Coincidenze d'amore

IN A NUTSHELL: I've often wondered what it would be like to randomly run into my old flames. Have you? Well, that's what this movie explores when Willa and Bill see each other for the first time in years when they're snowed in at an airport.

The film was directed by Meg Ryan and stars America's Sweetheart herself. She wrote the script with Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn based on a play by Dietz called "Shooting Star."

THINGS I LIKED: It's great seeing Meg Ryan in another rom-com. It's been 8 years. My favorite rom-com of hers is You've Got Mail.

David Duchovny always does a great job and fits this role very well.

The setting of an airport is the perfect location for this couple to meet again. The analogy of baggage rings loud and clear.

We learn more about each of these characters slowly as the layers of their lives are stripped away from the surface-level conversations of the beginning.

I thought it was cute when David Duchovny's character unplugged an electronic poster that advertised a movie called "Rom Com" in order to use the outlet for his cell phone.

There is some subtle, welcome humor, mostly coming from amusing announcements on the PA system.

Fun fact: This was filmed at an airport in Arkansas.

I could definitely relate to being stranded in an airport. Life completely pauses. Many years ago, I was stranded with some other college students at the Denver airport due to a snowstorm. Flights were canceled and we wandered around, hoping there would be a magical break in the weather that would allow us to go on our way. We ended up sleeping on the floor because the chairs had permanent armrests that made it impossible to be comfortable. I remember waking up to the sound of an older woman asking, "Are they asleep? Poor dears." The end of the movie shows these words: "For Nora", offering a loving tribute to the late Nora Ephron, her former mentor.

The ending is sweet, touching, and appropriate.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: The rom-com genre usually features a charming couple falling in love. What we get here, instead, is talk of how a couple used to be in love. Of course, there is a remnant of that love, but we don't get the same satisfaction as we would if the outlook for a romantic future were possible with this pair. Unfortunately, there just wasn't much chemistry between the two very different characters, which made you wonder how they ever got together in the first place.

Because it's a rom-com, we want the couple to kiss, yet we know it would be entirely improper because one of them is married.

A lot of the banter is only mildly entertaining. The dialogue mostly reveals past mistakes and pain mingled with regrets and sad arguments.

I feel terrible saying this but Meg Ryan's facial plastic surgery is super distracting. She was perfect before and didn't need to do anything to her beautiful face.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored and certainly not be able to relate to this relationship. Some adults will be super bored too. (Fair warning) Profanity and several F-bombs Talk of premarital relations Talk of giving away a baby born out of wedlock Infidelity.

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Greetings again from the darkness. Meg Ryan will forever be linked to her popular and beloved romantic comedies, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1989). She wore the crown of "America's Sweetheart" for years, and then after years of hard work, she pumped the breaks on her acting career, resurfacing periodically for a TV or film role, often in support. In 2015 she took her first shot at directing with ITHACA, in which she also starred, and now after an 8 year big screen absence, she's back as writer-director-producer and star of a film that harkens back much closer to her rom-com roots.

A massive winter storm rolls in - a Bomb Cyclone with Snow Thunder. This grounds all planes at a regional airport (it was filmed at the airport near Bentonville, Arkansas) where ex-lovers Willa (Meg Ryan) and Bill (David Duchovny) bump into each other for the first time since they broke up twenty-five years ago. Initial awkward small talk soon transitions into 'large' talk, and the two fall into rhythmic banter befitting of two who were at one time very close. He's a stockbroker on the way to Austin to meet with his demanding, much younger boss, and she's a wellness practitioner on her way to Boston. For emphasis, he wears a dark business suit and necktie, while she sports clunky boots and bouncy hair.

What follows is a passive-aggressive twist on Richard Linklater's "Before" trilogy. In the industry, this is called a two-hander, as there are only two speaking parts - not counting the slyly intrusive airport PA announcer (credited as Hal Liggett?) - and the two characters carry on a conversation for most of the run time. Ms. Ryan wrote the script with Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn and based it on Dietz's play, "Shooting Star." It's a dialogue heavy approach designed to let us get to know the characters, but also allow Willa and Bill to catch up as they re-live moments from the past. Some of this is painful for them, and some of it provides previously lacking clarity. Memories and quirks pop up, and the manner in which they are addressed speaks volumes to how close these two once were. We learn their secrets as they each peel back layers.

Tom Petty's lyrics, "Most of the things I worry about never happen anyway" are utilized to effect here, and missed connections has multiple meanings. With Meg Ryan and David Duchovny past the 60 year mark, this isn't one of the cutesy rom-coms we've grown accustomed to with twenty-somethings. These are grown-ups who once shared dreams and are now taking stock of life and reality. Even the commentary on society is head-on rather than cleverly disguised as is common for this genre. Director Ryan and cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek insert more than a few falling snowflake shots, and the point is driven home about just how much has occurred since these two became a couple while attending the University of Wisconsin. As a writer, director, and actor, Meg Ryan certainly is in her wheelhouse here, and fittingly, she ends with a "For Nora" tribute to her late friend and mentor, Nora Ephron.

Opens in theaters on November 3, 2023.

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.

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.

I very sweet surprise featuring two wonderful, talented actors. I loved it! So glad I stumbled across this. Can't believe I hadn't heard of it. Surprised at the low reviews. Give it a shot. If you like romance movies with clever dialogue and actors with good chemistry you'll like What Comes Later:) So glad I found this movie! So great seeing Meg Ryan light up the screen again as only she can do. Also great seeing her work with David. Duchovny for the first time. They make a great pair and play really well off one another. I highly recommend this movie if you're looking for a New Romantic comedy to watch:)