Film: What If (15)

Daniel Radcliffe consolidates his quirky credentials in this charming Canadian romcom

What If addresses that age-old dilemma of whether or not men and women can be ‘just’ friends. Hardly the most original of premises, but with sparky dialogue, clever casting and well written three-dimensional characters, the

film captivates and engages throughout. Usually, when I make a film, there is always one scene where my character has some terrible thing happen to him

As romantic comedy is a new genre for the acclaimed actor, Daniel Radcliffe was excited about jumping into the role. “Usually, when I make a film, there is always one scene where my character breaks down and has some terrible thing happen to him, and with this film there wasn’t any of that,” says Radcliffe. “It’s a lighter film for me – not necessarily emotionally – but in terms of the depths of pain and agony I have to go to. It’s been very enjoyable, I hope to do more comedies in the future.”

In What If, the characters of Wallace and Chantry are stuck in the friend zone. Zoe Kazan, who plays Chantry opposite Radcliffe, commented: “I think Chantry experiences something that might be familiar to a lot of girls – you meet a guy and you can tell that they like you and then you have a weird responsibility that no one talks about – how to handle that gracefully, if you’re otherwise involved with someone.”

Also starring Adam Driver of Girls fame, and Brit actor Rafe Spall (Prometheus – and son of actor Timothy Spall).

Dir: Michael Dowse
Released Wednesday 20 August
Showing at Cineworld, Duke Of York’s Picturehouse,
Dukes @ Komedia, and Odeon