Harry Potter–er–Daniel Radcliffe plays a med-school drop-out named Wallace. Wallace goes to a party at his former roommate’s apartment and meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan). Sparks immediately fly. But, Chantry lives with her boyfriend, Ben. So Wallace and Chantry agree to “just be friends.” Can men and women “just be friends” was a question at the heart of the classic romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally. In fact, What If seems like a remake of When Harry Met Sally. The main problem with What If is that Nora Ephron did not write the script. I found myself wincing at some of the dialogue. But there’s on-screen chemistry between Radcliffe and Kazan to generate enough magic for me to recommend this movie. GRADE: B
They were both cute and I like Adam Driver but only a few weeks later I have basically forgotten it.
Patti, you’re right. WHAT IF is pure fluff. But we enjoyed it even though it was cotton-candy for the brain.
George. I’ll probably watch this to see how Radcliffe has shaped up after playing Harry Potter.
Prashant, I was way more interested in Zoe Kazan. She’s difficult, but cute as a button!
Maybe when it reaches cable. I think you’re right, the Nora Ephron script is probably what makes the difference.
Jeff, I also loved all the Toronto scenery in WHAT IF. We’ve been to Toronto many times and the shots of the CN Tower and the various neighborhoods were very familiar.
Is there a point at which a happily long-married person can admit that (1) the characters are way too young and (2) the twenty-somethings’ romantic misadventures are no longer of any interest? If so, I have reached that point. The movie holds no allure for me. Plus, although I know nothing about the movie, but based on the poster, Kazan (a relative of Elia’s?) seems to be positioned as another in a series of manic-pixie-dream-girls–next to super-genius serial killers, my least favorite movie type.
/Hurrumph!
Deb, Bill Crider says Hollywood has forgotten how to make Romantic Comedies. WHAT IF uses the WHEN HARRY MET SALLY template, but the results are different. I agree with you: the relationship problems of twenty-somethings don’t interest me a lot, especially when the problems could quickly be resolved if the couple were just honest with one another (a trick we happily long-married persons learned long ago).
I think Daniel is a very good actor. He may not to demonstrate it too much here, but he has the goods to play character parts perhaps more convincingly than romantic leads. He was apparently quite good in several recent Broadway plays.
Yes, I know what you mean, Deb. But so few movies for people over 45. What’s a movie nut to do.
I just watch the same 50 movies over and over again!
Deb, I just picked up an EXPANDED VERSION copy of my favorite Hitchcock movie, REAR WINDOW. I’ll have a review of this version with extra features up on this blog in the next few weeks.
Patti, I wish I had a CLOSED CAPTION option available while I was listening to Daniel’s accent in WHAT IF.
Deb, I so agree with what you said. I felt that way watching (500) DAYS OF SUMMER. I figure Zoey Deschanel was the template for all the other Zoeys and Zoes (and their ilk) who have followed in her “kooky” and “whimsical” footprints.
I’m too old to care or even to pretend otherwise.
And stay off my damn lawn!
Jeff, I see fewer and fewer Romantic Comedies each year. It’s a dying genre.
Radcliffe is trying so hard to levee the previous film series role behind, yet you and every other reviewer can’t seem to do the same, which is a pity. I’m not sure how Deb could look at a picture and make out all the pixie next to serial killer stuff. The picture certainly gives no hint of it to my eyes. I agree that teen or twenties romantic drama or comedy or fantasy does nothing for me. I guess I just prefer my characters to be full fledged adults living in an adult world.
Rick, Daniel Radcliffe will always be associated with those Harry Potter movies. Just as Sean Connery had to move on from the James Bond movies, Radcliffe will have find his way beyond Hogwarts.