Wallace, who is burned out from a string of failed relationships, forms an instant bond with Chantry, who lives with her longtime boyfriend. Together, they puzzle out what it means if your best friend is also the love of your life.
WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace, who's 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 longtime boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?Written by
CBS Films
During the filming in Dublin, Daniel Radcliffe spent a night partying with the Dublin Minor Gaelic footballers at a house party in celebration of them winning the All-Ireland minor championship. He was however, on set to film the next morning at 8 o'clock. See more »
Goofs
Cultural mistranslations: (1) Allan introduces Wallace as his "roommate from college." Unless they were educated in the US (and we don't actually know this), Wallace and Allan would be "roommates from university." Canadians don't colloquially refer to university as college. (2) Nicole suggests at one point that they discuss "topical events" of the day, such as gay marriage and abortion. These issues are not topical at all in Canada. They have been long settled. See more »
Quotes
Wallace:
I thought a lot about something you said. About how when you realize how quickly everything can fall apart it makes you never want to give up anything good ever again. Whatever this is between us, it is good. It is so good. It is actually the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I don't want it to be over.
Chantry:
I don't want it to be over either. I kind of wish we could invent a time machine or something.
Wallace:
If we ever invent time travel, I would go back to the night we met.
Chantry:
[moves in closer]
You ...
[...] See more »
Crazy Credits
The beginning of the closing credits are done with Chantry's animations telling some of the story of the movie as well as some of the back story. See more »
Alternate Versions
Original/TIFF cut is appx 101 minutes, US cut is appx 98 minutes, and TIFF cut (PAL DVD) is appx 97 minutes (obviously due to PAL speedup differences).
Comparing Australian PAL DVD (original/TIFF cut) to US Bluray (US cut), changes begin from AU version at appx 65:00, equivalent to US version at appx 65:13 :
"Lawn Bowls" reordered scene: AU @ 65:00-66:26 --> US @ 67:48
"Tearing list" scene: AU @ 66:54-67:00 --> deleted from US
"Chantry wandering around Dublin" scene: AU @ 67:04-67:15 --> deleted from US
"We're Just Friends" scene: AU @ 67:28-68:13 --> deleted from US (found as an extra on the retail disc)
"3 points" scene: US @ 69:33-69:38 --> deleted from AU
"Where is Chantry" reordered scene: AU @ 68:13-69:45 --> US @ 69:38-71:08
"Wallace going to Dublin" scene: AU @ 69:45-69:56 --> deleted from US
"Wallace landing in Dublin" reordered scene: AU @ 72:10-72:13 --> US @ 71:08-71:10
"Wallace waking up in Dublin on plane" scene: AU @ 72:13-72:24 --> deleted from US
"Wallace found unconscious" scene: AU @ 73:06-73:32 --> deleted from US
"Chantry's voicemail message to Wallace" alternate/reordered scene (shorter on US): US @ 72:00-72:10 --> uses AU @ 7427-7440 footage
"Chantry's voicemail message to Wallace" alternate & Wallace's voicemail message to Chantry" scenes: AU @ 73:32-74:08--> deleted from US
"Wallace leaving Ben's" same scene: AU @ 74:08-74:18 --> US @ 72:10-72:18
"Wallace departing Dublin" scenes: AU @ 74:15-74:27 and 74:40-75:00 --> deleted from US
"Landing at Toronto" same scene: AU @ 75:00-75:04 --> US @ 72:18-72:22
"Rushing to restaurant" scene: AU @ 75:04-75:15 --> deleted from US
"Outside restaurant" scene: AU @ 75:15 extended by appx 1 second
"New US ending" scene: US @ 87:05-90:40 --> not on AU (found as an extra on the retail disc). Scene is out of narrative order when compared to animated end credits, and should have been placed after animated credits.
Animated end credits are also somewhat different, and run at different speeds (outside PAL speedup): AU @ 90:00-94:37 --> US @ 90:40-93:19
What If asks a basic question if a friendship between a boy and a girl could lead their relationship to something romantic. It isn't an idea that we haven't heard before, of course, but for some reason the movie does feel a lot fresh. It offers one thing that we don't always see in a romantic film lately: an ultimately likable on screen couple. They may not be a typical stale supermodel looking pair, the uniqueness it highlights to these characters are their personalities and their problems. It may not make their personal situations any complex, but it still is a memorable little romcom that shines through its humor and performances.
The film is best when it only settles with its two leads starting to build their connection into friendship until it gets serious. What makes this love story so genuine is their conversations as friends pouring out their honest views toward something, like love or their lives. Following its central plot would make the clichés visible, but by just looking through the world of these characters is what helps it show its own color. It also sells well when they reveal each of their issues, it sometimes takes them as one of its jokes, but whenever it gets compellingly heavy, it usually resolve those situations too easy. It's probably because it wanted to focus more on its sweetness, but it does still deserve some depth at the unthinkable fate of the "friendzone".
The depth is instead placed on the actors. There is an undeniable charm to be found in Daniel Radcliffe, even though his character is struck with a cynical side personality and Zoe Kazan brings much of the soul to the connection of every person her character jumps right into. Both of them spark a strangely admirable chemistry that makes the witty screen writing sound more lively. It just embraces the awkwardness of their desires. The direction makes it real simple, though it does pull off a little hipster-y animation when it shows their abstract feelings, but most of the time it just let it linger at the very meaningful moments.
The most important thing What If needs is gumption at portraying how doomed the both are from ending up with each other, but it still is a worth a watch for its often delightful environment. Its strongest appeal is just the two stars tagging you along in their world of an uncertain luck. Not sure what kind of people would leave the theater having sudden thoughts of word magnets and art-driven animation, or nachos and Fool's Gold Loaf, but to be sure this film has its distinction as a romantic comedy. Overall, it's all pretty nice.
33 of 43 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
What If asks a basic question if a friendship between a boy and a girl could lead their relationship to something romantic. It isn't an idea that we haven't heard before, of course, but for some reason the movie does feel a lot fresh. It offers one thing that we don't always see in a romantic film lately: an ultimately likable on screen couple. They may not be a typical stale supermodel looking pair, the uniqueness it highlights to these characters are their personalities and their problems. It may not make their personal situations any complex, but it still is a memorable little romcom that shines through its humor and performances.
The film is best when it only settles with its two leads starting to build their connection into friendship until it gets serious. What makes this love story so genuine is their conversations as friends pouring out their honest views toward something, like love or their lives. Following its central plot would make the clichés visible, but by just looking through the world of these characters is what helps it show its own color. It also sells well when they reveal each of their issues, it sometimes takes them as one of its jokes, but whenever it gets compellingly heavy, it usually resolve those situations too easy. It's probably because it wanted to focus more on its sweetness, but it does still deserve some depth at the unthinkable fate of the "friendzone".
The depth is instead placed on the actors. There is an undeniable charm to be found in Daniel Radcliffe, even though his character is struck with a cynical side personality and Zoe Kazan brings much of the soul to the connection of every person her character jumps right into. Both of them spark a strangely admirable chemistry that makes the witty screen writing sound more lively. It just embraces the awkwardness of their desires. The direction makes it real simple, though it does pull off a little hipster-y animation when it shows their abstract feelings, but most of the time it just let it linger at the very meaningful moments.
The most important thing What If needs is gumption at portraying how doomed the both are from ending up with each other, but it still is a worth a watch for its often delightful environment. Its strongest appeal is just the two stars tagging you along in their world of an uncertain luck. Not sure what kind of people would leave the theater having sudden thoughts of word magnets and art-driven animation, or nachos and Fool's Gold Loaf, but to be sure this film has its distinction as a romantic comedy. Overall, it's all pretty nice.