WHAT IF this film had never been made? The answer is that probably nobody would have missed it.
"What If" (a.k.a., "The F Word") tells the story of Chantry and Wallace, who, upon meeting, find that they have some chemistry. But they are kept apart due to Chantry's relationship with Ben. She appears to genuinely love Ben, but never seems totally committed to him. On the other hand, she seems to recognize right away that Wallace is the love of her life. The film is unsuccessful in stringing out this mundane story for 90 minutes.
The film was based on a stage play, and the predictable result is a "talky" cinematic experience. One of the major problems of the film is that it sounds "scripted," as if the actors are engaged in the banter with little substance beneath it. Moreover, the snappy dialogue is really not that funny. Woody Allen's scripts are memorable for the one-liners. This one lacks the wit, and it appears as though the actors have been coached to speak their lines as rapidly as possible.
While "What If" was clearly intended as a sentimental love story, it was difficult to connect with the extremely stubborn and often unlikable character of Chantry. While Wallace was always genuine, Chantry always seemed cynical. In the restaurant scene, Wallace observes that on numerous occasions, Chantry has "crossed the line." Yet in her universe, she expecting conduct from Wallace that she was incapable of modeling herself.
Even when Wallace travels all the way to Dublin to honor her with the truth about how he feels about her, she berates him for trying to break up her relationship with Ben. The ending seemed gimmicky with the two characters giving each other the same gift of "Fool's Gold," based on a joke they enjoyed about Elvis. The sandwich was supposed to announce to the audience how much Chantry and Wallace had in common. But the joke fell flat, exactly like other moments that sought to blend humor with romance.
One can only feel for both Ben and Wallace, based on the characterization of Chantry--a mean-spirited, narcissistic, and selfish character, who rarely appears concerned with the feelings of others. She needs help.
مزید دکھائیں 
