What Happens Later

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 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:)

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.

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.

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.