In What If, a newlywed couple finds themselves on the verge of falling apart while stuck on an island in the middle of a storm during their honeymoon. The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
Musicians Jose ‘Jecs’ Cruz and Isabella ‘Billie’ Neri are going to the island of Panglao for their honeymoon. Billie hopes that Jecs will forget about his work while they are spending time together.
No one is visiting the island, and therefore, they have the island to themselves. However, Jecs’ mother’s and Billie’s father’s calls continue to crash their honeymoon.
Flashbacks reveal how Jecs and Billie met, fell in love with each other, and got married. At the same time, the problems they are facing behind their big smiles are also revealed.
As a storm hits the island, their problems become a dark cloud, threatening their relationship.
Performances
Alessandra De Rossi, as Billie, and JM De Guzman, as Jecs, give commendable performances that become the movie’s strongest aspects.
Their chemistry is solid, and within a few minutes of their characters’ introductions, they are able to convince the viewers how good of a couple Billie and Jecs are.
Positives
What If comes with a dim filter over it, which goes great with the movie’s stormy atmosphere and the topics it is choosing to explore. The weather makes the discussions featured in the film more intimate, and an impact can be felt.
The soundtrack of the film is beautiful. The first half of Billie and Jecs’ story, despite being a regular rom-com arc, is heartwarming, and the song featured here in the time jump gets a viewer through this part with ease.
Other than that, duets are especially charming. Every duet Billie and Jecs sing will make the viewers want to search for the song and add it to their playlist.
Negatives
The film could have experimented a bit by just focusing on the events on the island and only having conversations about the characters’ past. The weather could have pushed these conversations further. Flashback scenes do tell their story, but it’s a redundant formula.
What If paints Billie and Jecs as the perfect couple that understands each other to the point where their arguments feel completely unnecessary.
The film is actually missing a stronger conflict that would have drawn the couple apart. Every time one of them defends their side, it is expected that the other person will understand because that’s how mature the characters were portrayed initially. Hence, there are fewer reasons for them to fall apart.
Verdict
What If picks the right cast and the perfect atmosphere to explore the intimate conflicts in the lead characters’ lives. However, the conversations that are supposed to elevate the film are ultimately weaker, offering viewers a dull watch.
Also Read: What If summary and ending explained
