Daniel Radcliffe turns to the romantic comedy for the movie 'What If'
Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan star in the movie 'What If,' which centers on a man in love with his friend, who already has a boyfriend. Daniel Radcliffe's other upcoming projects include the more horror-based films 'Horns' and 'Frankenstein.'
Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan star in the movie 'What If,' which centers on a man in love with his friend, who already has a boyfriend. Daniel Radcliffe's other upcoming projects include the more horror-based films 'Horns' and 'Frankenstein.'
Actor Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan of 鈥淩uby Sparks鈥� star in the upcoming romantic comedy 鈥淲hat If,鈥� which centers on two friends who might also be something more.
鈥淚f鈥� is directed by Michael Dowse and is based on the play 鈥淐igars and Toothpaste,鈥� which is by Michael Rinaldi and T.J. Dawe.
In the film, Radcliffe鈥檚 character Wallace becomes attracted to Chantry (Kazan), only to find out that she already has a boyfriend (鈥淪haun of the Dead鈥� actor Rafe Spall). They then develop a friendship.
In addition to starring in 鈥淩uby,鈥� Kazan also wrote the 2012 film about a writer who discovers his dream girl character has come to life. After starring in the 鈥淗arry Potter鈥� films, Radcliffe has appeared in such movies as the 2012 horror film 鈥淭he Woman in Black,鈥� the 2013 movie 鈥淜ill Your Darlings鈥� in which he portrayed Allen Ginsberg. He will play a young man who grows horns on his head in the upcoming movie 鈥淗orns鈥� as well as portraying Victor Frankenstein鈥檚 assistant Igor in 2015鈥檚 鈥淔rankenstein.鈥澛�
Some outlets are wondering if 鈥淲hat If鈥� can revive its genre, which they say is in danger. Variety writer Ramin Setoodeh penned a story titled 鈥淲hy Hollywood Shouldn鈥檛 Give Up on the Romantic Comedy鈥� and noted that 鈥淲hat If鈥� 鈥渇eels like a throwback to Nora Ephron," while the headline of Entertainment Weekly writer Jeff Labrecque鈥檚 story asked, 鈥淐an Daniel Radcliffe save the romantic comedy?鈥�
鈥淎s a genre, the romantic comedy has been coasting on fumes for several years,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淲hat If [is] a throwback to the likes of聽When Harry Met Sally鈥� there is something sweet about [it].鈥�
Radcliffe told the San Francisco Chronicle that it was the creative take of 鈥淲hat If鈥� on what seems like a predictable story that attracted him to the film.
鈥淲here most romantic comedies sort of squeeze out complexities from the plot, this movie embraces them," he said. "Rafe's character is the romantic obstacle and could have been written as the villain, but he's this attentive, good-looking, lovely, successful guy, which creates this聽tension.鈥�
The actor, who cited the 1981 movie 鈥淎rthur鈥� as his favorite rom-com, said he enjoyed being able to improvise on set, something he hadn鈥檛 done on his other projects.
鈥淚 got to鈥� bring in my own sense of humor, which I'd never done before,鈥� he said. "My real job each day was just to show up and make Zoe Kazan聽laugh."聽