WHAT IF…?

Canada/Ireland, 2013, 98 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall.
Directed by Michael Dowse.

What if…? is a romantic comedy from both Canada and Ireland, the main action set in Canada with a visit to Dublin in the middle of the film. It was originally called The F Word but this was not acceptable for release in the United States.

It is the story of Wallace, a British medical student in Canada, played by Daniel Radcliffe, lookinga little like Harry Potter grownup, who suffered a romantic breakup. At a party, he encounters a lively young woman, Chantry, Zoe Kazan, and they strike up a friendship, but he is little taken aback to find that she has been in a five-year relationship with Ben, a UN expert, played by Rafe Spall. Adam Driver plays Wallace’s roommate.

The characters are quite well drawn, both Canada and Dublin look rather good, there is some witty dialogue, there is a picture of a friendship which eventually the two friends realise is love.

1. A popular romantic comedy, for a 20-something audiences? Canadian setting, visit to Ireland? British characters in Canada?

2. The title? Possibilities? (The alternate title of The F Word?)

3. The Canadian settings, the city, apartments, animation offices, hospitals? The visit to Ireland? Dublin and locations? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Wallace, his breakup, sitting on the roof, sad, his sister and nephew and his links with them, his British background, medical studies, dropping out? His prospects? Sharing an apartment with Allan?

5. The party, with Allan, meeting Chantry, Allan’s cousin? Talking, at ease with each other, and easy friendship? Exchanging phone numbers? Wallace not following through? The chance meeting outside the cinema?

6. Chantry, revealing her relationship with Ben? Five years? Living together, love? Ben’s character, work for the United Nations? His prospects? His manner, at home with Chantry? The invitation for Wallace to come to the meal, edgy situation for him, Ben and his reaction, the touch of superiority, the accident, his falling out the window, in hospital? Recovery?

7. Meeting his former girlfriend at the hospital?

8. Chantry and her animation work – and the touches of animation throughout the film, humorous touches, light and characters?

9. Wallace, his sister, nephew, their talks, their support of him, his needs?

10. Chantry, her concerns, Ben going to Ireland, the contact, her being offered the animation job in Taiwan? The continued meetings with Wallace, talking things over, friendship? Chantry’s sister, sexy approach, Wallace resisting?

11. Allan, meeting Nicole, Nicole and her friendship with Chantry, hitting it off with Allan, marriage, pregnancy?

12. Chantry going to Dublin, surprising Ben, his work, friendships, the woman from the embassy, his taking on more jobs? Chantry and her disappointment, coming home?

13. Wallace, the decision to go to Canada, the encounter with Ben, his being punched out, learning that Chantry had returned home, his returning?

14. Chantry and Wallace, her reactions, a possible split, yet the love for each other, the reconciliation? The background of the Fool’s Gold loaf, and each making it for the other at the end?

15. The aftermath, Chantry going to Taiwan for her career, Wallace studying medicine, marriage – and a future?