What If Review

Director: Michael Dowse

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Megan Park, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall

Certificate: 15

Running time: 102 minutes

Synopsis: When Wallace (Radcliffe) meets Chantry (Kazan) at a party, they decide to be ‘just friends’. However, with their relatives and co-workers doubting whether that ever works between a man and woman, the pair do whatever they can to prove them wrong.

To me, Daniel Radcliffe will forever be Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived. However, with the years passing since his last brush with a wand and cloak, he’s starting to branch out and cement his star alongside his real name, not his infamous alter-ego. WHAT IF (originally titled THE F WORD), a romantic comedy focusing on exactly that question – what if he kisses Zoe Kazan? Will the world end? – certifies Radcliffe as a solid comedic actor, showing that he can dabble in humour and it isn’t awkward or wooden.

Wallace doesn’t believe in love (isn’t there a character exactly like that in every rom-com?). Simple as that. After a messy break-up he resigns himself to a life of solitude, accompanied by best friend Alan (the brilliant Girls actor Adam Driver). When Alan holds a party, his beautiful cousin Chantry arrives, managing to bowl Wallace over with her quirky charm and strange sense of humour. However, after he walks her home she awkwardly announces that she has a long-term boyfriend called Ben (Spall). With the threat of a jealous boyfriend hovering over them the pair decide to be friends, nothing more, nothing less.

As their friendship blossoms (including some rather romantic walks in the park, which would raise some eyebrows in ‘real life’) their mutual friends start to call into question their real intentions. Does Wallace actually, underneath all the ‘friendship’, really just want to sleep with Chantry? Does Chantry really want to walk off into the sunset with Wallace, leaving the perfectly perfect Ben behind? Can a guy and a girl really be ‘just friends’?

Radcliffe has had a varied career since the end of HARRY POTTER: Broadway and West End productions, gritty indie films, and a smattering of light-hearted humour, WHAT IF can be considered his first rom-com. Although the film works (essentially) there is one glaring element that irks me – its formality. It sticks exactly to the plot points of a typical rom-com. In fact, there’s no point me helping walk you through the steps as you can guess what happens from beginning to end. That being said, when others have asked me to summarise the film I’ve deemed it as having the narrative you wanted Marc Webb’s (500) DAYS OF SUMMER to possess. Yeah, it’s that formulaic.

However, aside from the traditional plot formation and conventionality, WHAT IF is a thoroughly believable and realistic story. Radcliffe and Kazan have potent chemistry between them, making their friendship reflect those seen in ‘real life’ – it’s not forced, it’s not stale. Zoe blew me away in RUBY SPARKS and THE PRETTY ONE, with WHAT IF another indie romantic comedy to add to her roster. Rafe Spall’s Ben is another example of realistic casting; he ensures that Ben is perfect in every way, meaning that Chantry’s decision between the two men in her life is even more difficult. As I’ve said, although the film is a standard rom-com it’s the first in a few years where I’ve actually wanted the two main characters to be together, whether on-screen or in reality.

Sweet, funny and believable, WHAT IF is the perfect opportunity for Daniel to flex his funny bone.

[usr=4] WHAT IF is released in cinemas from 20th August.