‘What Happens Later’ Review – Meg Ryan Charms In This Snowy Rom-Com

Watching What Happens Later, the song “I Wanna Go Back” by Eddie Money, comes to mind. No, the movie does not feature it in a musical video scene, but the lyrics are prescient about the story. “I want to go back and do it all over again, but I can’t go back, I know…” In a story about two exes meeting by chance at a regional airport during a snowstorm, the movie takes a hard look at relationships and why they work or often fall apart. The movie is less about second chances at love but second guesses at life. Meg Ryan both stars and directs this rom-com that is teeming with wit and warmth.

The film begins as a snowstorm traps travelers Willa (Ryan) and Bill (David Duchovny) at an airport. Reunited for the first time in twenty-five years, it leads to awkward banter and hilarious small talk. As their conversations deepen, these two unravel the mystery of their past and why their relationship fell apart. In addition, an omniscient narrator providing commentary throughout the story, Willa and Bill wonder if their chance meeting was mere chance or fate. 

This two-person show is a fun spin on the rom-com formula. Ryan and Duchovny are the only characters in the film, and yet the chemistry is like the first snowfall – picture-perfect. While this film leans more into the dramedy than the traditional rom-com, it seems now, with last summer’s No Hard Feelings and now What Happens Later, the genre is back, and who better to be a part of the return than the celebrated Queen of Rom-Com herself: Meg Ryan. 

In what is her long-awaited comeback to the big screen, Ryan is heart-warming. Her infectious smile and delightful presence make her return all the more worthwhile. As Willa, she plays a free spirit who, despite her devil-may-care attitude, seems discontent with her life. Opposite Duchovny’s Will is the perfect pairing for reunited star-crossed lovers who, despite the years apart, show they can learn from each other.

There are some clever twists and warm surprises in the movie that audiences will enjoy. Ryan and Duchovny, play off each other well as they unpack misunderstandings and miscommunications from their past. Early on, the two have a hilarious back-and-forth over the state of the world post twenty-five years. The fact they both share the last name “Davis,” adds some clever fun moments to the reunion. However, the real heart of the movie is the theme of second chances at finishing conversations and tying up loose threads. 

What Happens Later is not When Harry Met Sally, but it situates two people who are the epitome of the right person – wrong time. The movie looks at second chances, not so much in the love category. However, it is undeniable these characters are each other’s soul-mates. Instead, it offers a candid look at why relationships crumble and answers the question of if ‘I saw that person again, what would I say?’ The move is as much about apologies as forging new beginnings. 

The airport setting is a familiar location in the rom-com, but stranding two exes in one is a fun spin, and the movie wastes no time utilizing the location. There is a dreamy quality to the movie, both in terms of look, but also throughout the story. Ryan directs the movie as a two-person play. The story is dialogue-heavy, but each line is carefully crafted and offers a perfect payoff at different junctures. The film is less about finding love and more about making amends with oneself and others.

Those hoping for the cliched or expected may find some turbulence with What Happens Later, but it is heart-warming. Undoing the past is never an option, and the movie hammers this point right to the witty end. Ultimately, the story is less about picking up where couples left off and more about finding that elusive closure.

What Happens Later will debut in theaters on November 3, 2023, courtesy of Bleecker Street. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zceSigCGWSQ]