What If – Film Review
Director: Michael Dowse
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver and Rafe Spall
Release Date: Aug 22
When Wallace (Radliffe) meets Chantry (Kazan) at a house party, they break away from the crowd to nonchalantly discuss the specifics of Elvis’ death, while writing bizarre magnetic poetry on a fridge. When they depart, they continue the conversation online, where it then breaks off into a tangent of baking etiquette.
What If, in case you didn’t catch it, is a quirky film, but likably so. And it is that likability that carries it, making this one of the most fun and carefree films of the year.
It sticks pretty closely to the Rom-Com formula. It feels like a modern day version of When Harry Met Sally, but less ambitious. Which is not to say it is without ambition. Shortly after Chantry meets Wallace, we discover that she is already in a relationship with Ben, who is well cast with the charming Rafe Spall.
Naturally, there is an obvious chemistry between her and Wallace, but her relationship with Ben is a far way off from being troubled. She is content and happy, so Wallace is viewed as more of a temptation than her destined-to-be soulmate. This is a film in which, if filmed from Ben’s perspective, we could easily see Wallace as the villain.
But instead, we focus on Wallace, who is emotionally fragile after a previous break-up. Begrudgingly at first, but then with great enthusiasm, he decides to give friendship a try, physical attraction be damned!
The relationship between Radcliffe and Kazan is very much equal to the sum of its parts. Both actors are superbly likable, with each exhibiting a slightly downtrodden yet optimistic personality. They connect well and you get the sense that late night movie marathons and shopping trips for fake mustaches are not outside the realms of possibility. They have strong chemistry, but it isn’t overwhelming.
The reason for this is because, as they are so likable, they get on very well with the rest of the cast as well. As a result, their idyllic relationship isn’t quite as highlighted as it would be in other Rom-Coms. Wallace has one scene with another potential love interest, and she is necessarily written to be drastically different to him in terms of personality.
Chantry, meanwhile, has Ben, who is given considerably less screen-time than Wallace. The director favours Wallace as a love interest and, as a result, we are also meant to feel this way.
And this raises the question of whether or not the director is making a point with Ben. After all, there is little to suggest that, if Wallace hadn’t arrived on the scene, he and Chantry wouldn’t be perfectly happy together. Any mishaps in their relationship that portray him in a negative light are either directly or indirectly caused by Wallace.
Perhaps he is attempting to depict how relationships and break ups function in everyday life? After all, Rom-Coms tend to mold the rival love interest into the Villain; someone who is clearly dismissive of their responsibilities in the relationships and hops into bed with whatever hot piece of crumpet that happens to walk by. This might make up a percentage of people in the real world, but many of them are a little bit more complex. Break-ups can often happen because of opposing ideals or simply a respectable lack of emotion.
We can also see this train of thought running along the rails of Dalia and Allan’s relationship, portrayed with reckless abandon by Megan Park and the excellent Adam Driver. Allan is Wallace’s kooky friend, recently graduated from Rom-Com 101, and he meets Dalia the same night that Wallace meets Chantry. The circumstances in which they come together also raises some questions about the grey area of morals and romance.
It’s not something the film dwells upon, with their efforts being better spent on comic relief. And that is something that the film has buckets of, with almost every other line designed to raise a chuckle or a guffaw. Dalia and Allan have some terrific scenes by themselves, including one that involves some seriously symbolic nachos. But it is Wallace and Chantry who are given all the best lines, able to rattle off witticisms as casually as a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.
The film itself may appear formulaic under close examination, but it flows so well, the cast are so likable, the overall package is so endearing that such a trivial detail is easily dismissed.
True, there are a lot of conversations and montages that can be broken down to them simply ‘bonding’, but because it’s easy to become emotionally involved with these two, that is no bad thing. And when they close in for that oh-so-sweet moment, Radcliffe and Kazan may very well bring a tear to your eye.
Score: 4/5
Written by Stephen Hill
Please Join us on your Social Platform of choice
