The idea of time traveling is one that can be adapted into multiple types of stories. It can be a goofy lark a la Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, a fun adventure like the Back to the Future trilogy, a rom-com like Palm Springs, great action like the Terminator series, and more. The new Hulu film The Greatest Hitsadds a relatively unique approach to that list, one with focus on grief and love.

As the film begins, Harriet (Lucy Boynton) is in cycle of mourning over the death of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet) two years prior. It’s soon established that, for unknown reasons, every time she hears a song that reminds her of her time with Max, she is literally transported back to a specific moment in their relationship. She uses this ability to her advantage, testing song after song to see if one of them will allow her to change Max’s fate and save him from the car accident that killed him.

Nothing can seem to get Harriet out of her funk, including a grief counseling group and the unwavering support of her best friend Morris (Austin Crute). Morris repeatedly tells her she has to move on with her life, but it’s not until David (Justin H. Min) shows up at the grief support group that she even considers the prospect. But with Harriet unable to control when another song will bring her back into the past, their growing bond may not be enough.

Written and directed by Ned Benson, the film is a bittersweet look at a love lost and a love that may come to be. The use of music to take Harriet back in time is a simple yet effective technique, as many people can relate to a song reminding of them of a certain time in their life. While the idea of her time traveling when she hears a familiar song sounds a little goofy, it’s played well in the film, never coming across as maudlin or unnecessary to the plot.

The romance part of the film is hit-and-miss. The central arc revolves around the idea that Harriet and Max were each other’s true loves, but because their relationship is only seen in flashes, the movie has to tell us that fact instead of truly demonstrating it. It works better when Harriet and David start seeing each other, as it gives the audience the more traditional hallmarks of a growing love.

Music-wise, the film is solid if for no other reason than that it doesn’t rely on hits that everybody would know. The first song played in the film is the 1983 song “This is the Day” by The The, and the rest of the soundtrack is filled with similarly lesser-known, if still catchy, songs. The one exception is Nelly Furtado’s “I’m Like a Bird,” one of two songs the singer contributes, as well as a cameo.

Boynton, who has yet to truly break out despite being featured in films like Sing Street and Bohemian Rhapsody, is a nice presence in the lead role, imbuing Harriet with enough vitality to overcome her constant sorrowful state. Each of the three men complement her well, with Crute and Min getting the best arcs simply because their characters are in Harriet’s present, not her past.

The Greatest Hits uses time travel as a portal into two separate love stories, and by mostly avoiding the sci-fi trappings of the genre, it allows for the simpler aspects of the film to flourish. While not the most sweeping romantic movie of all time, it works for what it is, with a concept that allows people of all types to connect in one way or another.

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The Greatest Hits is now playing for one week only at AMC Stonebriar in Frisco; it will debut on Hulu on April 12.