Time suffers from the same problematic kind of male-centered tropes that derail a lot of time-travel rom-coms when you read into them — the fact that neither Tim nor his father tell their wives about their powers is more than a little unethical — but Gleeson’s earnestness is enough to stave off the discomfort long enough for those willing to enjoy it.

Gleeson’s performance in About Time also proves why he’s the perfect choice to lead The Paper. Seeing how the American version of The Office has become such a cultural artifact on streaming, fans are bound to be skeptical of anyone who attempts to step into Michael Scott’s oversized shoes. But the same relatable persona that renders Gleeson so endearing in About Time makes him the natural pick for the spin-off. From its inception, The Office has always been about capturing the absurd comedy of average people attempting to go about their daily lives, and Gleeson more than proves he can spin gold out of a grounded premise in Curtis’ film. Watching About Time can therefore help alleviate fears about Gleeson’s performance in the upcoming spin-off, as well as introduce a new generation of viewers to a movie they’ll want to constantly rewatch like it’s the very first time.