What If
Published April 11, 2015
Film info
- Title What If
- Director Michael Dowse
- Year 2013
- Run time 1hr 38m
- Genres Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Tagline ...being friends has its benefits?
Wallace, a medical school dropout, has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan, seems to be finding the perfect partner, Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry, an animator who lives with her long term boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. But there's no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder: what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1:39 | Anonymous fridge magnet poetry. |
| 5:16 | “Maybe you’d like to talk again sometime.” |
| 9:37 | I’ve always wondered how people can pull off berets. |
| 11:56 | It really isn’t a great conversation for dinner. |
| 19:01 | Wait, what’s that about Europe not being a continent? |
| 21:01 | Falling out the window, just as funny as in the trailer. |
| 29:46 | “You mean, in the universe?” |
| 33:24 | The real question is why he has kept such a mouldy banana in the house. |
| 35:59 | Actual Liffey! |
| 43:07 | The conversations between Wallace and his friend are fab. |
| 44:19 | “The most you ever get out of Bruce is a hint of melancholy at the edge of a smirk.” |
| 45:46 | Love the impromptu wedding at your engagement party. |
| 57:10 | Mooooon. |
| 1:01:30 | “Misunderstood the seriousness of your walrus reference.” |
| 1:09:04 | More films should be in Dublin. |
| 1:12:21 | Cotton wool candy cow. |
| 1:29:04 | “I’m not sure about anything.” |
| 1:33:46 | These are epic credits, finishing off the story. |
Conclusions
Was looking forward to this one, seeing Daniel Radcliffe doing something relatively normal compared to his history of wizards and horror and that kind of thing. The story is, of course, utterly predictable. Boy and girl are friends but fall in love, try to fight it and ultimately end up together.
But in amongst that, there’s some really good stuff. The traditional third act falling out was for reasons I couldn’t have guessed, I loved Chantry and Wallace’s conversations, and the subplot of the friend hooking up, getting married and having a baby in the short space of time was also great.
There was nothing wrong with the film, and it certainly made my Radcliffe appreciation go up another notch, but I’m not sure it was special enough to buy and watch again. Maybe just that scene with the window.
Rating: 5/5.
Rating: 5 / 5