Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
So-so Ryan/Duchovny romcom has pot use, drinking, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
What Happens Later
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When a blizzard grounds all flights at a small airport, ex-lovers Willa (Meg Ryan) and Bill (David Duchovny) run into each other -- and then can't seem to avoid each other. Decades have passed since they saw each other last, and as the night wears on, they remember what they loved about each other ... and what drove them apart. Their reunion is clearly a plot from the universe, with "signs" all around the couple telling them they need to talk things through.
Is It Any Good?
Ryan's fans will be thrilled to see her back on screen, but it's unlikely others will want to "have what she's having." Production on What Happens Later began during the Covid-19 pandemic and is about two characters locked down together in a world that is, as expressed by Tom Petty, "in between a memory and a dream." Willa and Bill are, at times, alone in the airport -- or at least, that's how it's projected, because that's how it feels to them. "The universe" is forcing them to talk through their history, to finally communicate to each other what they were afraid to say before.
Airplanes and airports do have some sort of supernatural ability to get people to confess things they never would outside of that "trapped" environment, and that part is well-played. But there's also no greater irritation than being stuck in an airport, and these two characters -- "woo woo" flighty Willa and catastrophizer Bill -- aren't necessarily the ones you'd want to hang with in that situation. For Ryan's fans, though, Easter eggs are spread throughout the film that wink to her past movies -- and her own past. She knows how people like to see her, and audiences who love her will get a satisfying glimpse of Sally, Annie, and Kathleen in her performance. Unfortunately, that might also leave you wishing for the reunion you really want. It's not fair to Duchovny, as he's a good actor, but all we can do is wish, in this instance, that he was Billy Crystal or Tom Hanks.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the differences between falling in love and maintaining a relationship. What is What Happens Later's take on that subject?
How does What Happens Later compare to your favorite romcoms? Why is it important to tell stories about people of all ages, backgrounds, and types?
The characters reference a lot of famous quotes. Which ones resonated with you?
This movie plays on the classic "opposites attract" cliché that's often in romances. Do you think that's true in real life? Or has that mindset carried into the real word because we see it so frequently in entertainment?
Are smoking pot and drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 3, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : November 28, 2023
- Cast : Meg Ryan , David Duchovny
- Director : Meg Ryan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Bleecker Street
- Genre : Romance
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, some sexual references and brief drug use
- Last updated : November 21, 2023
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