Movie Review - What Happens Later

It was charming to see two of my favorite actors from my early adulthood back on the big screen. But, David Duchovny and Meg Ryan are old now so that means I'm... That can't be right. :-)

If it wasn't apparent from the movie preview, this is like a two-person play. The only other person in the movie with a speaking credit is the Airport Voice.

7:42●●● 95%

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I'm really happy to see that a movie like this got made and released to theaters. It feels like the sort of movie you could have thrown two relatively unknown actors into and dumped it on a streaming platform for no one to watch. But by casting two well-known stars and releasing it to theaters, it will get the attention it deserves.

As I watched What Happens Later I couldn't help but think it will primarily appeal to those in their 50s and 60s, but I feel that people in their twenties, or younger, can get so much from it. It's powerful to see people in their 50s realize that their lives have been profoundly impacted by wrong assumptions they made when they were in their twenties. This is one of those rare movies that provide life lessons far more important than two hours of entertainment.

I wonder if anyone else watching this movie will crave a rewatch of LA Story with Steve Martin and Victoria Tennant, and oh yeah, a very young Sarah Jessica Parker. There were some subtle LA Story vibes throughout the movie. I wonder if it was on purpose.

The acting and pacing in What Happens Later is exceptionally good. It felt real to see how these two characters interacted and how their interactions evolved throughout their time together.

Grade: A-

Plot
Willa and Bill are ex-lovers that will see each other for the first time in years when they both find themselves snowed in, in-transit, at an airport overnight.