What If?
A few weeks ago, I spoke about the one and only Daniel Radcliffe and how he is stripping off his Hogwarts clothing and prancing about in genuinely good films. For years he has been regaled as a bit of an average thespian who once stripped off in front of a horse (no pig gate here, more Equis), who couldn't get his facial expressions around emotions and his vocal with the right sense of je ne sais quois...
But it seems to have just been teething problems from his Harry Potter days to actual non-franchise actor. Radcliffe has done a lot to remove all magical stigma that he's a one note performer and has tackled chunkier and darker roles. However, with What If? he chose a safe but enjoyable romantic comedy to high a ride on.
Starring alongside Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, and Ralf Spall, What If? sees Radcliffe as Wallace, a British expat in America who feels a little rejected in his life after he was unscrupulously cheated on by his girlfriend and dropped out of the medical course that he was doing. Tired and alone, when he encounters Chantry at a party, the pair immediately connect. However, Chantry has a boyfriend and is only looking for a friend with Wallace. The pair embark on a platonic relationship but Wallace is struggling to hide his feelings from her, and everyone around him can see that he is in love with her. Adamant that they stay friends, can the pair move past this and remain friends, or will they give into their undeniable connection?
Why is it Bad?
Well, like most average comedies, you know the ending before you've even begun... Sorry, spoilers but they verb together. Clearly. And my lord, the film takes forever to get to it. Coming into the second half, it gets muddled and confused, plateauing out into naff tangents because it has a time quota to fill. It gets dull and you find yourself on an uphill struggle to get to the end you want. Plus, as an actress, Kazan is a really hard one to invest in. Whether that’s because I’d disliked Ruby Sparks and In Your Eyes or not, in this film, it’s hard to ultimately engage with her character as much as you do with Wallace and that’s somewhat detrimental to the being totally into the story.
Why is it Good?
Despite all this, there is a certain charm to the film that will keep you invested, no matter how dire the narrative gets. There is a smartness here, akin to (500) Days of Summer, that elevates this movie from the normal humdrum a romantic comedy would deliver. And while you never really settle with Kazan, she has great moments and an unparalleled chemistry with Radcliffe. Her romance and friendship with him does feel real; after all, we often have that friendship we wish could be more because it simply clicks with us. Radcliffe is fantastic as Wallace. He feels human and the actor can harnesses the quirks and emotions of our lead in order to believe his plight.
So whilst it struggles to find true forming, it makes it over its cool, witty moments greatly. The support by Adam Driver and Megan Park as the vivacious couple Allan and Dalia add an oddity that is really great comedy fodder (with one of the best weddings ever, by the way). What If? is genuinely good, if not great, and Radcliffe flourishes with the script.