What If – A Heartfelt, Genuine, Feel-Good Film with Morals – What a Surprise!
What If is a new romantic comedy about best friends Wallace and Chantry who have to face the fact that they might have deeper feelings for each other than they imagined. Wallace, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is a med school dropout who has become very anti-social after his serious girlfriend breaks his heart. One night, at his best friend Allan’s party, he meets a girl named Chantry. They have an instant connection, but when Wallace learns that she has a long time boyfriend, he decides to focus his energy on being her best friend instead of her lover. The two of them grow closer and closer while still trying to keep the boundaries of “just friends,” but will they be able to deny their feelings forever? KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Raven D., age 17, comments, “I really enjoyed this film. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but the plot is wonderful, the cast is amazing and the story is very touching and funny.” See her full review below.
What If
Reviewed by Raven Devanney
Video review here.
I really enjoyed this film. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but the plot is wonderful, the cast is amazing and the story is very touching and funny. The cinematography is great. I especially love the fact that there are some whimsical elements added to the visuals to help tell the story. Chantry is an animator, and occasionally her drawings come to life in the movie, adding a really cool multi-media element to the film.
My favorite character is Chantry played by Zoe Kazan. Chantry is a very fun character and Zoe is perfect for the role. I am a big fan of Zoe Kazan and love her work in Ruby Sparks and The Pretty One. She never fails to entertain me. One thing I love about Chantry is that even though you can tell she starts to grow romantic feelings for Wallace, she never crosses the boundaries from platonic to romantic while she’s in another relationship which is very cool. I’ve seen a lot of films where two friends have feelings for each other and they act on it even though one of them is in a relationship with someone else. In this film, it is stated many times that Wallace and Chantry are very against cheating, especially since Wallace’s ex cheated on him. I really admire that even though these characters are fictional, they still have solid moral standards.
Daniel Radcliffe also does a wonderful job in this film. His character, Wallace is very witty and cynical, adding a lot of comic relief to more intense interactions. He works wonderfully with Zoe Kazan and you can really see the chemistry between their characters. Daniel also pairs perfectly with Adam Driver, who plays his best friend Allan. The two of them make a hilarious combo and any scene with them together is sure to make you laugh.
What If is a heartfelt, genuine, feel-good film that I really enjoyed. It is definitely geared more towards adults, in my opinion and I believe 20-year-olds will probably enjoy it the most. My mom loved it and was even brought to tears because it is so sweet. However, I love it as well, so I recommend it for ages 15 to 18. I give it 5 out of 5 stars, so make sure you don’t miss this gem in theaters now!
