What If

The perfect romantic comedy lets you pretend that you're practical, clever and jaded when it comes to relationship, then it sweeps in and makes you realize that, throughout it all, you hoped for the ideal Hollywood ending.

That's what happens in "What If" (released in some countries as "The F Word"). Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) meets the perfect girl at a party, Chantry (Zoe Kazan), and he finally feels like there's someone in this world who can break him out of the year-long funk he went through after he caught his ex in the supply closet with her anatomy teacher. But after a wonderful evening of great conversation and light flirting, he drops her off at her at her apartment, only to discovers that she has a longtime boyfriend named Ben (Rafe Spall), who's actually a pretty decent guy.

Since they've really hit it off, and there's an undeniable attraction, Wallace and Chantry decide to make a go of it. They begin a relationship -- by choosing to be good friends.

But Wallace's Machiavellian buddy Allen (the characteristically edgy and hilarious Adam Driver) is convinced that love is messy; after all, he broke up a relationship in order to start dating his perfect partner (Mackenzie Davis). By working to breakdown his friend's integrity, Allen encourages Wallace to move in on Chantry.

Elan Mastai's script (based on a play by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi) took almost 10 years to get made, so it's well developed. Additionally, in 2008, the unproduced screenplay was put on the Black List, an annual survey of the "most liked" films scripts of the year.

While this film has some mildly amusing situations, it stands apart in its witty dialogue and the wild improvisations of Adam Driver. (And you could do worse than Daniel Radcliff's dry, self-effacing delivery and soulful blue eyes.)

Some of the Blu-ray exclusive features are three deleted scenes and a pretty detailed featurette, "Behind the Scenes of 'What If." There are also three promotional vignettes (about the length of an extended trailer), "Blurred Lines," "Opposites Attract" and "A Modern Love Story."

"What If"
Blu-ray
Rated PG-13 / 98 min.
www.WhatIfMovie.com