What Happens Later

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What Happens Later
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMeg Ryan
Screenplay by
Based onShooting Star
by Steven Dietz
Produced by
  • Jonathan Duffy
  • Kelly Williams
  • Laura D. Smith Ireland
  • Kristin Mann
Starring
CinematographyBartosz Nalazek
Edited byJason Gourson
Music byDavid Boman
Production
companies
  • Prowess Pictures
  • Ten Acre Films
Distributed byBleecker Street
Release date
  • November 3, 2023 (2023-11-03)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[2]
Box office$3.4 million[3][4]

What Happens Later is a 2023 American romantic comedy film directed by Meg Ryan, written by Ryan, Steven Dietz and Kirk Lynn, and starring Ryan and David Duchovny. The film follows two exes who, after bumping into each other when their flights get delayed due to a snowstorm, spend the night at the airport reliving their past.[5] It was released by Bleecker Street on November 3, 2023.

Plot[edit]

At an unnamed regional airport on Leap Day, ex-lovers Wilhelmina "Willa" Davis and William "Bill" Davis run into each other and make small talk during their layovers.

Willa and Bill are about to get on their respective flights; Willa is on her way to Boston, and Bill is on his way to Austin. However, a storm, later identified as a bomb cyclone, causes flights at the airport to be delayed, leaving Willa and Bill to reconnect. Bill is married to his wife Beth-Anne, and together they have a 15-year-old daughter, Rose, but Bill says that he and Beth-Anne are “going through a thing.” Rose also wishes to be a dancer, which worries Bill. Meanwhile, Willa plans to visit her friend Ginny, who is splitting up with her husband.

While Willa and Bill reminisce about their past relationship, it is revealed that Willa suffered a miscarriage while she was with Bill. After Bill left, Willa had a little girl with a man who left as soon as he found out she was pregnant. Willa later gave her daughter up for adoption; she was able to find the perfect parents, but Willa does not know where her daughter is now.

Bill mentions that he saw Willa a year prior while she was changing planes in Dallas, but Bill did not say anything to her, stating that she looked lost. Bill obtains a hotel voucher but is unable to reserve a room. It is announced that Willa's flight to Boston is now boarding, but she ends up giving up her seat for a family. Willa tries to give Bill her ticket after upgrading to first class so he will not miss Rose's recital, as both Bill and Willa are “W. Davis”. Bill refuses. Willa mentions that Beth-Anne called earlier, while Bill was grabbing coffee, to say that Rose does not want to stay with him but with Beth-Anne instead for a few weeks. Bill then takes the ticket only for all flights to be suspended suddenly.

Rose calls Bill, and Bill encourages her to try her best at dancing; earlier, Bill told Willa that he had told Rose that she would not make it as a professional dancer, making her sad. Willa tells Bill that she is actually going to Boston to meet her daughter; Maggie, who just turned 20, called Willa and told her that she would like to meet. Earlier, Willa, using Bill's phone, texted Maggie, saying that she was not going to come. Maggie then replied, telling Willa to just try. Initially, this was seen as Willa texting Ginny.

The next day, all outbound flights are then announced to be departing shortly. Willa gifts Bill with her rainstick, and Bill gives Willa an old card, saying that he will write his number on the back. They then exchange a kiss before leaving to board their flights. Willa turns Bill's card over to discover that he only wrote "just try." Willa and Bill exchange final gestures through the windows of their planes, which are parked next to each other. Bill tries to sign his phone number to Willa, only for their flights to depart as the contrails from the planes form a heart.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Meg Ryan first announced the film was in development in a May 2022 Instagram post.[6] It is Ryan's second feature film as director, after 2015's Ithaca,[7] and also her first film as an actor since Ithaca.[8]

The film is based on Steven Dietz's 2008 play Shooting Star.[5] It is produced by Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Laura D. Smith, and Kristin Mann.[9]

Principal photography began on October 26, 2022 in Bentonville, Arkansas.[10][11]

Release[edit]

What Happens Later was originally scheduled to be released in theaters on October 13, 2023, but was moved to November 3 to avoid competition with the Taylor Swift concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.[12][13][14]

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

The film made $603,000 from 1,492 theaters in its first day, and went on to debut to $1.6 million, finishing in ninth.[15]

Critical response[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 49% of 68 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "A pair of beloved stars and a refreshingly mature take on rom-com tropes are almost enough to overcome What Happens Later's increasingly cloying execution."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[17] Audiences polled by PostTrak gave it a 43% overall positive score, with 25% saying they would definitely recommend the film.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "What Happens Later (15)". British Board of Film Classification. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Meg Ryan Wrestles With the Rom-Com". The New York Times. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "What Happens Later". The Numbers. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  4. ^ "What Happens Later". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Scorziello, Sophia (August 30, 2023). "'What Happens Later' Trailer: Meg Ryan Directs Her Rom-Com Return With David Duchovny as Her Old Flame". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  6. ^ McArdle, Tommy (June 12, 2023). "Meg Ryan's Comeback Rom-Com Is 'a Throwback Sweet Film,' Teases Costar David Duchovny". People. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Lenker, Maureen (August 29, 2023). "Meg Ryan returns to rom-coms in What Happens Later first look, talks Nora Ephron inspiration". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  8. ^ Ushe, Naledi (August 31, 2023). "Meg Ryan returns to rom-coms with 'What Happens Later' alongside David Duchovny". USA Today. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Ritman, Alex (May 3, 2022). "Meg Ryan to Direct and Star Alongside David Duchovny in Rom-Com 'What Happens Later'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Ravindran, Manori (May 3, 2022). "Meg Ryan to Direct, Star With David Duchovny in Rom-Com Take 'What Happens Later'". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "Meg Ryan and David Duchovny filming new movie at XNA". visitbentonville.com. October 27, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "Meg Ryan's Return To Romantic Comedy 'What Happens Later' Waits Out Incoming Taylor Swift Storm At Box Office". Deadline. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "Meg Ryan Rom-Com Becomes Latest Film to Avoid Competing With Taylor Swift". The Hollywood Reporter. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Meg Ryan's 'What Happens Later' Pushes Back Release Thanks to Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Film". Rolling Stone. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  15. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 5, 2023). "Autumn Box Office Blues: 'Freddy's At $19M+ Leads 'Dune'-Less Frame As Strike Continues – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "What Happens Later". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "What Happens Later". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 20, 2023.

External links[edit]

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