‘What If’ Questions if True Love Can Exist between Best Friends

---

For some reason, I’m not drawn to films, even in “my” genre, when they’re a kind of “indie” type affect. This is true of the 2014 romance dramedy What If, which asks the question of what might happen if you meet at the wrong time.

What If (2014) Film Review

Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) is going nowhere fast. Ever since his girlfriend and he split, he hasn’t had motivation, and as a reaction to his relationship ending, he dropped out of medical school. Today, however, is different. While at a party with his wild flatmate, Allan (Adam Driver), Wallace meets Chantry (Zoe Katzan), a pretty and unusual girl who he takes an interest in; and who also happens to be Allan’s cousin. To compound more trouble, Chantry also happens to have a long term boyfriend, and always believes, no matter the trouble, a couple should try and make it work.

This begins Wallace’s dilemma of moving on or trying to be friends with Chantry, a girl he likes more than anyone he’s ever met, even if it’s just as friends.

NETFLIX REVIEW | ‘To All the Boys: Always & Forever’: Netflix Closes Happy YA Romance Series

‘What If’ Questions if True Love Can Exist between Best Friends. A review of the 2014 romance drama with Daniel Radcliffe. #Romance #Movies #WhattoWatch Share on X

This is one of those movies that, for some reason, never pulled me in. Why I cannot say, but it didn’t. Then one night I did watch part of it, forgot about its existence (again) for a while and came back to finish it. With a cast I don’t know from other productions and a story that’s slow, but ultimately sweet, What If isn’t a rom com that will immediately catch everyone’s eye. (Simply because it doesn’t have the hype most get.) That said, it is a fun little story.

I enjoyed the scenes between Wallace and Chantry, although because of the slower pace, some of their scenes together are “quiet” in comparison. This does allow them to share some good conversation and I quite like their burgeoning friendship. Daniel is also the appropriate actor to take on this type of character; and Zoe seems to be a good counterpart for him, and the character, too. In other words, they’re dang cute together.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s different than most popular peers, What If is a cute choice. It has great wit between its leads, and the love story ends up being charming. Plus this one takes things a little farther than most and for some reason, that always makes everything a little more romantic.  

PINTEREST PIN

---

find us on social media: Instagram; Pinterest; and X aka Twitter

Content: There’s lots of sexual references and crude comments (conversation about wanting to “shag” someone; references to anatomy). There is a skinny dipping scene (backside nudity), and two people give permission for the other to “look.” Allan and his girlfriend never keep their PDA low-key. Wallace and Chantry find they’re attracted to each other. There’s profanity like sh*t, b*stard, etc., and there may be an f-word. The film is PG-13.

Photos: