7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Wallace, a medical-school dropout with no direction in life, is unsure how to proceed as his connection to a woman in a long-term relationship deepens.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver, Mackenzie DavisRomance | 100% |
Comedy | 16% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The old adage that says "love is patient" has found its modern world definition in What If, Director Michael Dowse's (Goon) story of a relationship that seems in a perpetual state of blossom, not full realization. Starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe and Ruby Sparks' Zoe Kazan, the movie is about compatibility in today's global yet still in many ways intimate world and the obstacles that stand in the way of a flourishing romance and the challenging realities of life and career that get in the way of "happily ever after." The film plays smart but never too smart, predictable but still whimsically inviting, straddling the line between friendship and romance, of comedy and drama, of yes and no with a confidence and understanding of its characters and their circumstances that bring them closer while still keeping them apart. It's a welcome change of pace from otherwise cookie-cutter modern romances and the usual sort of slapstick humor that never gets to the heart of the matter quite like What If proves continuously capable of reaching.
Work it out.
What If's 1080p transfer isn't much of a looker, at times, but it is technically polished and proficient. Sony's Blu-ray presentation, sourced from an HD video shoot, offers generally tight, detailed surfaces, with brighter outdoor scenes, as always, showing more intimate features when compared to lower light nighttimes and exteriors. At its best and brightest, the transfer reveals the most intimate facial and clothing lines with ease, from pores and makeup to Radcliffe's beard stubble. One notable and very well defined scene takes place in chapter nine, revealing Chantry's straw hat with impeccable definition. Details do, however, favor a slightly more pasty look in darker shots. Colors, likewise, are best enjoyed in the bright sunshine. There's more pop and definition there as opposed to some murkier, flatter nighttimes and lower-light, warm interiors. One exception comes in the shape of nighttime city lights which practically pop, a perfect example being a scene in which Wallace and Chantry chat after seeing The Princess Bride. Black levels are fairly stable but do show a slight push towards paleness in places. Otherwise, the image appears blemish-free and a pleasure to watch.
What If features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's not much more than music and dialogue. The musical foundation is frequently a strength, with tremendous stage presence, faultless definition, and rich clarity, whether when discussing light piano strokes, wedding organ notes, or heavy dance club beats. The latter is particularly immersive and pleasurable with a noticeably strong low end accompaniment. Minor city din helps to better define some locations, and moody beachside ambience sonically shapes a few key moments. Otherwise, this is predominately a dialogue intensive track. The spoken word enjoys firm, accurate center placement and natural clarity.
What If contains several featurettes and a selection of deleted scenes. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will also find a UV digital copy
voucher.
What If doesn't redefine the Romantic Comedy/coming-of-age Romance movie, and not even that style of movie set against a modern backdrop, but it does reinforce everything that can be very good about it, helped tremendously by its perfectly paired leads and a solid supporting cast around them. It's fun and carefree but at the same time contemplative and purposeful, a well-balanced Comedy/Drama that's more about real people and a real, long-burgeoning relationships and less about recycled jokes and overzealous sex scenes. Sony's Blu-ray release of What If offers solid video and audio to go along with a nice little assortment of extras. Recommended.
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