Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Two races set for council positions Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer Police Log Oregon sues Oracle and executives over health insurance exchange website PDF: State of Oregon v. Oracle America Inc. complaint Education SOU ROAR's to life Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Environment Deadly virus stalks Southern Oregon deer National monument area still faces threats What do you think of the return of wolves to Jackson County? How has the drought affected you? Wimer organic farm reaches out for support Business Organic & Healthy Dobra serves up teas and tranquility Revised employment figures show job growth in Jackson County Store to receive national award Former Daily Tidings publisher named to head new Gannett print company Politics and elections Two races set for council positions Library district won't take maximum tax rate Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Taking an independent stand Library district board, county at odds over proposal State News Nation - World Obituaries Frank Raymond Nadeau Death Notices Dan Austin Andress Olive May (Davis) Dooms Harry Miller Christensen Sports Latest Stories No Mo’ne on mound, Philly loses to Chicago Giants fall short in suspended game, 2-1 Ashland sports calendar: Local events and sports on TV Foles, offense sharp as Eagles beat Steelers Manziel not ready for prime time High school Southern Oregon University Season of change Raiders lean on passing, strength up front Beavers will get another shot at Buckeyes SOU men voted CCC favorites Former Ashland High star Niki Small reunites with former coach Rohlfing at SOU Opinion Latest Stories City sets example on marijuana tax Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Our View: Review the ordinance, not the site Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Glad tidings about reader reactions Editorial City sets example on marijuana tax Our View: Review the ordinance, not the site Our View: New twist on the flying wedge Proof is in the numbers Ashlanders step up Letters Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letter at Length: Bravo to Ashland for water conservation Letters to the Editor, Tuesday, Aug. 12 Letters to the Editor Guest opinions Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Hamas supporters spread anti-Semitism around the world A fresh start for the Tidings — and for Mount Ashland Republicans and the politics of cognitive dissonance Revels Latest Stories Community blog:Ashland Book and Author Festival Coming Soon Ashland's On The Fly Improv had the audience rolling Community blog:Poet Laureate Peter Sears in Ashland World of Wine celebrates local varietals 4 things to do this weekend Theater OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Daedalus Project 2014 Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music 'On the Fly' Live 'on the bricks' Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Tavern Visual Art First Friday art walk in Ashland Movies Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 22-26 'What If' hits the sweet spot Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 15-21 'Boyhood' and 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' 'A Most Wanted Man' is full of complexities Food and Drink World of Wine celebrates local varietals Lifestyle Latest Stories If pot is medicine, should it be taxed? Backstage: For TV, never go beyond take three Food Project is a success story Inner Peace: Spiritual maintenance Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part four of four Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries NEWS NOW Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... Health officials detect West Nile Virus in another Jackson County sample ... CALENDAR ... ON SCREEN 'What If' hits the sweet spot DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:14 AM Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:14 AM » Social News By Chris Honoré for Revels While the premise of “What If" might seem, at first blush, a romantic comedy that is both trite and cliché-driven, it proves to be instead an engaging film that manages to find, surprisingly, its own sweet spot. First the cliché: Two 20-somethings, Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) and Chantry (Zoe Kazan), meet cute at a party, in front of a refrigerator, the enameled door covered in magnetized words, the purpose being to rearrange them into small maxims. They can’t resist. There is instant chemistry between the two as they verbally joust in a playful way. Leaving the party, Wallace walks Chantry home to her flat and while treading water by the front gate she tells him that she has a boyfriend. They’ve already shared that she is an animator/artist and that he has recently dropped out of medical school. On a whim, she gives him her phone number, written on a page torn from her notebook, a page with a drawn selfie on the back, while suggesting, with a handshake, that they could be friends and maybe hang out sometime. Later, sitting on the roof of his attic digs, Daniel, who is recovering from a recent breakup, let’s the page/selfie drift away in a breezy updraft. Of course, their paths cross at a late-night movie (“The Princess Bride” ) , both there alone, and they go for coffee, picking up the stylized banter where they had left off at the party. Wallace, finding himself attracted to Chantry, captured by her smart wit and adorable eyes, goes along with the just friends-arrangement, sitting stoically on his true feelings. Sophie insists to all that she is committed to Ben; nothing has changed other than she has a new friend. And that’s the cliché. The outcome is a foregone conclusion. It’s just how the two manage to get there. And therein is the charm of this film. Kazan and Radcliffe are able to take this familiar template and give it new life through the sheer power of their performances and obvious on-screen chemistry. Of course, the formula calls for obstacles to be overcome (one complication being Ben (Rafe Spall), Chantry’s boyfriend of five years), all the while Wallace is restraint and vow-challenged. Of course, the two attempt to prove that young, optimistic, hormonal and wonderfully enthusiastic men and women in search of “the one” can be friends without benefits. You know, buds to hang with, sharing creative riffs on life and its exigencies. Naturally, it’s all this unwillingness to yield to emotions that are obvious while being teeth-grindingly denied that propels the movie forward from one vignette to the next. Obviously, there is not a shred of originality in the story. But, not to worry; “What If” is endearing and consistently appealing. As are Chantry and Wallace. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 21, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 21, 2014 at 10:14 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501