What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 28, 2023

Meg Ryan doesn’t act much anymore, and when she does, she’s been using her star power to support her directorial endeavors. In 2015, there was the little seen “Ithica,” and now there’s “What Happens Later,” which returns Ryan to the screen in a major part, also handling scripting duties with Kirk Lynn and Steven Dietz, adapting his 2008 play, “Shooting Star.” Ryan’s playing to her strengths with the effort, which returns the actress to the romantic comedy subgenre that boosted her career over 30 years ago, but general sweetness is limited here. The material is more interested in the ways of aging and soured relationships, getting into the unfinished business between two people who loved each other long ago, reuniting for a night during an airport layover. “What Happens Later” isn’t big on tingles, but it does have Ryan and co-star David Duchovny, who share decent chemistry in this tale of regret, helping to bring an otherwise static but deeply felt picture to life.

Weather issues have diverted various flights to a regional airport, with Bill (David Duchovny) unable to reach his destination in Austin, forced to deal with delays when time is very important to him. Willa (Meg Ryan) is on her way to Boston, also stuck at the same airport. Actively trying to avoid each other for a few moments, Bill and Willa eventually reconnect after 25 years apart, trying to get used to the idea that they have plenty of hours to kill as a storm keeps them from moving on to their final destinations. Bill and Willa once dated in college, experiencing a tumultuous relationship that ended in a bad way, leaving them both rattled by the union. Now they’re stuck together again, slowly growing comfortable enough to deal with their past and acknowledge the present, walking through the mistakes they’ve made as a simple delay turns into an overnight reunion that briefly rekindles feelings previously thought to be lost forever.

“What Happens Later” takes place completely inside an airport, and one that’s experiencing difficulties with weather, including snow that’s grounding all the flights. Bill and Willa are stressed and confused, with their first priorities being the discovery of an available outlet to help charge their phones. They catch a glimpse of each other, but refuse to engage, and it’s only a matter of time before they have to deal with this reunion reality, leading to a first act of strained pleasantries and general social itchiness, with Willa clinging to the idea of an “extra magical day” waiting to be explored. Personalities are established quickly, with Bill a conservative type working in the financial world, on his way to an important meeting. Willa is more of a free spirit, planning to provide a “cleansing ceremony” for a friend, carrying a rain stick and some joint issues with her.

“What Happens Later” spends the overnight hours with the characters as they relitigate their past relationship. There’s some snappiness to the writing, keeping the travelers engaged as they try to stay frosty and agreeable, but soon fall into the quicksand of memories, deconstructing their years together in college, which was filled with love, but also grand acts of miscommunication. Banter is present, but Ryan strives to keep the endeavor human, restoring interplay between Willa and Bill, who point out habits, mutually loathe deafening airport music, trade wallets to explore information, and deal with the generational divide, reflecting on their creeping obsolescence. Also present is the voice of the airport, with a mystery employee/spirit detailing flight information but also working to keep Bill and Willa together as they warm to each other once again. This voice is credited to “Hal Liggett,” but sounds a lot like Tom Hanks doing a Liev Schreiber impression.

What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a clear look at cinematographic efforts, delivering decent detail during the largely still feature, exploring facial surfaces and fibrous costuming. Airport interiors offer appealing depth, securing a feel for lounges and gates. Color is limited, as Willa and Bill are dressed in black and white, but hues are sharp and more adventurous with airport events, capturing warmer hues with special lighting. Delineation is acceptable. Compression doesn't always hold together, with mild banding appearing at times.

What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix leads with dialogue exchanges, with the characters in a state of conversation throughout the entire film. Performances are crisply preserved, maintaining balance with hushed emotional moments and more playful, louder activity. Scoring supports with authority, delivering sharp instrumentation and dramatic emphasis. Surrounds push out musical moods with authority. Airport announcements also deliver volume and a pleasing echo to sell the vastness of the building. Low-end isn't challenged, but weather events carry some weight, and storms also offer a more circular presence.

What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

What Happens Later Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ryan hopes to gradually build interest in the emotional lives of the characters, and the material gets darker as it goes, exploring past trauma and regret, finding Willa and Bill stung by thoughts of what could've been had they honestly talked to each other when they had the chance. The outside world also plays a part in the plot, as Bill is dealing with daughter issues. "What Happens Later" has gravity, but Ryan doesn't always have command of pacing, with the picture occasionally slipping into tiresome shenanigans, including a date with alcohol at an airport lounge. The movie is too long, in need of trimming to really sell its points of crisis and concern, but Ryan and Duchovny do well with the talkative nature of the writing, creating a believable connection between the past lovers, and the helmer finds ways to make time inside of an airport visually interesting enough. "What Happens Later" hopes to achieve the tightness of heartbreak as these two spend hours together, getting close again, and the feature delivers appealing emotional breakthroughs. It works, but the film isn't the profound look at reconciliation Ryan is looking to create.