When a man lists an ad in the classifieds for a time-travel buddy, three Seattle magazine writers wonder if the guy is legit or plain crazy.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and stars Aubrey Plaza (known as April on "Parks and Recreation") as Darius, a social misfit with a bit of a sad past. She's an intern with the magazine and is recruited with another intern to assist magazine editor Jeff (Jake Johnson, known for playing Nick on "New Girl") in hunting down the man who placed the ad.

Their trip takes them to Ocean View, coincidentally the town where Jeff's old girlfriend lives.

Darius is able to befriend the man who places the ad, Kenneth, but discovers the sweeter and real side of him.

Mark Duplass (known as Pete on "The League"), who plays Kenneth, said he initially was presented the script with the role of producer and later was recruited to also play Kenneth. He said the crew took care to make sure they didn't present the movie as a joke, like in "Napolean Dynamite."

"We had to make [the characters] feel sweet and like you can understand them," he said.

The ending addresses the issue of time travel (although I won't revel specifically what happens), but Derek Connolly, who wrote the screenplay, said there is an alternate ending than what was shown in Austin because they changed the ending at the last possible minute.

"It was based on a real ad on the Internet," he said of the initial idea for the film. "We thought it was hilarious and sad. But what if this guy is real?"

The cast moved to Seattle for four weeks to shoot the independent film, leading to the cast's incredible chemistry. Director Colin Trevorrow said filming in the state of Washington also aided in the mystical feel of the movie.

"It was put a sheen of magic over the whole thing," he said.

SXSW chose 14 films that premiered at other festivals to showcase in this year's lineup, SXSW Film Festival Director Janet Pierson said.

"We're looking for ones you're going to love," she said.

The film screens just once more Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Alamo Slaughter, 5701 Slaughter Lane.