What Happens Later

This movie is nothing like I thought it would be, considering what kinds of roles each actor has had in the past. After 16 minutes I considered abandoning it but my wife wanted to continue so we did. On DVD from our public library.

The two actors were born in 1960 and 1961, so they both were in their early 60s. It turns out that they were both W. Davis and they referred to each other that way frequently.

Meg Ryan is Willa and David Duchovny is Bill. It turns out they were sweethearts when they were in their 20s and eventually went their separate ways after finding out their life goals were different. Now they are both stranded in a regional airport when a storm, a bomb cyclone, arrives and all flights are put on hold. She lives in Austin and was headed to Boston, he lives in Boston and was headed to Austin.

So this is not a rom-com as I expected. Instead it is a fairly serious commentary on life, the difference in a trip vs a journey. The hard part is the movie only has these two characters and almost all the movie is them talking. I found that I could close my eyes and listen and not miss anything.

It has some redeeming qualities, but overall I don't rate it very highly and certainly would not want to watch it again.

The movie is mostly about two actors just talking. It doesn't have the strongest start, but it turns into a little magical gem of a film. It's not your typical cute romcom; you probably need to be more of a romance movie fan than a romcom enthusiast. It didn't make me feel too mushy inside, which is basically how I judge romance movies, but I still very much enjoyed it.

The writers were important for this. It's essentially watching two ex-married individuals, everything else very much in the background. Their interactions felt genuine, showing a sense of maturity. Wasn't loudly bitter and bickering. The airport voice added a humorous touch, slyly responding to their conversation. The Instacart line made me giggle, and the movie had many little quips like that.

The dialogue-heavy approach allows us to get to know the characters while also letting Willa and Bill catch up as they relive moments from their past, which is the plot. Some of it is painful, and some provides clarity. As the movie progresses, the chemistry between the two characters gets better, and the conversations become deeper. It even imparts some life lessons. I initially thought it might be a wannabe version of Richard Linklater's "Before" Trilogy movies or Chris Evan's "Before We Go," but it offers a sensible twist, portraying an older couple reminiscing about their younger selves. I enjoyed it, and it also reminded me of "Destination Wedding."

The writers did a pretty good job. Of course, it's not a film for everyone, as many may not want to spend over an hour watching just two people talk. The budget seems noticeably low, particularly in the outside views of the snowstorm, resembling flakes in a snow globe. But that doesn't detract from what the movie aimed to achieve.

The movie isn't entirely grounded in reality; it incorporates elements like the universe working in mysterious ways, adding a touch of magic. It brought back memories of when I got stuck at the airport in Germany, where they powered down everything at night; I didn't expect airports to do that either lol. The story has some twists and turns, but it's more about the chemistry between the two characters and their connections to other people in their lives.

This move was excellent for people who grew up with Meg being America's sweetheart. It is a romantic fantasy for grown people with nearly grown children. NOBODY has approached life with children who are on the cusp of making their own defining life choices and not looked back at their own formative years and ask "what if?" It isn't a regret. It's just another part of growing as a human being and this movie captures it in a fun and beautiful way. It's not life changing stuff, it's just growing and empathizing with someone else's different experience than your's was. Particularly someone who was close to you and then drifted away. I can't even tell you how many people in my past I wish I could have an encounter like this. Trust me. If you're Genx and are a parent, this is a must see.

Long story short, this is entertainment for adults in a world run by children.

I don't get the negative reviews. Did you even watch the movie? Have you never seen a Nora Ephron flic?

Geez!

Meg Ryan has directed a sweet and clever tete a tete movie filled with quick sparring and sparkling dialogue between herself and David Duchovny.

The storyline is completely implausible yet completely identifiable to anyone over 40 years old. The absolute empathetic story of their past together bubbles up and echos to many of our generations experiences. The way in which they reconnect and have had so much happen yet still have so many of their original issues is familiar and endearing.

It's a lovely movie. I also can envision it as a play!

Just watch it.

After many years, former lovers Willa and Bill get snowed in together, and are forced to look back, and communicate with one another.

I was genuinely white excited by this, the thought of David Duchovny and Meg Ryan uniting for a comedy, within ten or fifteen minutes, it became apparent that this wasn't going to be good.

Such a boring film, incredibly dialogue heavy, one where nothing actually happens, the pair literally sit there chatting with one another, sadly the dialogue is utterly drab and uninspiring. It's an incredibly boring film.

There is Also chemistry between Duchovny and Ryan, I'm a fan of his, not so much hers, I thought she was pretty wooden here, her acting was a bit sketchy.

If you're expecting a sweet, heart warming rom com for Christmas, my advice is watch something from your dvd collection, this was dire.

3/10.