Meg Ryan and David Duchovny Romcom Scores – Deadline

Bleecker Street

At the end of Meg Ryan’s sly and adult new romantic comedy, what happens later, A simple gift card appears on the screen, with the words “To Nora” written on it. And for star, director and co-writer Ryan, that says it all. After an eight-year absence from the screen, Ryan has now returned, both in front of the camera and behind it, to the genre that made her a big star, thanks also in large part to the late, great Nora Ephron, whose trio collaborated with Ryan – When Harry Met Sally (Directed by Rob Reiner) sleepless in seattle, And You’ve got mail – It truly defined what an exhilarating experience a romantic comedy can be when in the right hands.

Ryan has clearly learned at the altar of a master, and it’s all on display in this joyful, sad, magical, and wise-cracking confection, a two-parter about a chance encounter at the airport between two college lovers nearly 30 years their senior, which leads to a new work, albeit a Briefly, the connection while waiting out a snowstorm led to them both being parked at the airport. This is an inspiring site due to the fact that those around them are in a rush to make literal connections, and not the kind that takes these two disparate souls and throws them into an unexpected reflection of the life that was, the life that is, and perhaps the life that could have been – or not. In the process, Ryan and her perfectly cast co-star David Duchovny (who once again shows his natural comedic chops) define the screen chemistry, two pros who show how it should be done and breathe new life into a genre that can often go wrong. roads, but here he gets it all right.

One of the basic tenets of most romantic comedies is the scene in which the two would-be lovers “have a nice meet-cute.” In this case though it’s two college sweethearts Meet again “Nice”, in which Bill and Willa find that the universe has somehow thrown them into the same place, a crowded regional airport, where they are both slowly revealed to be heading into something very personal that will likely change their lives. Duchovny’s Bill is now a middle-aged married man with a daughter performing in a show and he races home to catch up. He is very much a man who never met what he considered his potential but goes about his own organized way. Ryan’s Willa is somewhat of a free spirit, strangely carrying a rain stick wherever she goes and walking with a constant limp due to a hip injury. She sees life from a different perspective than Bill, no doubt. The only other speaking character in the film is the airport’s PA system (Hal Leggett is the credited voice but the director jokes that may not be his real name), who as the night goes on seems to speak more directly to Bill and Willa who are now surrounded by snow in This place, their flights start and stop, their private contact begins and ends and continues as the friendly sky is not friendly to them and their brief encounter extends.

What happens later? He has universal appeal and as we watch this pair, it’s clear that they could be opposites He should This breakup happened for a good reason, but it still seems like they are both of them That got away. Willa clearly blames Bill for ending it, and as we can see he still feels resentment which now picks up right where they left off. Yes, they’re older, and both have game-changing life experiences, but this night alone might also make them a little bit wiser as they take on the past, revealing their truths, the decisions they made back then, and the regrets they feel now, all mixed up in this moment. From watching their past collide with the present.

Based on the play by Steve Dietz, shooting star, Adapted for the screen by him, Kirk Lane and Ryan, you can see how this encounter between two people could work effortlessly on stage. the miracle exit What Ryan and her creative team have achieved is that it also looks very easy Cinematic Although it’s basically just two people talking for a few hours. Cleverly filmed on a set of two locations in Arkansas, one the airport and the other the famous Crystal Springs Museum, but blended to perfection by production designer Jordan Crockett and cinematographer Bartosz Nalaszek, this setting feels like a strange place almost outside of time as Bill and Willa are brought together for no apparent reason. Known to either of them. The location sparkles, the dialogue sometimes escalates like a 1930s comedy, the character confessionals are moving, and the choices Ryan makes, both for this character and for the world she places her in, are right on the money. Having just directed another feature film, a period piece called ithaca, What Ryan does here is impressive, but I think that’s to be expected from someone who has worked with and clearly learned from the best.

What happens later? It’s the kind of thing that the studios that made Ryan’s previous romantic comedies seem to have shied away from. Fortunately, if only this once, she had it back, perhaps older or a writer, but just as smart and hearty. In the process, Ryan and Duchovny deliver two of the best performances of the year.

Producers are Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Laura D. Smith Ireland and Christine Mann.

Title: What happens later?
distributor: Bleecker Street
release date: November 3, 2024
exit: Meg Ryan
Screenwriters: Steve Dietz, Kirk Lane, and Meg Ryan
ejaculate: Meg Ryan, David Duchovny, Hal Leggett (voice)
evaluation: R
Running time: 1 hour and 43 minutes