WHAT HAPPENS LATER is now in theaters | 105 Minutes | Rated R
WHAT HAPPENS LATER? Not a lot. This films marks the 2nd directing gig for Meg Ryan after almost ten years, as well as the first time we have seen her act in eight. After that long of an absence we all want to cheer her back into our movie lives. The nostalgic part of us does cheer but sadly the movie fan in us emits more of a long sigh.
Meg Ryan and David Duchovny play two former lovers stuck in an airport during a snow storm. Other than an annoying voice over the intercom; they are it. Nothing else do we get. We watch them bump into each other awkwardly then listen to them rehash all parts of their lives together and apart. It is like being stuck in the airport with them with no place to go. And it isn’t as if they have a thrilling story to tell. Your life is probably more exciting. The point I am sure is that this could be a thousand other couples. It is a fairly common tale of love lost.
We all adore Meg Ryan and for that matter Duchovny too. But this is not how I wanted to see them. Not after this long. If this is how we get them let it be better served on a live stage in an intimate playhouse. This story and setting would have been a perfect stage play. The writing is solid and there are several strong moments of delivery. Words that would have been even stronger if delivered live in front of an audience. In the film it all falls flat because there is no energy to feed off of.
The film is barely over 90-minutes but feels way longer. Again, akin to being stuck in an airport with flight delays. One problem being there is too much of the same. They fight then laugh then argue then cry then reminisce then argue again; over and over. The monotony is brutal. Would it have been better had Meg starred opposite Tom Hanks and they were stuck in Seattle? No. Not even that would have helped. It would have upped the nostalgic meter but the film fan would have still groaned.
There are patches of solid moments. One being a scene at the airport bar. I felt that interaction was the most organic and gave us a glimpse of the Ryan we have missed. It had humor, and the walls for both characters came down.
Ryan co-wrote the script and I felt a few times it was her way of giving the middle finger to younger Hollywood. None of us like getting older and becoming irrelevant. But it when it happens it is often best to just move on and enjoy the memories.
We still love Meg and I think I speak for most when I say that I hope to see her again soon, but this time in something a little bit lighter and funnier. She still has it. It just needs to be put to better use.
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