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What If

Name: What If
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: August 8, 2014
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Adam Driver, Daniel Radcliffe, Jemima Rooper, Lucius Hoyos, Mackenzie Davis

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 62 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 62 Ratings

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What If

Movie Details & Credits

CBS Films | Release Date: August 8, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Adam Driver, Daniel Radcliffe, Jemima Rooper, Lucius Hoyos, Mackenzie Davis, Megan Park, Rafe Spall, Tommie-Amber Pirie, Zoe Kazan

Summary: Medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator whoMedical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan (Adam Driver) seems to be finding the perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis), Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall). Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?… Expand

Director: Michael Dowse

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek

Aug 8, 2014

In the highly imperfect world of contemporary romantic comedies, What If is as close to perfect as anything we've got, not least for the way it captures the abject hopefulness of young people who'd like to be in love but don't know how to go about it. Read full review

Randy Cordova

Aug 7, 2014

Director Michael Dowse (from the underrated Topher Grace comedy "Take Me Home Tonight") fuels the story with atmosphere, with lots of nighttime activity and bustle. He keeps things grounded in reality, though little touches (Chantry imagines her drawings coming to life) add an extra — and, perhaps, excessive — sweetness. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Aug 7, 2014

Fortunately, What If rights itself well before the finish and finds its way back to the truth and the light. Read full review

Eric Kohn

Sep 15, 2013

It tries to have some bite to its will-they-or-won't-they scenario but ultimately winds up toothless. Read full review

Stephanie Merry

Aug 7, 2014

If you can suspend your incredulity for a moment, What If has its bright moments. And that’s thanks in large part to its leads, who manage to do what Radcliffe has always done well: conjure up a little magic. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Aug 7, 2014

Although What If nobly attempts to honor and embellish the tropes of the genre rather than reinvent them, the filmmakers get tripped up on their own good intentions and uncertain comedic instincts. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Aug 6, 2014

What If is a case of the cutes the way the Black Death was a case of infectious disease. The movie is saturated with cute, teeming with cute, rancid with cute. I’d endured all a man could fairly be expected to take when I glanced at my watch and realized there were still 95 minutes to go. Read full review

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User Reviews

mufeedpatel

May 27, 2017

AWESOME ! Storyline is wonderful. The song, the cameras are all well set. I really enjoyed watching them.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shasha

Jan 13, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good,decent one time watch.Sensibly slice of life romance with confusions that youth face in relationships.Very relatable and good performances especially from radcliff.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JohnMasterL

Apr 22, 2015

What If es como 500 Days of Summer: Novedosa.
Una divertida comedia romántica dentro de los tiempos modernos, entretenimiento para todos (Tanto hombres como mujeres) no soy fanático de este tipo de películas, pero cuando hay que reconocer que algo es bueno, me tengo que poner de pie yWhat If es como 500 Days of Summer: Novedosa.
Una divertida comedia romántica dentro de los tiempos modernos, entretenimiento para todos (Tanto hombres como mujeres) no soy fanático de este tipo de películas, pero cuando hay que reconocer que algo es bueno, me tengo que poner de pie y felicitarlo, What If es innovadora, divertida, romántica e interesante.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

SimpleMethod

Aug 11, 2014

It was alright. It reminded me somewhat of 500 Days of Summer for awhile until it falls apart into a messy predictable mush at the end. The performances were solid and the writing was mostly on point, I just wish they would have ended it more originally.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Aug 16, 2014

In his first rom-com Daniel Radcliffe meets a cute charmer (Zoe Kazan) and the chemistry is immediate. Turns out she has a bf, so they decide to just be friends. From there, it plays out exactly to formula. Luckily, Radcliffe and Kazan are both engaging, so that helps compensate for theIn his first rom-com Daniel Radcliffe meets a cute charmer (Zoe Kazan) and the chemistry is immediate. Turns out she has a bf, so they decide to just be friends. From there, it plays out exactly to formula. Luckily, Radcliffe and Kazan are both engaging, so that helps compensate for the film's uneven attempts to be eccentric. Even so, there's sufficient humor (and enjoyable support from Adam Driver) to keep it entertaining. Nothing new here, but fans of the genre (and Radcliffe) will find it appealing.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

amheretojudge

Aug 27, 2019

To me, it started as a date movie, and then ended up being entirely different, something more.

What If Dowse does not seem like a complete fanatic for the mushy gushy romance that Hollywood is infamous and criticized for. He doesn't particularly love the idea of a rainy Saturday eveningTo me, it started as a date movie, and then ended up being entirely different, something more.

What If

Dowse does not seem like a complete fanatic for the mushy gushy romance that Hollywood is infamous and criticized for. He doesn't particularly love the idea of a rainy Saturday evening with warm coffee in bed and Meg Ryan on TV. And maybe that's why, that's the only reason why this film works. I am going to skip way ahead now and give you an example of a scene that basically comes at the end of the film. No spoilers, but there is a scenario in the film where even someone "outsider" as the director Michael Dowse from this world, has to drop all his guards and give in to that ultimate date movie scene.

And even though he tries with incredible slow camera work and other parlor tricks, he fails to conjure the audience as any other Hugh Grant film would and does. Danielle Radcliff as Wallace and Zoe Kazan as Chantry are the only ones driving the scene to home for us. Another reason why the film succeeds is the safe and secure fall of the film, after Dowse pushes it away from being starry eyed.

And this push lands on a pillow whose origin is from that very awkward feeling of running away and bumping into crass slapstick humor. And holding that side of the line is Adam Driver and Mackenzie Davis as a raunchy couple outdoing themselves in each scenario leading our lead couple into trouble- that silence in the car is the highlight of the film. They are the textbook supporting cast of the romcom genre, their goofiness sculpts into a deep prosperous enlightening theme. What If is the most spookiest name I have ever heard of a film especially considering the fact that, to this day, I don't get the title, at all.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AnalyticCritic

Sep 25, 2014

This movie is not good... It's not interesting and has no good qualities to it. Aside from a few chuckles there is nothing here. A joke that ran throughout the whole movie that I guess was supposed to be funny was not. The plot is entirely predictable from start to finish. You don't feelThis movie is not good... It's not interesting and has no good qualities to it. Aside from a few chuckles there is nothing here. A joke that ran throughout the whole movie that I guess was supposed to be funny was not. The plot is entirely predictable from start to finish. You don't feel for the characters like you should in this type of movie. All characters are shallow and have nothing to them. The banter between the two main leads gets tiring after the first 5 minutes and you just want it to end. I was sitting in the theater wondering why I was there. It has nothing to differ itself from other average romantic comedies. This movie has so many cliches it is unbearable. Avoid this.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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