Here’s everything we know about ‘What Happens Later,’ Meg Ryan’s newest romantic comedy
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Meg Ryan, the once-queen of romantic comedies, directed and stars in “What Happens Later,” a rom-com of Ryan’s own. It’s the first movie that Ryan has acted in since her directorial debut, 2015’s “Ithaca.”
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Here’s everything you need to know about “What Happens Later.”
What’s the plot of ‘What Happens Later’?
In “What Happens Later,” Ryan plays Willa, who she describes as a “magical thinker.” David Duchovny plays Bill, who Ryan calls “a catastrophic thinker,” per Entertainment Weekly. As Ryan told People, the film is about “two people trying to make sense of a life not lived together.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, “When Willa and Bill are indefinitely delayed at an airport overnight, they find themselves drawn to each other and irked by one another much as they did decades prior.”
“But as they try to unravel their mutual past and compare the trajectory of their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to question if their reunion is coincidental or guided by a greater force in the universe.”
Earlier this week, Duchovny and Ryan teased a mystery third actor in “What Happens Later” to People. Credited as “Airport Voice,” the actor is only listed as Hal Liggett.
“All I can say about Hal Ligget is that he’s somehow able to put his heart and his soul (into the part),” Ryan told People.
‘What Happens Later’ reviews
“What Happens Later” currently has a score of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s what critics had to say about the film:
As Claire Shaffer wrote for The New York Times: “While it’s unlikely to join the rom-com pantheon, its charming leads and humorous truths do invoke the spirit of Ephron, to whom the film is dedicated. It’s a worthy tribute to her, delivered by perhaps the most qualified person to create one.”
As Courtney Howard wrote for Variety: “It’s heartening to see the woman who elevated the rom-com game continuing her quest with ‘What Happens Later.’ Innovatively eschewing genre tropes like the ‘you lied to me’ moment, the grandiose gesture and the chase to the boarding gate, Ryan favors authentic character drive — with just a little twee magic sprinkled in.”
As Frank Scheck wrote for The Hollywood Reporter: “But fans of such classics as ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ may find themselves a bit perplexed by ‘What Happens Later,’ which is not so much a rom-com as a comic drama infused with strong doses of magic realism that some viewers will find charming and others insufferably twee.”
As Rachel Labonte wrote for ScreenRant: “The airport-set romance isn’t perfect, at times getting lost in the fantastical flourishes. However, few know romantic comedies better than Ryan, and she gets the opportunity to stretch her acting and directorial muscles here to great success. It’s a delight to have her back, and one just hopes she doesn’t wait another eight years to make her next movie.”
Why is ‘What Happens Later’ rated R?
According to The New York Times, “What Happens Later” is “Rated R for adult themes and swearing.” The movie also has sexual references and “brief drug use,” per IMDb.
‘What Happens Later’ release date
The film will hit theaters Nov. 3. It was originally set to premiere Oct. 13, but was pushed back to avoid competing with “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” per Collider.
