‘What Happens Later Review: The Cuteness Wears Thin In Meg Ryans Screen Return Opposite David Duchovny

It's easy to see why Meg Ryan chose a romantic comedy to make her return to the screen after an eight-year absence. After all, it was the genre that made her a beloved movie icon. That's certainly an advantage of his new film with David Duchovny, which is also his second directorial effort after 2016's Ithaca . But fans of classics like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle might be a little confused by What's Going On? . Later is less of a romantic comedy and more of a comedy-drama with a heavy dose of magical realism that some viewers will find charming and others unbearably silly.

From the outset, the film emphasizes its stage origins: it's based on Stephen Dietz's play Shooting Star and adapted by playwrights Kirk Lynn and Ryan. Although the story takes place in a small regional airport full of passengers stranded there during an epic snowstorm, it quickly becomes clear that this is actually a two-player game, with only the central duo speaking. Except for a series of increasingly absurd messages over airport loudspeakers delivered by the only known actor, Hal Liggett. Liggett gives an engaging vocal performance, but doesn't bother to look up his IMDb credit. His true identity remains a mystery. The press releases say: “He took the opportunity to lose himself in the role. He thought it had the perfect look for a Pennsylvania airport.

The two stars play Will and Bill, lovers 25 years ago as students at the University of Wisconsin (no, the math doesn't make sense), who unexpectedly meet at the airport when their flights are delayed. Their initially awkward conversations suggest that their relationship did not end happily and that they have become completely different people. Willa dresses unconventionally, carries a rain stick and describes herself as a "healer and healer". In a dark suit, Bill is a buttoned-up businessman who angrily heads to Austin at the behest of his much younger boss. The characters seem to be taken from a book of archetypes.

Willa and Bill stayed together for the foreseeable future, gradually letting their guard down. Bill, who suffers from "waiting anxiety," literally takes his mind off the pain when he listens to music at the airport or talks on the phone while waiting. He and Willa exchange wallets, which they think is the fastest way to catch up. And they reflect on the most painful aspects of their past relationships, including Willa sleeping with other men and abandoning the child.

Now the airport is becoming more and more deserted, and, apparently, every second passenger manages to get on the flight. Place itself seems to determine your fate, with PAs making obscene announcements and often directly responding to your comments like an omniscient version of M*A*S*H , and electronic billboards broadcasting messages like “It's time. ” “Say” and “Just connecting”. The final message is telling, with the couple warmly rekindling their love for each other and ending up dancing together in an empty airport.

What might be effective in the theater feels completely artificial and sketchy on screen, despite Ryan's considerable efforts as a director and performer. An attempt is made to add visual variety to the unique but expansive setting (the film was shot by Bartosz Nalacek in Bentonville, the Crystal Bridges Arkansas Museum, and Northwest Arkansas National Airport), with repeated shots of the airport's exterior and winter. . . A storm. But this process inevitably leads to claustrophobia. Unfortunately, while Ryan's suave charm is more evident than ever, her character comes across as an older version of a maniacal pixie dream girl. And the magical and realistic elements of the film compensate for the lightness of the material to deadly effect.

Still, What Happens Later is riveting at times thanks to the chemistry between Ryan and Duchovny, with the latter putting his well-honed comedic skills to good use. And the film ends on a wonderfully sophisticated note, honoring "Nora," a nod to writer-director Nora Ephron, with whom Ryan has had several such successful collaborations.