George Chartier

Mature romantic comedy ably directed by Meg Ryan. Beyond the lighthearted fantasies of "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle, " and "You've Got Mail," Ryan's new rom-com is a sincere and sober fairytale sprinkled with warmth and humor. Ryan and Duchovny are fire and ice, which makes them fascinating to watch. They tread gingerly around piles of badly packed luggage in an airport that's less a terminus and more a limbo for lost souls. As a storm builds outside and in -- a Shakespearian winter of discontent? -- memories, grudges, and unrealized dreams are slowly unpacked and inspected, although no TSA agents are in sight. The clever script slowly reveals what lies beneath the surface of the years and yearnings for a Happily Ever After that hasn't come. Will their planes and dreams ever take off, or will they be forever grounded with regrets? Whatever this movie's final destination, "What Happens Later" is worth the trip.