Film Review: What If? (Good Friends, Bad Idea?)

Released in 2013 (and later released in some countries as The F Word), What If is a romantic comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan.

Directed by Michael Dowse, the film follows Wallace and Chantry, two people who instantly connect but find themselves in a complicated situation when Chantry reveals she already has a long-term boyfriend.

More than a decade after its release, What If remains one of the most underrated romantic comedies of the 2010s and a perfect choice for fans of character-driven love stories.

Dubbed as the best rom-com since 500 Days of Summer, I would take this one step further and say that it is not only the best film of its genre since, but that it is even better than 500 Days of Summer.

What If Summary

What If tells the story of two friends Wallace and Chantry who meet through Chantry’s cousin and Wallace’s best friend, Allan (Adam Driver).

The two get on from the beginning but Wallace is shocked when the night ends and Chantry asks for his number, whilst also mentioning that her boyfriend of five years is waiting for her at home.

Undeterred by this, Wallace still wants to be friends, and the two become the best of friends.

Chantry and Wallace are basically inseparable, and their best friends Allan and Nicole are convinced that the pair are in love. However, both Chantry and Wallace continue to deny this and Chantry is still with her boyfriend, Ben.

As work and life begin to get in the way, Chantry and Wallace remain friends but things become more complicated… 

What If Review

Whilst the What If movie sounds like your typical rom-com, and to be fair, it does have the same framework as most other romantic comedies, there’s something very different about this film. It is both incredibly moving and funny at the same time.

Although there were lots of clichéd moments within the film, the plot doesn’t fall into step with all the other rom-coms, and there are lots of twists and turns to accompany every cliché making this a really refreshing rom-com.

Towards the end of this film, I found myself with tears streaming silently down my cheeks as I felt like I was feeling the characters’ pain with them, and what I was watching was so beautifully sad I just couldn’t help myself. 

There is an amazing chemistry between the characters Chantry and Wallace, to which the film probably owes its success. Radcliffe and Kazan get their characters absolutely on point, which, I must admit, surprised me immensely.

Daniel Radcliffe had already begun to establish himself outside of Harry Potter when What If was released, but this remains one of his strongest performances. He captures Wallace’s awkwardness and vulnerability perfectly, creating a character who feels both believable and easy to root for.

Both Chantry and Wallace are very quirky characters, and it takes a lot to portray these sorts of characters well, without making them look either too weird or too clichéd.

Alongside Radcliffe and Kazan were Megan Park, Allan Driver, Mackenzie Davis and Rafe Spall, who are a great supporting cast, and they all bring something different to the table, which, when put together, makes this film a brilliant watch. 

The soundtrack captures the essence of this film perfectly. It’s the sort of music that makes your heart warm up slowly from the inside out and puts you in a good mood and fills you with a sense of hope.

There are a lot of acoustic guitars and it’s all rather slow and mellow – all perfectly in tune with what’s going on on screen. The majority of the soundtrack is instrumental and yet I could discern exactly what kind of message was being brought across by it.

The What If movie is quite long, lasting around two hours, which for most films of this kind is far too long, but I found myself wanting more even as the credits began to roll.

This film is not cheesy in the slightest; it is very raw and real, and if someone told me this story was about two ordinary people that they knew, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest.

This film is definitely more mellow and poignant than your average romantic comedy, and a lot of the humour is typically British awkward humour, which I loved.

The film’s Toronto setting also helps it stand out from many romantic comedies, and it has a slightly different atmosphere from many Hollywood rom-coms.

All in all, this is an absolutely amazing film that breaks the mould in its genre of romantic comedy.

It’s a must-watch for fans of thoughtful romantic comedies, particularly if you enjoyed 500 Days of Summer.

“Good friends, bad idea?”

What If

Is What If Worth Watching?

Yes!

What If takes a familiar romantic comedy premise and gives it far more emotional depth than you might expect. Thanks to the chemistry between Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan, strong supporting performances and a thoughtful script, it remains one of the most underrated rom-coms of the 2010s.

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that feels genuine, funny and emotionally satisfying, this is well worth watching.

Who Should Watch What If?

You’ll enjoy What If if you like:

• Romantic comedies built around genuine chemistry
• Friends-to-lovers stories
• Witty, character-driven dialogue
• Slow-burn romances
• Quirky but believable characters
• British-style awkward humour
• Films such as 500 Days of Summer and About Time

Watch What If? online here

If you enjoyed my What If film review, check out these posts:
Crazy Stupid Love Film Review
Friends with Benefits Film Review