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Meg Ryan ’s sparkling charm remains firmly intact in “What Happens Later,” her return to movies for the first time in eight years.

Ryan serves as director, co-writer, and star of the film, which is very intentionally a throwback to the kind of feel-good rom-com that made her a superstar. References abound to the 1990s: the decade that gave us such enduring megahits as “ Sleepless in Seattle ” and “You’ve Got Mail.” There’s an amusing running bit within the airport that provides the film’s setting involving annoyingly upbeat covers of songs by the likes of Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow . Even the blandly forgettable title feels like it’s in on the joke. What does “What Happens Later” even mean?

And the characters Ryan and David Duchovny play seem like familiar romantic comedy types—at least for a while, until the film’s quirky energy settles down and gives these actors room to actually act. “What Happens Later” is the first film Ryan has appeared in since 2015 and only her second feature directing effort (her first was the historical drama “Ithaca,” in which she played a supporting role), and this material feels more comfortable in her hands and closer to her heart. The dedication at the end (“For Nora”) is a poignant tribute to Nora Ephron , who wrote and directed those classic Ryan comedies.

Ryan and Duchovny star as Willa and Bill, ex-lovers who run into each other in a regional Midwestern airport and find themselves trapped together overnight when a major snowstorm hits. They haven’t seen each other in over 25 years, but it doesn’t take long for them to start bickering and bantering as if no time has passed. Superficially, it seems as if we’ve seen these people many times before. Willa is a middle-aged version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl: a “wellness practitioner in the healing arts,” as she describes herself. With her messy, blond waves, boho chic attire, and ever-present rain stick to perform cleansing ceremonies, she almost seems like a parody of the lovably peculiar characters Ryan’s often played. Bill, meanwhile, is buttoned-down and sardonic, a vague corporate type who’s emotionally detached and possessed of deadpan zingers. She’s heading to Boston, and he’s heading to Austin; they are literally going in opposite directions.

How did these extremely different people ever fall in love and spend years together at the University of Wisconsin? That’s what we find out throughout an increasingly intimate and surreal night. If “What Happens Later” feels like a stage production on film, that’s because it essentially is: Ryan adapted Steven Dietz ’s play Shooting Star with Dietz and Kirk Lynn . It’s a two-hander, with an omniscient, omnipresent airport announcer providing confusing instructions and, in time, cryptic tidbits of wisdom. The voice is credited to Hal Liggett, but the actor’s true identity remains a mystery.

This conceit, as well as another involving airport signs commenting on the action, may be too twee for your taste. They do grow a little repetitive, calling attention to the fact that the movie would have been more compelling if it had been a little tighter. (There is one that’s good for a laugh, though: a poster for a fake movie called “Rom Com,” which features the tagline “Fall in Love with Love Again.”) But it all comes together to hold these characters in a spell of magical realism. This becomes especially clear when you realize that, eventually, there’s nobody else in the airport—no fellow passengers sprawled out on uncomfortable chairs, no workers scrambling to accommodate disgruntled customers in all the bars and restaurants.

As Willa and Bill explore this abandoned space and allow themselves to reconnect with each other, they revisit fond memories and long-held regrets. Ryan and Duchovny are such pros; they enjoy a lively and tender chemistry, and they find inspired avenues into dialogue that might have seemed clunky or bland in less experienced hands. Ryan hasn’t missed a beat with her comic timing, and her screen presence remains magnetic. And given her glittering career, it’s no surprise that she has an eye for crafting a memorable romantic moment. Here, it takes place on a sky bridge with glass on both sides, allowing the tarmac lights to refract and shimmer as she and Duchovny dance to the Lightning Seeds’ 1989 hit “ Pure .”

“What Happens Later” doesn't reach the heights of Ryan’s beloved romantic comedies, but its sweet comforts might be just the ticket if you’re looking for laughter-through-tears on the couch on a Sunday afternoon.

Now playing in theaters. 

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film Credits

What Happens Later (2023)

105 minutes

Meg Ryan as Willa

David Duchovny as Bill

• Steven Dietz

Cinematographer

• Bartosz Nalazek
• Jason Gourson
• David Boman

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‘What Happens Later’ Review: Meg Ryan Revisits the Meet-Cute

The rom-com queen directs and stars opposite David Duchovny in this two-hander about former lovers who reconnect after 25 years.

• Share full article

By Claire Shaffer

Few can compete with Meg Ryan’s rom-com résumé. As the star of three classics penned by Nora Ephron — “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail” — she may as well be the mascot of the genre’s late 1980s and ’90s golden era. “What Happens Later,” which she both directs and stars in, is an appropriate homecoming for a seasoned pro.

Ryan and her co-star, David Duchovny, portray Willa and Bill, former lovers who stumble across each other at a tiny regional airport while the two are waiting out a snowstorm. (They share the name “W. Davis,” and the identity confusion is part of what leads to their reunion meet-cute.) With their connecting flights delayed indefinitely, the exes quickly catch up on what’s happened in the 25 years since they last crossed paths. Bill has a steady job and a family in Boston; Willa is a massage therapist and chakra healer in Austin. Clashing personalities lead to petty bickering and some harsh words, but their banter confirms the chemistry is still there.

“What Happens Later,” which Ryan wrote with Kirk Lynn and Steven Dietz (based on Dietz’s play “Shooting Star”), feels purposely lost in time. Its story is bottled within the liminal space of the airport — its exact location remains a mystery — which puts the focus on the two leads trying to reconcile their pasts with their present. Ryan adds a dash of magical realism, turning the airport intercom into a cheeky voice-over that responds to Willa and Bill. These fantasy elements are mostly played for laughs, but the dreaminess and isolation of the darkened airport offer an excuse for Willa and Bill to open up to each other and consider whether their reunion really was determined by fate.

With Ryan and Duchovny both in their early 60s, “What Happens Later” is decidedly a rom-com for those of a certain age, and some familiar, even tired, tropes of that subgenre appear here. Bill complains nonstop about the saccharine pop covers of rock songs playing over the airport speakers — “It used to be rhythm, not algorithm,” he moans, over a cheery Third Eye Blind cover — and he has similar gripes about cancel culture and pronouns. On the other hand, the maturity of its characters allows “What Happens Later” to explore topics not usually found in movies about younger, more wide-eyed couples. At one point, Bill and Willa frankly discuss a miscarriage they experienced back when they were living together — both the pain of the event and all of the thornier emotions each one went through, too.

As you’d expect from a movie about what-ifs, “What Happens Later” is full of sentimentality and primed to be a comforting snow-day watch for the upcoming holiday season. While it’s unlikely to join the rom-com pantheon, its charming leads and humorous truths do invoke the spirit of Ephron, to whom the film is dedicated. It’s a worthy tribute to her, delivered by perhaps the most qualified person to create one.

What Happens Later Rated R for adult themes and swearing at airport pop music. Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes. In theaters.

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‘what happens later’ review: the cuteness wears thin in meg ryan’s screen return opposite david duchovny.

The actress toplines and directs a slightly surreal romantic comedy-drama about two former lovers stuck together in an airport during a winter storm.

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

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The two stars play Willa and Bill, lovers when they were students at the University of Wisconsin 25 years earlier (no, the math doesn’t make sense) who find themselves unexpectedly reunited at the airport when their flights are delayed. Their initially awkward exchanges hint that their coupledom didn’t end happily, and that they’ve matured into people who are very different from each other. Willa dresses in bohemian fashion, carries a rainstick, and describes herself as a “wellness practitioner in the healing arts.” Bill wears a dark suit and is a buttoned-up business type, disgruntledly heading to Austin at the behest of his much younger boss. The characters feel like they’ve been plucked from a book of archetypes.

Meanwhile, the airport grows increasingly deserted, with seemingly every other passenger managing to board a flight. The venue itself appears to be guiding their fates, the PA making cutesy announcements and often directly responding to their comments, like an omniscient version of the one in M*A*S*H , and the electronic signs delivering such messages as “Time Will Tell” and “Only Connect.” The latter message proves instructive: The couple warmly rekindle their affection for each other and eventually dance together through the empty airport.

What might have proved effective theatrically comes across as wholly artificial and schematic onscreen, despite Ryan’s considerable efforts as both director and performer. She attempts to provide visual variety to the single setting, albeit a sprawling one (the feature was filmed, by Bartosz Nalazek, at Bentonville, Arkansas’ Crystal Bridges Museum and Northwest Arkansas National Airport), with repeated exterior shots of the airport and the wintry storm. But the proceedings inevitably feel claustrophobic. While Ryan’s bountiful charm is as evident as ever, her character unfortunately comes across like an older version of the manic pixie dream girl. And the movie’s heavy-handed magical realist elements counter the slightness of the material to deadly effect.

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What Happens Later Reviews

What Happens Later will not be tenable at all for anyone who’s too young to have seen Meg Ryan films in the theater during her rom-com peak. Its teeth are a little sharper for its target audience...

Full Review | Mar 18, 2024

There’s a little bit of classic screwball/Nora Ephron style patter, undeniable star chemistry, and some of the magical and fantastical aspects of films like Prelude To A Kiss and Joe Versus The Volcano, which are some of my favorite Meg Ryan films.

Full Review | Feb 13, 2024

Meg Ryan, David Duchovny explore ultimate 'what if' in sporadically sweet yarn.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 20, 2024

It's incredibly contrived and it really shouldn't work, but kind of does.

Full Review | Jan 18, 2024

The film's ruminations on regrets and roads less travelled have a tendency to stifle the more humorous components of the narrative.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 12, 2024

So-so two-hander airport rom-com.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jan 7, 2024

Although actress/director/co-writer/producer Meg Ryan dedicates this rom-com to her dear friend/writer Nora Ephron, its inherent cuteness wears thin, lacking the essential charm that epitomized Ephron's work.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jan 4, 2024

A wistful post-midlife romcom for mature audiences who understand lost love.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 20, 2023

A two-hander set in an airport mid-journey, the setting is nicely evoked by Ryan's lively direction. This keeps the film watchable even amid the sometimes overwritten conversation and narrative.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 19, 2023

There [are] a few touching scenes and chuckles but, much like any delayed flight, What Happens Later is a bit of a drag.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 19, 2023

Meg Ryan is back, in a rom-com! [...] And that idea, unfortunately, is as good as it gets.

Ryan has not entirely lost the magnetism that made her such a queen of the genre 30-odd years ago. But as the realisation dawns that the movie is a two-hander, and that we're stuck with just the W. Davises... all prospects of enjoyment begin to fade.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 18, 2023

Aims to be an adorably quirky romcom but plays out as such a surreally purgatorial ordeal that at one point I found myself wondering, Wait, are they actually dead? Am I? Is this what hell looks like?

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Dec 17, 2023

What Happens Later should've been called What Happens When Co-Stars With No Chemistry Together Try and Fail to Make a Cute Romantic Comedy. No airport during a snowstorm gets this deserted, although the movie's awful dialogue is enough to clear a room.

Full Review | Dec 14, 2023

A rom-com about how relationships tend to end up, rather than the more idealized version of Meg Ryan’s classic films.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 2, 2023

A mild rom-com. It did not entirely work for me... I did not feel the chemistry between David Duchovny and Meg Ryan.

Full Review | Nov 29, 2023

That Meg Ryan comeback. Let's pretend it didn't happen.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Nov 26, 2023

This isn’t a great movie by any stretch, but it’s nice to see Ryan back doing her thing while also showing us she’s matured as an actor in ways I wasn’t certain she would.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 17, 2023

Another unfair break for Ryan, as I imagine a less interesting version of this movie would have been more warmly received.

Full Review | Nov 16, 2023

Despite its flaws, it’s easy to be charmed by the unconventional flair of this modern love story.

Full Review | Nov 15, 2023

‘What Happens Later’ Review: Meg Ryan and David Duchovny’s Welcome Return to Rom-Coms

Fate forces two estranged exes to spend the night in a snowbound airport, rehashing their past to rehabilitate their present selves, in this sparkling comedy.

By Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard

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Meg Ryan not only dazzles before the camera in “What Happens Later,” but behind it as well, as director and co-writer. Through the prism of one former couple’s relationship woes, this effervescent, enlightened romantic comedy explores our innate need for reconciliation within ourselves and with each other. It’s a delight to welcome Ryan back to the silver screen after an extended hiatus, and in the genre she helped rejuvenate alongside filmmakers like Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron (to whom this film is touchingly dedicated).

Our story starts with a metaphor: two snowflakes falling from the sky, twirling and comingling in a sometimes harsh dance, descending upon a tiny regional airport. Bill ( David Duchovny ) is on his way to Austin when he spots his Boston-bound ex-girlfriend Willa (Ryan) while both are searching for a power outlet. Their re-meet-cute — after 25 years apart — is strained, as small talk quickly devolves into discussing the superficial particulars of their split, and insecurities and resentment set in once again. The widescreen format stresses their cavernous rift, with Willa on one side of the frame and Bill on the far opposite end.

Their unspoken wish to part as friends, not foes, looks unlikely. That is until the storm of the century rolls in, forcing the pair together for the night. Their heated conversations ebb and flow, oscillating from the state of the world to the state of their lives. Bill, a practical-minded man suffering from self-diagnosed anticipatory anxiety, is going through a split from his wife, and is eager to mend a disagreement with his daughter. Willa, a free-spirited wannabe wellness guru, is also grappling with secretive difficulties of her own. As the former flames sort through their feelings on the past and present, they reveal unforgotten, uncomfortable truths and reignite a spark that never fully fizzled.

Themes of connection and the transitory, delicate nature of love reverberate brilliantly throughout — not solely in the narrative, but also through the production design, with its giant metallic heart sculpture and paper plane installation. Costume designer Kiley Ogle outfits everyone from the leads to the extras in shades of black and white — a subtle irony when Willa and Bill are dealing in gray areas when it comes to their viewpoints on the dissolution of their romance. Ryan and cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek also illuminate the couple’s darker, more introspective facets.

The announcer (voiced by Hal Liggett, a pseudonym for a yet-to-be-revealed actor) acts as a God-like voice booming from the PA system, while video boards, displaying double-sided commentary like “everything is pending” and “check your connections,” further hammer the script’s points home. And when it gets to the inevitable — a montage where the pair tool around the darkened empty terminals in a golf cart and dance to The Lighting Seeds’ “Pure” in a warmly lit hallway as snow falls softy outside — the charm factor is upped tremendously.

Duchovny gives a nicely textured performance, blending comedy with disarming vulnerability, turning in different notes of sincere and sweet than in his previous outing “Return To Me.” Ryan digs deeper into her character’s pathos than she has in previous films of this ilk, specifically the sour that’s masked by sunshine. It’s significant when Willa alternates between calling her ex Bill, W or William, revealing a lot about her fleeting feelings: playful, honest, or at arm’s length. Ryan imbues her with depth and dimension, at once adorable and tender.

It’s heartening to see the woman who elevated the rom-com game continuing her quest with “What Happens Later.” Innovatively eschewing genre tropes like the “you lied to me” moment, the grandiose gesture and the chase to the boarding gate, Ryan favors authentic character drive — with just a little twee magic sprinkled in.

Reviewed at the Sunset Screening Room, Los Angeles, Oct. 30, 2023. Running time:  103 MIN.

• Production: A Bleecker Street release of a Prowess Pictures, Ten Acre Films production in association with Jupiter Peak Prods. in association with Rockhill Studios. Producers: Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Laura D. Smith Ireland, Kristin Mann. Executive producers: Ken Whitney, Liz Whitney, Steve Shapiro, Andrew Karpen, Kent Sanderson, Kerri Elder, Blake Elder, Michael Goyette, Meg Ryan, David Duchovny.
• Crew: Director: Meg Ryan. Screenplay: Ryan, Steven Dietz, Kirk Lynn, based on Dietz's play 'Shooting Stars.' Camera: Bartosz Nalazek. Editor: Jason Gourson. Music: David Boman.
• With: Meg Ryan, David Duchovny, Hal Liggett.

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'What Happens Later' Review: The Queen of Rom-Coms Returns for a Sweet Trip

Though not her best romantic comedy, there is still much to love about Meg Ryan's latest.

The Big Picture

• Meg Ryan and David Duchovny have excellent chemistry and deliver standout performances in What Happens Later , bringing fun and charm to the film.
• While the story may follow predictable rom-com tropes, it's elevated by interesting backstories and solid comic banter.
• The movie may lack flashy visuals, but strong casting and a solid script makes it an enjoyable and comforting watch for fans of the genre.

These days, great romantic comedies are few and far between. Unless it's one of the few that we get going straight to streaming or the occasional awards-fare outing , we barely ever get any theatrically released movies in this subgenre anymore. So, what better than to have Meg Ryan , the queen of romantic comedies, come back from her eight-year hiatus and fill every major creative role to bring these movies back? Well, that's exactly what she did with What Happens Later . Now, the lead-up to this hasn't quite been the noisiest rollout ever, and it doesn't have the level of prestige that maybe a Nora Ephron project might bear, but if you're looking for an old-fashioned Ryan outing, then it's hard to imagine that you could ask for anything safer than What Happens Later .

What Happens Later

Two ex lovers, Bill (David Duchovny) and Willa (Meg Ryan) get snowed in at a regional airport overnight. Indefinitely delayed, Willa, a magical thinker, and Bill, a catastrophic one, find themselves just as attracted to and annoyed by one another as they did decades earlier. But as they unpack the riddle of their mutual past and compare their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to wonder if their reunion is mere coincidence, or something more enchanted. - Bleecker Street

Essentially, Ryan's sophomore feature is a two-hander. Starring alongside her is David Duchovny , another star of '90s pop culture, and that's about it really (other than Hal Liggett , who provides the voice of the seemingly sentient airport announcer). Together, they play Willa and Bill, two ex-lovers who are stranded at a small airport overnight and are forced to unpack their relationship from top to bottom. Yes, that means talking about all the fun stuff... and airing out dirty laundry. It almost feels like a play while you're watching What Happens Later , and that's for good reason. The film is based on Steve Dietz's play, Shooting Star , and together, they co-wrote it alongside Kirk Lynn . Go into Ryan's second effort essentially expecting a one-location, dialogue-driven play, and you'll be in the right mindset. Instead of hopping around from one lavish location to the next to settle you into the perfect rom-com mood, this movie relies solely on locking you into Ryan and Duchovny's chemistry. It might have a bit too much cheese sprinkled in here and there, but for the large majority of its runtime, What Happens Later works surprisingly well.

'What Happens Later' Works Because of the Chemistry Between Its Leads

There's nothing that can derail a romantic comedy more than casting two leads that just don't work together. Having to sit through 90 minutes to two hours with a pair of actors that can't sync up no matter what is about as huge of a miss as one of these movies can make. Just look at Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz in the forgotten What Happens in Vegas , or even Meg Ryan and William H. Macy in The Deal . This is usually not a comment on the individual actors themselves, but more of a mishap in the way they work off of each other. Because of movies like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally... , we know that Ryan is more than capable of bringing the goods, it just depends on who's starring alongside her.

So what about Duchovny? By and large, he's either known for being one-half of The X-Files or for performing in dramas like Californication , while a whole slew of comedies sits comfortably under his belt. But what about that kind of chemistry that we need in a romance? Well, you have all the proof you need in The X-Files . He's proven for decades now that he and Gillian Anderson can line up together any day of the week and riff off of each other, while also seeming to have a bit of tension beneath the surface. Now we just have to see how well he plays off of a master like Ryan.

When paired together, Ryan and Duchovny work like dynamite. It's uncertain whether or not these two have had any sort of friendship off-screen over the years, but in What Happens Later , they're a great match. It really does feel like their history goes back decades. The movie's more dramatic moments regarding why they broke up work well enough, but these scenes rely less on how well they can riff and more on their actual delivery. It's in Later's light-hearted and playful stretches where Ryan and Duchovny are at their best.

Meg Ryan and David Duchovny Bring Their A-Game to 'What Happens Later'

It's likely that you'll walk away from What Happens Later a bit surprised. You'd expect to come to this movie to watch Meg Ryan cook, while David Duchovny is just filling the role of her love interest. In reality, both are whipping it up and having a great time, but she might be just a little too much. Given the fact that this is her return from an eight-year hiatus, she's directing, writing, and starring in this, and it's in her genre field of expertise, Ryan is coming out swinging. Her performance is shouting off the rooftops "The Queen is back!" Sometimes, she's sliding right back into her charming and fun pocket that she's always had, but every now and then she ends up playing the Hallmark Channel's greatest emotional hits.

These moments aren't lined up one after the other, but once Willa and Bill start breaking down all kinds of emotional walls, you might find yourself groaning a bit at some of her sappy line readings and exhaustive hippie knowledge. Rom-com mega fans might eat these parts up (minus the free-spirited sayings), but that's just a fair warning to the casual viewers out there. All of that being said, by and large, Ryan's still got it and is as fun as she's ever been on-screen. The movie itself might not be on par with classics like You've Got Mail , but Ryan herself hasn't lost her touch.

Duchovny, on the other hand, has no stake in this movie other than his performance. He strolls onto the screen calm and collected, as he always does, and doesn't disappoint one bit. As a matter of fact, he kind of ends up stealing this movie. Given their chemistry, it seems as though Ryan allowed for there to be a good bit of improv while the cameras were rolling. You can see the two of them having a lot of fun and seamlessly riffing off of each other, but it's mostly Duchovny who walks away with a lot of the laughs in this movie. He delivers so many of his lines with a Harrison Ford -like wit, shrugging off clever remarks and charming quips left and right. It's not a game-changing performance, it's just the exact type you want from a romantic comedy.

'What Happens Later' Isn't Entirely Predictable

The story of What Happens Later might feel by the numbers as it moves along, but it actually ends up subverting your expectations a little bit . These movies work because you typically know where the couple will end up, we just want to see how they get there. The same goes for this film. By and large, we're just here to watch exactly how Willa and Bill comfort each other and help one another work out their problems. Ryan, Lynn, and Dietz concocted enough interesting details for these two's backstories, all told either with solid comic banter or believable enough drama that it all goes by easily.

That said, there are a few moments where Ryan has the camera whipping back and forth as Willa and Bill sarcastically spout off at each other which gives the film some life visually. By and large, it all looks about as lively as a car commercial. The film is also peppered in needle drops that do work in theory but are mostly made up of tacky cover versions. These can be a bit distracting at times, but it's no deal breaker. The movie has some truly... um... "choice" visual effects shots, with the most astounding being the last thing that we see. These would be unforgivable if they weren't placed in a pretty schmaltzy movie.

There's nothing about What Happens Later that revolutionizes the romantic comedy subgenre, but you don't always need a movie to change the game. Sometimes, you just need comfort food. Meg Ryan is a face on the Mount Rushmore of romantic comedies . She'd have to go all the way out of her way to mess one of these movies up. Plus, David Duchovny is just one of those guys where it's just a good time to watch him crack some jokes and wax about his problems. Even when he's talking about his hardships, he makes it seem cool to have troubles in life. You will not walk away from What Happens Later as a changed individual, but if you have a soft spot for light-hearted comedies (specifically romantic comedies, which I usually don't), you'll be sure to find a movie that does its job way better than it needed to. Let's be honest, you'd have to have a cold heart to hate this movie.

What Happens Later is playing in theaters in the U.S. starting November 3. Click here for showtimes near you.

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What Happens Later

Willa and Bill are ex-lovers that will see each other for the first time in years when they both find themselves snowed in, in-transit, at an airport overnight. Willa and Bill are ex-lovers that will see each other for the first time in years when they both find themselves snowed in, in-transit, at an airport overnight. Willa and Bill are ex-lovers that will see each other for the first time in years when they both find themselves snowed in, in-transit, at an airport overnight.

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• Nov 5, 2023

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Review: In ‘What Happens Later,’ former flames spark as a rom-com queen takes flight

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Running into your biggest heartbreak in an airport is a very relatable fantasy. The randomness of the encounter, the forced proximity and the ticking clock of a departing flight all make for a setting ripe with potential for romantic reconciliation or, more likely, cathartic closure. In her sophomore feature behind the camera, star-director Meg Ryan brings this specific fantasy to (magical) reality in “What Happens Later,” a winsome reckoning with love lost and then found, at least for a night.

Ryan, the rom-com queen, star of “When Harry Met Sally…,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” makes her screenwriting debut on the picture, sharing credit with Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn in the adaptation of Dietz’s 2008 play, “Shooting Star.”

Willa (Ryan) and Bill (David Duchovny) are college exes who share a long-lost romantic history and the same name: W. Davis. They haven’t seen each other in 25 years when they happen to be stranded in the same airport during a snowstorm, while attempting to crisscross the country, swapping Austin for Boston and vice versa. A lot has happened in the years since and, never prone to small talk, Willa and Bill quickly progress to large talk over the course of the night that they’re stranded alone in the airport.

She’s a woo-woo wellness practitioner; he’s a buttoned-up business guy. They’re an odd couple even if they both used to be involved in the ’90s alternative rock scene. Still, the wordy, whip-smart banter flows easily between the two, moving from kinda corny generational riffs to opening old wounds. This kind of dialogue harks back to the rom-coms in which Ryan starred, often written or directed by the late Nora Ephron . (A dedication, “For Nora,” appears at the end of the movie, Ryan paying her respects to her collaborator and inspiration.)

“What Happens Later” does indeed feel like a throwback to those rom-coms of yore, if only because it cruises on this simple but fantastical concept and a full tank of high-octane movie-star chemistry that crackles between Ryan and Duchovny, threatening to combust at any moment.

Meg Ryan on the essentials of good rom-coms — and her long-awaited return to them

The writer, director and star of ‘What Happens Later’ talks about timing, heartbreak and what she now wants to see in rom-coms (no traditional happily-ever-afters).

Nov. 3, 2023

There’s a scene where Willa and Bill attempt to say goodbye for the first time, only it’s a “bad bye,” as they term this kind of emotional, flustered, unfinished interaction, and it involves a bit of hand acting that is utterly fascinating. Both fumbling, Bill kisses Willa’s hand; she pulls away. He draws her toward him, she extricates herself and gives him a small wave, no hug in sight. This interaction speaks volumes: his desire to comfort and connect, her need to protect herself.

It’s an enthralling moment of a missed connection expressed purely physically and with the kind of natural instincts that Ryan and Duchovny have in spades. The viewer witnesses their emotional journey in their bodies and faces — a draped hand here, a wild, uninhibited dance party there — taking in the electricity between them, not with words but with images and impressions.

Working with cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek (a longtime camera operator for Janusz Kaminski on several Spielberg films), Ryan brings an elegant sense of style to this mundane setting, limiting the color palette to blacks, whites, grays and honey blonds, though the space never looks as drab as a real airport. She stages the action in a way that activates the space and utilizes beautiful compositions and lighting. The falling snow seen through window panes lends to the effect that this pair have found themselves isolated in a surreal but beautiful snow globe.

There is indeed a frisson of magic in the air at this snowbound airport, and it’s not just from the rain stick that Willa’s been carting around. There’s also a sentient announcement voice (Hal Liggett is the credited actor, though Ryan has hinted the name is a front for someone more famous) that seemingly reads their minds and talks back to them, directing them around the space and cutting the lights, forcing them together. The airport also offers plenty of chances for apt metaphors: “making a connection” or “getting power back,” thanks to a phone charger.

Yes, there are a few beats of the screenplay that are a bit hokey (we can officially retire all jokes about pronouns) and maybe some secret revelations that feel forced. But “What Happens Later” is so deeply heartfelt and so beautifully performed that it stirs something within — a hope, not necessarily for an airport rendezvous, but for a moment of healing, the kind that everyone desires and everyone deserves.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

'What Happens Later'

Rating: R, for language, some sexual references and brief drug use Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes Playing: In wide release

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‘What Happens Later’ review: Meg Ryan’s non-rom-com has lovely chemistry

Movie review.

If you go to Meg Ryan’s “What Happens Later” expecting an upbeat, laugh-filled romantic comedy, you will likely leave disappointed. If you go expecting a slightly quirky romantic drama with touches of magic realism, not to mention the pleasure of seeing Ryan in one of her rare screen appearances these days, I think you might leave happy.

Ryan is, of course, the queen of the contemporary rom-com, and the dedication of this movie (“For Nora”) reminds us of the Nora Ephron movies in which the actor established herself as lightness personified — an enchantingly sunny, lilting-voiced presence in “ Sleepless in Seattle ,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “When Harry Met Sally.” “What Happens Later,” based on a play by Steven Dietz, has a setup that sounds like it would fit nicely into rom-com-dom: Freewheeling Willa (Ryan) and strait-laced Bill (David Duchovny), a pair of opposites-attract former college sweethearts who haven’t met in decades, bump into each other at a busy airport on a stormy night, and end up spending the night in the airport after their flights are canceled.

But Ryan — for whom this is clearly a passion project; she’s its star, director, co-writer and executive producer — isn’t going for cuteness here. “What Happens Later” is a wistful, occasionally whimsical and ultimately poignant tale of midlife regret, of confronting your past and your mistakes, of the line connecting the person you once were and the person you now are. Though they’re traveling only with carry-ons, Willa and Bill have a lot of baggage; they’re complicated people who’ve lived a lot of life, and they didn’t have a tidy ending to their college-romance story. The film is mostly conversation between the two of them, as they wander an increasingly emptied-out airport and listen to existential messages from the airport’s PA system encouraging them to not lose hope, to carry on, to connect.

And you’d think this concept wouldn’t work at all, but weirdly it does, thanks to some utterly believable chemistry between Ryan and Duchovny’s characters, who both annoy and charm each other in the way that old friends do. (If Sally had walked away from Harry 30 years ago on New Year’s Eve and then run into him at an airport … well, I’d watch that movie.) Ryan as director uses the space well, with some lovely moments involving moving walkways and strangely empty airport bars. In one enchanting sequence, Willa and Bill dance together as the snowflakes outside whirl and the airport seems to become a magic snow globe. “What Happens Later” is no rom-com, but it’s a surprisingly moving chapter in Ryan’s screen story; a gentle reminder that we carry our pasts with us — and that sometimes, we get a second chance to make things right.

With Meg Ryan, David Duchovny. Directed by Meg Ryan, from a screenplay by Steven Dietz, Kirk Lynn and Ryan, based on Dietz’s play “Shooting Star.” 103 minutes. Rated R for language, some sexual references and brief drug use. Opens Nov. 2 at multiple theaters.

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What Happens Later review – Meg Ryan’s airport romcom is an airplane movie

The actor also takes on directing duties for her return to the genre she’s best known for, opposite David Duchovny, with mostly so-so results

T here’s an impressive level of confidence displayed by Meg Ryan in her second outing as director, less so for what the film itself ends up being but more for what she’s trying to emulate. The star of When Harry Met Sally making a talky two-hander romcom, dedicated to that film’s screenwriter, Nora Ephron, demands an immediate comparison to one of the greatest examples of the genre ever made. But What Happens Later, AKA When Meg Met David Duchovny , is set up for an almighty fall, struggling to even deserve comparison to the star’s less-lauded romcoms.

Ryan became intimately associated with the genre for so many years because she was such an endless source of warmth and charisma, boasting a magic, ineffable charm that only a handful of other actors have ever truly had (Hepburn? Roberts? McAdams? Blunt?). The great romcom renaissance of recent years – which in fact has not been that great on closer examination – hasn’t given us many, if any, true successors, and so even if her big return to not just the genre but acting in general isn’t all that memorable, it’s a simple pleasure to see her briefly back in this mode. She and Duchovny, like Julia Roberts and George Clooney in last year’s Ticket to Paradise, make it all look so much easier than their younger, streaming pairings have, and the film remains low-stakes watchable solely because of their combined electricity.

As another, perhaps unfortunate, callback to When Harry Met Sally, the film begins with the pair reuniting in an airport. This time, though, the gap has been far longer, 25 years, exes bumping into one another after a messy breakup, at a regional airport that’s in the middle of a snowstorm. They are forced together by fate, a theme that’s a little too tweely reinforced by some cutesy magical flourishes, and wait out the bad weather together, reliving the highs and lows of their relationship.

It’s a film based on Steven Dietz’s 2008 play and perhaps would have made more sense on stage with Ryan’s strange insistence that no other person features other than in the far background, making it feel less intimate and more eerie. The airport is so underpopulated and the two so isolated that one half expects a supernatural twist to arrive. Did they die years earlier? Is this purgatory? Are we stuck there too? But the plot, if it can be generously termed as such, instead trundles from quippy argument to maudlin monologue and back again, in ways we’re never surprised by. When their back-and-forth reaches darker, messier territory, our ears prick up and the two are able to easily sell a long, lived-in history, two people who are able to quickly tap into a familiar dynamic, for better or worse.

But when your 105-minute film is based entirely on one elongated conversation between two characters, even if the two leads are more then capable, your dialogue has to be strong or surprising enough to demand our attention alone. There are flashes, especially when the pair revert to grinchy elders bemoaning modernity, but by the last act what might have felt fresh initially starts to grow musty, and we feel as stuck as they are, a repetitive push and pull dampening our investment in the will or the won’t they of it all.

Ryan’s return to the romcom might remind us of her rare skillset within the genre but it also makes us crave more, the answer to What Happens Later being ultimately: not that much.

What Happens Later is now out in US cinemas and on 15 December in the UK.

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What happens later, common sense media reviewers.

So-so Ryan/Duchovny romcom has pot use, drinking, language.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Many positive messages, some in the form of quotes

The main characters, who are exes, are finally hav

The two main characters -- one man, one woman -- a

The plot is about old flames reconnecting. Kissing

Language includes "ass," "a--hole," "bitch," "bull

Willa says "I smoke a lot of pot" and lights up in

Parents need to know that Meg Ryan wrote, directed, and stars in What Happens Later, a romantic fantasy based on Steven Dietz' play Shooting Star about two people in their early 60s who reconnect in an airport decades after they broke up. Fans of Ryan and co-star David Duchovny are likely to be…

Positive Messages

Many positive messages, some in the form of quotes from famous people like JFK and Tom Petty. A couple that might have particular resonance for kids include: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got" (Henry Ford) and "If you talk about it, it's a dream, if you envision it, it's possible, but if you schedule it, it's real" (Tony Robbins).

Positive Role Models

The main characters, who are exes, are finally having the conversation they should've had decades ago. Willa is spiritual, optimistic, believes in the metaphysical. Bill is pragmatic, pessimistic, worries about being a good father. They're humanly flawed, but they seem like good enough people.

Diverse Representations

The two main characters -- one man, one woman -- are White and in their early 60s, and the movie deals with experiences, annoyances, and points of view that are common for their age group, such as having younger bosses and hip problems and feeling like the world is moving on around them. Background characters, who are more like a blur, have a diverse racial makeup. The main characters poke fun at someone who uses a nontraditional pronoun.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The plot is about old flames reconnecting. Kissing. Sexual references.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language includes "ass," "a--hole," "bitch," "bulls--t," "goddamn," "motherf----r," "s--t," "stupid," "sucked," and several uses of "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Willa says "I smoke a lot of pot" and lights up in an airport waiting area; Bill takes a few puffs as well. Getting drunk leads to a romantic reconnection. After a "magical" evening, the characters wake up surrounded by empty bottles of liquor.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Meg Ryan wrote, directed, and stars in What Happens Later, a romantic fantasy based on Steven Dietz' play Shooting Star about two people in their early 60s who reconnect in an airport decades after they broke up. Fans of Ryan and co-star David Duchovny are likely to be intrigued, but there's not much here for teens to connect with. Willa (Ryan) and Bill (Duchovny) discuss the challenges of being a part of an aging population that feels like the world has moved on without them. They make fun of Bill's millennial boss ("baby Kevin," whose pronoun is "we") and can't stand modern music. But the movie is full of inspirational quotes from the likes of JFK, Henry Ford, and even Tim Robbins, and some of them might resonate with teens. Willa smokes a joint (she lights up at the airport) and Bill takes a few puffs. They also drink heavily, which pushes their reconnection into romance, which involves kissing and references to sex but no graphic action. Strong language includes "a--hole," "s--t," and "f--k." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

When a blizzard grounds all flights at a small airport, ex-lovers Willa ( Meg Ryan ) and Bill ( David Duchovny ) run into each other -- and then can't seem to avoid each other. Decades have passed since they saw each other last, and as the night wears on, they remember what they loved about each other ... and what drove them apart. Their reunion is clearly a plot from the universe, with "signs" all around the couple telling them they need to talk things through.

Is It Any Good?

Ryan's fans will be thrilled to see her back on screen, but it's unlikely others will want to "have what she's having." Production on What Happens Later began during the Covid-19 pandemic and is about two characters locked down together in a world that is, as expressed by Tom Petty, "in between a memory and a dream." Willa and Bill are, at times, alone in the airport -- or at least, that's how it's projected, because that's how it feels to them. "The universe" is forcing them to talk through their history, to finally communicate to each other what they were afraid to say before.

Airplanes and airports do have some sort of supernatural ability to get people to confess things they never would outside of that "trapped" environment, and that part is well-played. But there's also no greater irritation than being stuck in an airport, and these two characters -- "woo woo" flighty Willa and catastrophizer Bill -- aren't necessarily the ones you'd want to hang with in that situation. For Ryan's fans, though, Easter eggs are spread throughout the film that wink to her past movies -- and her own past. She knows how people like to see her, and audiences who love her will get a satisfying glimpse of Sally , Annie , and Kathleen in her performance. Unfortunately, that might also leave you wishing for the reunion you really want. It's not fair to Duchovny, as he's a good actor, but all we can do is wish, in this instance, that he was Billy Crystal or Tom Hanks .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the differences between falling in love and maintaining a relationship. What is What Happens Later 's take on that subject?

How does What Happens Later compare to your favorite romcoms? Why is it important to tell stories about people of all ages, backgrounds, and types?

The characters reference a lot of famous quotes. Which ones resonated with you?

This movie plays on the classic "opposites attract" clich é that's often in romances. Do you think that's true in real life? Or has that mindset carried into the real word because we see it so frequently in entertainment?

Are smoking pot and drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 3, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : November 28, 2023
• Cast : Meg Ryan , David Duchovny
• Director : Meg Ryan
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors
• Studio : Bleecker Street
• Genre : Romance
• Run time : 105 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : language, some sexual references and brief drug use
• Last updated : December 29, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

What Happens Later Review: A Re-Meet Cute Filled With Heart

Meg Ryan returns to the rom-com genre, bringing David Duchovny along for the ride in a film that’s both sweet and fun.

In the opening moments of What Happens Later , two random snowflakes fall from the sky, allowing the winds of fate to take them to points unknown. This is an obvious metaphor for the story that follows, which finds two ex-lovers, Willa ( Meg Ryan ) and Bill ( David Duchovny ), meeting by chance when they get snowed in and indefinitely delayed at a regional Midwest airport overnight.

The charming new rom-com marks the return of Meg Ryan to the genre that made her famous with films like When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle. As director and co-writer — alongside Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn ( Rules for Werewolves ) — Ryan has a strong handle on the material and the genre. What Happens Later is a welcome surprise and enjoyable all around, drifting freely between heartwarming moments and bits of magical surrealism, suggesting, more than once, that our destinies may already be mapped out.

A Rom-Com for the 2020s

What happens later.

What Happens Later is based on Steven Dietz’s play, “Shooting Star.” You could see how this film would work better as a play, where only two characters interact with each other throughout. That proves to be tricky in a film that only features Meg Ryan and David Duchovny talking with each other, though it isn't much of a complaint. The duo captivates throughout and as screenwriters, Ryan, Dietz, and Lynn create an embraceable story. Willa is a magical thinker, toting around a rainstick in the airport, and happily leaning into all things “woo-woo” in middle-age. Bill is a bit of a curmudgeon and holds onto his pragmatism. Both of them carry burdens from the path linked, but not limited to, their college love affair more than 20 years ago. The math doesn’t add up on that, so just go with it.

Both Willa and Bill attempt to avoid each other when they first catch sight of each other on their own. Then, as one of them searches for an electrical outlet, fate reunites them. During their lengthy flight delay, they reconnect and chat — and chat and chat — realizing that while each of their lives have moved forward, on some level they are still attracted to one another.

Best Meg Ryan Movies, Ranked

Unpacking unresolved issues from the past turns into great fun to watch in What Happens Later, which Ryan dedicated to rom-com queen Nora Ephron . Think of this film as Ephron-adjacent, however. It has plenty of clever dialogue, and Ryan and Duchovny make for a wonderful on-screen couple, but you get the sense when you’re watching this that time has stripped something away in modern cinema. You may miss the effectiveness of yesterday's rom-coms, wondering why audiences have collectively limited to experiencing them on the small screen. In a cinematic universe packed with superheroes and special effects, we've become conditioned to relish things on the surface. This film goes deeper than that. To that end, the overall experience, and its fine actors, remind us of the joys of great writing and great premises that can be found in smaller romantic comedies.

Fate Is Your Co-Pilot

The script strongly suggests that kismet and karma are great bedfellows and that Willa and Bill have been brought together by greater powers at work. Surely, the seemingly all-knowing airport public address voice is a giveaway, often directly answering some of Willa’s and Bill’s questions when they become dumbstruck over the flight updates. Hal Liggett is credited as that voice, but apparently some famous actor was involved. Perhaps that 411 will be saved for the film’s second weekend, no doubt sparking more interest. You'll either love or hate this "Hal," but it works, creatively, for the magical realism Ryan wants to pull off.

The flight delays give Willa, Bill, and the overall story room to explore both their past and present lives. Willa is a wellness practitioner in the holistic arts. She’s by-the-book bohemian, sporting all the vibes — smart yet a bit scattered. Overworked Bill is in a loveless marriage and feels like a failure as a father. Willa and Bill both have their own ideas about why their relationship ended. Sure enough, clarity emerges. But not without some bickering first.

On it goes — some ups, some downs, and everything in between as these two ponder their lives, where fate has brought them and if, perhaps, there’s a chance of renewal and personal transformation on the other end of their layover. Ryan et al. move the story along at an even pace, and for a film that takes place in one location, there’s a great flow to how things are executed here so that the film does not feel too claustrophobic. Audiences will appreciate some of the lightheartedness that emerges. There are several fun sequences — from Willa and Bill dancing in an empty airport to zipping around in a transport cart. Cue: cover songs by Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette.

Exclusive: Meg Ryan and David Duchovny on the Feel-Good Vibes of What Happens Later

Meanwhile, Meg Ryan is in fine form. It’s wonderful to see the actress return to a medium that treated her so well. She and Duchovny make a fabulous team. Their comedic timing is pitch-perfect and their on-screen chemistry is as refreshing as it is charming. Sheer magic. With the very stage-like material they have to work with, they each create well-rounded, believable characters. If you’re craving a feel-good, warm-hearted rom-com that will make you feel giddy and contemplative at any given turn, What Happens Later is the movie for you.

What Happens Later is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Bleecker Street. You can watch our interview with Meg Ryan and David Duchovny below.

Meg Ryan explains that 'What Happens Later' movie ending: 'I hope it's not a cop out'

Spoiler alert: This story contains details from the final scenes of "What Happens Later" (in theaters now). * Flight attendant voice * Please make your way to the exit if you would like the ending to remain a surprise.

Moviegoers who’ve seen " What Happens Later ," Meg Ryan's highly anticipated return to rom-coms, might be wondering, "What happens even later?" Do exes Willa Davis (Ryan) and Bill Davis ( David Duchovny ) get back together?

The former flames, who dated in their 20s, reunite at an airport on Leap Day when a snowstorm delays both their flights. Bill is headed to Austin, Texas, to meet with his disgruntled, much younger boss. Willa is headed to Boston to meet the daughter she put up for adoption.

"I just love that part of it," says Ryan. "This idea, this fantasy that there are larger forces at work for your good, even if it feels like suffering at the moment. ... Who knows if that's true? But in this world, in this movie, it is."

"In retrospect, sometimes we say, 'Oh, that was why I went to that place at that time. I thought it was for this reason, and it ended up being for that reason,'" Duchovny says of real life. "As human beings, we want the story to make sense. We want to feel like somebody's writing it."

'What Happens Later': At 61, Meg Ryan is the lead in a new rom-com. That shouldn’t be such a rare thing.

Bill and Willa pass the day in the airport awkwardly making small talk initially, then effortlessly slipping back into old arguments and potentially reigniting their spark. After spending the night cuddled up on the airport floor, the storm has cleared and the two part ways.

"Hey, maybe we can" – Bill begins before Willa cuts him off.

"No," she says, shaking her head. "But nice to have an extra day, huh?"

"We got lucky," he says, and they say goodbye with a long, passionate kiss.

Bill heads to his gate and Willa flips over an old business card he gave her. He said he was going to write his number on it, but instead, he wrote "JUST TRY," encouraging the nervous Willa to board the plane and meet her daughter.

Once boarded, they notice they can see each other from their plane windows. Using hand signals, Willa asks for Bill's phone number, but the planes take off before he can relay it (using his fingers). After departing, the vapor trails from their planes forms the shape of a heart.

David Duchovny talks new novel: He reveals how 'Truly Like Lightning’ connects to ‘The X-Files’

So what do Duchovny and Ryan, who directs and co-wrote the screenplay, have to say?

"For me, it was always just leave it in the lap of the audience, in a way," says Duchovny. "Let them argue it out whether or not they want them to be together, whether or not they think they will be together or they think they won't."

"I hope it's not a cop-out, the feeling of leaving it (up to) the audience," says Ryan, seated next to her co-star. "We've just been on this ride with them where they feel like they're going to be together, then they have some idiot argument, and they do it again.

"How I thought of it was like, you know how they're dressed the same, they have the same name? They're halves of a whole." Ryan says. "This might be too esoteric, but like the yin-yang symbol, they're always trying to find this black-and-white balance, and they don't.

"Those two are going to be in that process together, and maybe that’s love," she adds. "For some reason, these two go round and round, and I feel like they will do that in perpetuity."

The Essentials: 'What Happens Later' star Meg Ryan shares her favorite rom-coms

What Happens Later (United States, 2023)

What Happens Later represents Meg Ryan’s minimal-fanfare return to the genre that made her a star and that resulted in one of the most fertile female/female writer/actor partnerships in the history of filmmaking. With Nora Ephron providing the words, Ryan made her three classic rom-coms – When Harry Met Sally , Sleepless in Seattle , You’ve Got Mail – during a 10-year period toward the end of the last century. Then, weary of typecasting, she opted for a starring role in the racy In the Cut , effectively ending her reign as America’s Sweetheart. It has been eight years since she last made a movie and double that since she was a regular fixture on the big screen. What Happens Later is an attempt not to reignite the rom-com, which has become a moribund genre trapped on streaming TV, but to argue that Ryan can still be a player some 25 years after she turned her back on it.

Although What Happens Later has fun gently referencing Ryan’s past filmography, it doesn’t overdo it. For example, her age-appropriate co-star (he’s 63, she’s on the cusp of 62 at the time of the movie’s release) is David Duchovny not Tom Hanks or Billy Crystal. Dour Duchovny, the ex- X Files star who spent an awful lot of time wallowing in the debauchery of Californication , is a nice counterpoint to the bubbly Ryan, who remains chipper as she transitions out of middle age. There is some chemistry between them but it comes in fits and starts and doesn’t start giving off any heat until late in the proceedings. There’s a lot of magic realism (notably in the form of an omniscient airport announcer who functions as a Greek Chorus) and Ryan’s character embraces it while Duchovny is skeptical (a flip from The X-Files where he was the believer).

Although Ryan (who directed and co-wrote the screenplay) maintains a superficial rom-com veneer, there are darker issues at play. This isn’t all hearts and flowers, although it ends with one of the former. Most lighthearted romances are forward-looking, with the characters gazing into the future as the end credits arrive. What Happens Later , as the title implies, is more about looking to the past and confronting regrets. Life and love have a different taste when there are more years behind than ahead.

The film’s origins as a stage play (“Shooting Star” by Steven Dietz) are evident. There are no flashbacks, much of the action transpires in real time, there is only a single setting (the airport), and 85% of the film is dialogue. We learn the characters’ backstory through their conversations and come to understand that their breakup was in large part due to miscommunications. What Happens Later neither offers nor promises a “happily ever after” ending. And, although there are instances when the writing crackles and pops, it lacks the zing that Nora Ephron brought to Ryan’s best-known rom-coms. (The movie is dedicated to her.)

Although nostalgia will undoubtedly be a reason for many viewers to give this movie a try, it’s only passingly similar to Ryan’s previous ventures into the genre. This is a more mature project, designed almost exclusively for a slice of older viewers. Like most rom-coms, it is comfort food although it lacks the fantasy element associated with characters who are less seasoned.

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‘what happens later’ review: did meg ryan watch her famous rom-coms directorial debut begs the question.

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During the 1980s and ’90s, Meg Ryan was the queen of rom-coms. 

She was the luminous star of “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” all of which are synonymous with the cozy genre.

WHAT HAPPENS LATER

Running time: 105 minutes. <br>Rated R (language, some sexual references and brief drug use). <br>In theaters Nov. 3.

But after experiencing Ryan’s romantic comedy directing debut, “What Happens Later,” one must ask: Did she ever watch any of them? 

Perhaps when those deserved hits premiered, she held court in the lobby instead. Because, unlike the actress’ greatest triumphs, Ryan’s new movie slowly and awkwardly lumbers along like it’s the AOL dial-up hiss. 

Here’s some of the brain-scrambling dialogue that Ryan, also a writer, drummed up with Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn.

“It’s Leap Day!,” her character Willa proclaims after reuniting with ex-boyfriend Bill (David Duchovny) after 25 years in an unspecified regional airport during a blizzard. “It’s a magical day, and things like this happen.”

Bad things like “What Happens Later” and the detestable romantic comedy “Leap Year” starring Amy Adams.

Similarly to 2010’s “Leap Year,” which also involved flights, storms, fate and tedium, “What Happens Later” uses Leap Day, a k a Feb. 29, as the mystical justification for why bizarre phenomena keep happening in the terminal. 

Besides the duo’s unlikely run-in and subsequent plane delays, there’s an omnipresent announcer who seems to be speaking only to them, saying “look up” or making cheesy remarks about “missed connections.” Several flights are grounded yet there’s hardly anyone else at the airport. The bar is empty — no way — and they smoke pot there.   

Willa and Bill, who were born with the same last name and cloyingly call each other W. Davis, have the same opposites-attract dynamic as Mulder and Scully of “The X-Files,” except this time it’s Duchovny who’s the cold skeptic.

“I worry about everything,” he admits with laughable vagueness. “I worry about what’s gonna happen. I worry about what’s not gonna happen.”

And then there’s Willa, who lugs a rainstick around and is a massage therapist/wannabe self-help guru. “Are you on a trip or a journey?,” she asks Bill, clarifying that a trip is “trying to reach a destination” whereas a journey is aiming for “a goal.”   

As speedily as a cross-country Amtrak, we learn where the pair are flying to, what their lives are like now and the many reasons for their breakup years ago in Madison, Wisconsin. 

So. Many. Reasons.

To fill the time between the film’s 40 or so climaxes, the two dully debate modern music, the pros and cons of the internet and cats. At one point when Willa’s phone charger stops working, she announces, “I am officially a woman with no power!”

A lot of this is typical rom-com fare. The genre is not boundary-pushing and that’s perfectly fine — ideal even. But Ryan doesn’t have the sparkle and fizz as a director to make this lacking material sing. 

Drab, grayscale shots of a man and woman sitting at the gate are not my idea of a good time, especially when underscored by David Boman’s sappy Hallmark movie music. 

Ryan, whose heyday was in her 20s and 30s, has said she wanted to make a romantic comedy about older people.

Good for her. But much better examples of that already exist, like “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin or “Something’s Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, both directed by Nancy Meyers. Even the recent “Trouble in Paradise,” with Julia Roberts and George Clooney, has the slightest edge on this one. Unlike “What Happens Later,” they were fun.  

For what it’s worth, Ryan and Duchovny aren’t bad. They provide more mature versions of the personalities we know and love, and it’s always good to see them. However, they’re also unusually stiff and mannered.

Even when they start to let loose, the situation stays as joyless as, well, being stranded in an airport.  

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Screen Rant

10 movie endings that made us question everything that happened before.

The bizarre endings of movies such as Shutter Island, Ex Machina, and The Sixth Sense leave viewers questioning everything that happened before it.

Warning: This list contains major spoilers for the endings of several movies.

• Movie endings like in The Sixth Sense prompt a reanalysis of every scene with new information.
• Ex Machina's twist changes how the viewer perceives Ava, creating a complex and unsettling character.
• Mulholland Drive's dreamlike ending forces viewers to question the reality of the entire movie, leading to various interpretations.

Some amazing and well-reviewed movies are remembered for their confusing endings, which prompt audiences to question everything that happens before. The most shocking and unsettling movie endings frame the story in an entirely different light, changing the context of everything that happens throughout the movie. They reveal that certain characters cannot be trusted as narrators, or end with more questions than answers.

Movie endings like this might make the viewer question what happens in just the ending scene, or the entire movie. Examples including The Sixth Sense, Fight Club , and Shutter Island feature conclusions that force the audience to reconsider almost every scene to determine if what is shown to have happened is congruent with the final reveal. Although they may prompt long and arduous analysis, these narrative elements serve a purpose in the story the filmmakers are trying to tell.

10 Mulholland Drive (2001)

Mulholland drive is a puzzling movie with an unclear reality., mulholland drive.

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David Lynch's Mulholland Drive is a neo-noir mystery about aspiring actress Betty, who becomes involved with a woman suffering from amnesia and a mysterious blue box. Starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, the 2001 surrealist film explores themes of identity, memory, and Hollywood's dark side.

The consensus is that one must watch Mulholland Drive multiple times to fully understand what happens. A large amount of what the audience sees is implied to be a dream or a fantasy constructed by one of the main characters to replace her real life, where her career and relationship with a former partner are in pieces. This reveal near the end of the movie obviously changes the meaning of everything that happens before it. However, this does not end the debate but strengthens it.

Part of this is dedicated to figuring out what everything that happens within the "dream" means concerning the real world, but there are many more theories beyond this. There is even a theory that Mulholland Drive is a Twin Peaks movie . However, Mulholland Drive's ending does seem to at least confirm that the main character Betty/Diane is lying to herself about one thing or another, resulting in a mysterious story.

9 Ex Machina (2014)

A betrayal at the end of ex machina changes the meaning of the movie..

Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems.

The twist ending leaves questions about Ava's character and every interaction she has with Caleb throughout the movie.

Ex Machina , loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest , follows a young programmer who is invited to a reclusive computer engineer's mountain retreat to study his A.I. creation. The robot woman, known as Ava, appears to be kind and curious and convinces Caleb of her humanity. Caleb helps Ava escape her creator Nathan, only for Ava to imprison Caleb in the retreat and leave to see the world on her own.

The twist ending leaves questions about Ava's character and every interaction she has with Caleb throughout the movie. Ava is manipulative and vicious enough to destroy anyone in her path, and she presumably leaves Caleb to starve to death. However, the movie gives her moments of sympathy. Nathan is depicted as a cruel figure who mistreats his inventions, while Ex Machina's ending characterizes Ava with a kind of innocence. She ultimately only wants to see the world and be free from control.

11 Best Sci-Fi Movies Like Ex Machina

8 the blair witch project (1999), the blair witch project's ending creates a mystery of the main characters' fate., the blair witch project.

Three film students investigate the legend of the Blair Witch.

The biggest question The Blair Witch Project's ending leaves behind is "What happened to the main characters?" Blair Witch is not the first horror movie where the monster wins, but it presents a new take on this premise. The main trio is presumably attacked by the Blair Witch and their footage found later, but there is no way of knowing this when the Blair Witch isn't even seen. However, the mystery of what exactly happened to Josh, Mike, and finally Heather only heightens the horror of the unseen.

After these aspiring myth hunters disappear, the footage documenting their investigation is found, which is supposed to be what the audience was watching. Blair Witch inspired a series of found-footage horror movies that tried to recapture its menacing ambiguity with retrieved footage, implying that the main characters are doomed from the beginning. Knowing the ending makes the rest of the Blair Witch trio's investigation more haunting, and what this ending means is still debated today.

7 Black Swan (2010)

Nina's perspective of events cannot be trusted in black swan..

In Darren Aronofsky's 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan, talented ballet dancer Nina Sayers struggles with her mental health while preparing for her performance in a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Natalie Portman earned a Best Actress Oscar in the lead role, and the cast made up of Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder received high praise from critics and audiences.

Although it is not stated outright, Black Swan's protagonist Nina likely has a serious mental illness that causes violent hallucinations. Throughout the movie, Nina is haunted by a mysterious woman as she prepares to perform the double role of the Black Swan and the Swan Queen in a production of Swan Lake . The personas of the major characters suggest that Nina is being chased by the Black Swan herself, embodied by Nina's understudy Lily, whom Nina comes to believe wants to harm her to claim the lead role.

The tone of the movie suggests that the surrealistic scenes are happening in Nina's head, but it is not confirmed until Black Swan's ending . Nina believes that she kills Lily backstage during opening night; she later realizes that she has actually stabbed herself. Since Nina and Lily's fight is played as though it is real, the moment comes as a surprise. Black Swan therefore necessitates a rewatch to determine what events are hallucinations and what their meaning is intended to be.

6 Fight Club (1999)

The narrator's interactions with tyler are not what they seem in fight club..

Fight Club, David Fincher's 1999 thriller starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter, is the cinematic adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's eponymous 1996 novel. In it, reckless soapmaker Tyler Durden helps the desolate Narrator find meaning in his monotonous life by creating an underground fight club where dejected men release their frustration in the form of fistfights.

In an ending that somewhat resembles The Sixth Sense (which ironically came out the same year), the unnamed protagonist of Fight Club realizes that another character exists only for him. Tyler Durden, the character that the Narrator has been interacting with the whole movie, is a manifestation of the Narrator's inner turmoil. This means that they are essentially the same person, and supposedly, the Narrator did everything Tyler is shown doing by himself.

This alone demands a rewatch of Fight Club because the implication is that whatever is depicted happening in any given scene featuring Tyler is unreliable, and something else is taking place with one less person present. It also changes the meaning of the movie, which is not about a man trying to reign in a friend out of control but confronting problems that he has left unaddressed. Fight Club's ending is more about acceptance than anything, as the Narrator sees that it is too late to change what he has done.

5 Memento (2000)

Memento reverses time for a shocking ending..

Christopher Nolan's Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard, a former insurance investigator who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short-term memories. The one thing he can remember is murder of his wife, for which he wishes to exact revenge. Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie was released in 2000 to widespread acclaim, launching the director's successful Hollywood career.

Memento's timeline and ending work backward, with many startling reveals throughout as the narrative goes back through events that the protagonist Leonard cannot remember due to his amnesia. The ending includes the biggest reveal of all: that Leonard's wife died under different circumstances than he believes, and he has created a false mission for himself. Teddy tries to get Leonard to accept the truth, but Leonard kills Teddy to continue his mission.

This puts Leonard's character in a completely different light. Throughout the movie, he appears to be meticulous, noting every detail, so he will not forget it. However, the ending shows the opposite, that he is willing to forget things, changing the nature of the rest of the movie. While Memento might initially appear to be about pursuing revenge to cover up trauma , it is actually about lying to oneself to accomplish this.

4 The Thing (1982)

The ability of the alien in the thing means everything must be questioned., the thing (1982).

A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter's 1982 film is a remake of 1951's The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.

Mistrust among the main and supporting characters plays a significant part in escalating the conflict in The Thing .

The very nature of the shapeshifting creature that the focal research team is investigating means that almost everything in the horror sci-fi classic The Thing is subject to debate. Mistrust among the main and supporting characters plays a significant part in escalating the conflict in The Thing . After the alien kills the rest of the cast, only Kurt Russell's MacReady and Keith David's Childs are left.

The movie ends with MacReady and Childs forever unable to trust each other, not knowing which one of them is the alien. In this way, the final scene will forever be questioned as fans debate which one it is. Recently, the popular "Eye Gleam" theory seemingly confirmed that it is Childs. However, director John Carpenter himself debunked this and appears to prefer that he remains the only person who knows for sure (via comicbook.com ).

3 Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter island is one of leonardo dicaprio's 2010 thrillers., shutter island.

Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley. Set in 1959, Shutter Island follows two U.S. Marshalls - Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Ruffalo) as they are sent to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a hospital specializing in psychiatric care.

Shutter Island is also a movie that changes the context of the entire plot at the last minute due to a protagonist whose reality is a fabrication. Shutter Island's ending reveals that Leonardo DiCaprio's Teddy Daniels is not a real U.S. Marshall who was called to the remote Shutter Island asylum to investigate the disappearance of a patient. He is the escaped patient himself, and the whole movie is an elaborate performance put on by the doctors and staff to lead him to come to terms with his past.

Despite this fairly conclusive explanation of why the supporting characters do what they do throughout the movie, there are still unanswered questions about Shutter Island . It is still unclear how certain story elements fit into this charade, namely the character George Noyce. Yet Shutter Island's ending still stands out as one of the most shocking in recent movie history.

2 Inception (2010)

The ending of the milestone movie inception will never be clear..

Christopher Nolan's 2010 Sci-fi action film Inception follows a thief who enters the dreams of others to steal information and, after being caught, is given a chance to clean his slate by performing an untested concept - implanting an idea within another mind. An ensemble cast is brought together by former target Saito, who seeks to implant the idea of destroying his own company into his father's mind. In a complex labyrinth of dreams and untested theories at the forefront, survival is not guaranteed in this psychological heist where the stakes are high, and nothing is what it seems.

Inception dives straight into the concept of a false reality and twists it as the story goes on. After an adventure into the mind of the heir to a business empire, the protagonist Cobb allegedly escapes back to the real world. The movie ends with him reuniting with his children after his name has been cleared. However, the final shot is of Cobb's top still spinning, indicating that perhaps he is still dreaming. The top appears as though it might be about to fall over, but the movie ends before the audience can know for sure.

Inception thrives on various imaginative realities laid on top of each other. The question of what is real and if the characters should take what happens in the dream world seriously is at the center of the story and leads to the death of Cobb's wife Mal, who believes that the real world is the false one. Director Christopher Nolan commented on the ending (via Screen Rant ), making it clear that he does not intend to explain the movie anytime soon:

“ There can’t be anything in the film that tells you one way or another because then the ambiguity at the end of the film would just be a mistake ... It would represent a failure of the film to communicate something. But it’s not a mistake. [...] The real point of the scene — and this is what I tell people — is that Cobb isn’t looking at the top. He’s looking at his kids. He’s left it behind. That’s the emotional significance of the thing.”

Ultimately, keeping the viewer guessing throughout is the very point of Inception .

8 Most Popular Inception Theories (& Whether They Really Work)

1 the sixth sense (1999), the sixth sense's ending changes every scene bruce willis is in., the sixth sense.

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.

Most people are well aware of The Sixth Sense's famous twist ending, which reveals that Bruce Willis' Malcolm Crowe has been dead all along. With this information, almost every scene in the movie takes on new meaning. Crowe only interacts with Cole, a young boy who can see the dead. Cole's mother and Crowe's wife are not ignoring Crowe in certain scenes but cannot see him because he is a ghost.

M. Night Shyamalan's defining movie has been rewatched and analyzed so many times that lists of subtle clues to The Sixth Sense's ending are inevitable. On the other hand, people have pointed out plot holes regarding the convenience of how characters act around Crowe without explicitly revealing that he is dead. One way or another, The Sixth Sense is one of the movies that necessitates this kind of reaction because the ending throws everything else that has happened into question.

Source: comicbook.com