The review of What Happens Later does not contain spoilers.
Meg Ryan is on the Mount Rushmore of rom-com queens, with stars like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and Reese Witherspoon. The adorable star was a hitmaker with such films as When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and others through the 80s and 90s.
Years later, Ms. Ryan has concentrated on telling stories. After a forgettable misfire with her directorial debut with Ithaca, she returns to the genre that made her star with What Happens Later. Her sophomore effort behind the camera is disarmingly charming, with two appealing performances.
One is from Ms. Ryan. The other is from David Duchovny (The X-Files). Both have a relaxed and believable chemistry where they are comfortable in their own skin. They are an entertaining pair, and their interactions never grow tiring, even in a film with a bottleneck cast.
What Happens Later Plot Summary and Review
What Happens Later is an adaptation of the theatrical play Shooting Star by Steven Dietz. The story follows Willa (Ryan), a health wellness guru stranded in an unnamed regional airport somewhere in the desolate winter wonderland of New York State. Willa is on her way to Boston, Massachusetts.
Willa’s trip is a bit of a mystery for the viewer. So is the trip for Bill (David Duchovny), a businessman who was also diverted to the same location while on a work trip to Austin, Texas. Willa and Bill run into each other while checking in on their flight status. As it turns out, they have a shared history.
Like the reasons for their journeys, their shared history is also a mystery. As the script unfolds, some subtle yet significant revelations are unveiled. What makes the script interesting and engaging is the zippy banter between both actors. Much of that credit goes to Ryan, Dietz, and Kirk Lynn, who wrote the script.
What Happens Later excels because of the performances and dialogue
For one, these characters are polar opposites, which is a standard romantic comedy cliché. However, the combination of one, maturing with age, and two shared histories means gentle bickering never turns into eye-rolling fights. There’s a natural flow, little resentment, and acceptance that’s refreshing. Ryan’s Willa is eccentric, and Duchovny’s Bill is calm and grounded. They complement each other.
The script also adds a quality that’s rare in most films. The dialogue paces and sounds like how people really talk. There will be no Robert Frost poem recited to connect the weather to their lives in order to cram in an artistic metaphor. The writing and lead performances are well worth the price of admission. However, there are times when What Happens Next does become too cute for its own good.
For instance, there’s the use of a plot device that doubles as additional comic relief using airport announcements (voiced by Hal Liggett). The device moves characters along, meant to be a fun way to let the audience into the character’s inner thoughts. The original play used this for greater comic relief. The device would have benefited from being even more outlandish and a bit restrained.
Is What Happens Later Worth Watching?
The performances and script make What Happens Later worth watching. Yes, the nostalgia of Ms. Ryan’s return to rom-coms is satisfying and enjoyable. But it’s a simple fact that this genre of film is seen through a more mature lens.
As the story progresses and revelations are made, this makes for a more profound impact because of the melancholy that comes with life experiences. What Happens Later has a disarming charm that sneaks up on you and shows the growth of Meg Ryan as a filmmaker.
What Happens Later is a coming-of-age romantic comedy about people of a certain different age. Ryan gives a wonderful turn as Willa. This is also the best performance of Duchovny’s career. You’ll even forgive Ryan for not casting Tom Hanks in the role for their third collaboration (I chose to ignore his cameo in Ithaca).
What Happens Later can be seen only in theatres.
