What Happens Later
Summary
Is there any actor more synonymous with the read-only storage - com than Meg Ryan ? The darling genius has made her fall guy on the genre with classics such asWhen Harry Met SallyandSleepless in Seattle , and she now give to the covert with another earnest entry to the rom - com canon . What Happens subsequently , arriving in theaters this week after being set back by another romance icon , Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour motion-picture show , marks Ryan ’s first movie in eight years , and the second she has directed . In many way , it finger like the perfect undertaking to institute the actor / director / author back to movie - making , with its simple setup paving the way of life for a dateless sort of story . What find Laterisn’t without some singultus in its writ of execution , but with Ryan at the helm , it ’s unacceptable not to feel enamor .
A major snowstorm push a reunion between two x - lovers : liberal - mettlesome Willa ( Ryan ) and anxiety - prone Bill ( David Duchovny ) . Both are headed in opposite direction , yet they ’ve been grounded for an indeterminate amount of clip due to what is dubbed the " violent storm of the century , " much to Willa ’s bafflement . Though their initial meeting is sticky and riddled with the kind of modest talk they detest , Willa and Bill are soon attached at the coxa as they drift through the regional airport , catch up and turn up their previous romance in adequate measure .
What Happens Lateris very much a two - hander between Ryan and Duchovny ; the only other talk part in the movie belong to Hal Liggett as the aerodrome ’s loudspeaker part , though he does get in a surprisingly sizable role . This is because the drome is essentially a third role within Willa and Bill ’s journey , nudging them together through much wizard means . Early on , this play a skillful touch of arbitrariness to what would ’ve otherwise been a rather insipid setup , and it prompts pot of laughter . There is a point , though , whenWhat Happens Laterleans a minute too much into the fantastical , and it could campaign the risk of losing some viewers . Based on the playShooting Starby Steven Dietz , the movie is write by Dietz and Kirk Lynn , and Ryan . The dialog between Willa and Bill flows easily , aided by the strength of Ryan and Duchovny ’s performances .
There ’s a real chemistry between the two actors , and their personality , while never digress into caricature territory , are dissimilar enough that watch them bounce off each other is thrilling , even if all they ’re doing is babble out . What Happens Laterfeels like a play with its dialogue - heavy data format , but Ryan know how to pull at the heartstrings with even the simplest of interactions . exploit with cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek and editor program Jason Gourson , Ryan occasionally gives Willa and Bill ’s conversation a playfulness flourish , such as letting the camera bounce back and forward between them during an argument . It ’s empty the chronicle between these two case runs deep , but the handwriting does n’t give away solvent speedily or easily . thing extend gradually , chair to emotional revelation for both character . What Happens Laterdoesn’t always address the shifts between lighthearted and heavy opinion smoothly , but the winning duo at its center helps smooth out over any ineptness .
Ryan has n’t lost any of the personal magnetism that made her an iconic pass lady . Anyone who has enjoy her previous work will get a rush from seeing her back on the giving screen , firing off quippy retorts and compass into Willa ’s painful closed book . Duchovny is a great scene partner as Bill , offer the right-hand amount of neuroticism to poise Willa ’s playful nature . Plus , his ironical line delivery are genuinely funny . As with the airport magical realism , the relationship between Willa and Bill has some oddity that are occasionally too cutesy , such as the detail that they essentially have the same name : She ’s Wilhelmina Davis , he ’s William Davis , so they are both W. Davis . It ’s contrived , though there ’s more than enough charm elsewhere to make up for it .
Ryan make no mystery of how her late frequent collaborator Nora Ephron influence her work onWhat Happens Later , as bear witness by a sweet tribute at the start of the credits . The drome - set Latinian language is n’t sodding , at time getting misplace in the fantastical flourishes . However , few knowromantic clowning better than Ryan , and she gets the opportunity to stretch her playacting and directorial muscles here to great success . It ’s a delight to have her back , and one just hopes she does n’t wait another eight years to make her next movie .
What Happens Laterreleases in theatre of operations Friday , November 3 . It is 103 bit long and rat radius for language , some intimate reference , and brief drug use .
Meg Ryan and David Duchovny in What Happens Later
Meg Ryan in What Happens Later
