AWFJ: 'WIIW?' REVIEW
AWJF.ORG
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
DEC 7TH, 2017
" What if It Works? is readily identifiable through its production values alone as a distinctly independent, low-budget affair, but
despite its own challenges What if it Works? is marked by a real, raw energy .. This is a film – and filmmaker – unafraid to trust her instinct, and with industry support and the further mentorship it demonstrates Trower has the potential to be a dynamic, energetic and fearless Australian filmmaker. "
ANCHORAGE IFF : FINISHING STRONG
ANCHORAGEPRESS.com
INDRA ARRIAGA
DECEMBER 6TH, 2017
"This comedy -What If It Works? - is not just adorable, but also helps viewers question their perception of love and its infinite possibilities, afterall, love is about taking chances and facing fears, because one never knows when it may just work."
THE BLURB MAGAZINE : 'WIIW?' REVIEW
theblurb.com.au
ALEX FIRST
OCTOBER 15TH, 2017
"A decidedly offbeat love story between two troubled individuals, What If It Works? is a heap of fun. It’s the first feature film for writer, director and co-producer Romi Trower ... puts a smile on your dial. It’s simplistic on one level and far deeper on another ... a crowd-pleaser for those looking for something different."
THE AUSTRALIAN : 'WIIW?' REVIEW
theaustralian.com.au
DAVID STRATTON
OCTOBER 14TH, 2017
"Melbourne-based Romi Trower, who wrote and directed What If It Works?, a low-budget independent Australian film, knows from personal experience about obsessive compulsive disorder and her first feature film deals with disarming candour and affection with a character who suffers from it ... the film benefits not only from the very strong performances of Ford and Samson but also from the obvious passion Trower has for the subject."
BOHEMIAN RAPSODY CLUB : 'WIIW?' REVIEW
bohemianrhapsodyclub.weebly.com
CAROLYN NEWALL
OCTOBER 14TH, 2017
"That this is the work of a first time director is surprising but not unprecedented ... We have been told that Trower has knowledge of both these conditions through family, but that would not be enough in itself to maintain the critical balance of comedy and pathos that is achieved in What If It Works. The script is understated, funny, clever and rarely cliched and the directing is the same....The lead actors, Anna Samson and Luke Ford, deliver incredibly understated, piercingly realistic representations of the characters they play."
THE PLUS ONES - REVIEW & INTERVIEW
THEPLUSONES.COM
TOM BENSLEY
OCTOBER 12TH, 2017
"..technically accomplished and deftly handled with an uplifting tone..Trower is an artistic and passionate director to watch, and her debut film has already spoken volumes with its festival audiences. With a vibrant colour palette and contemporary soundtrack, Ms Trower lifts the potentially heavy subject matter into something incredibly enjoyable ...What if it Works is profound in its delivery of the boy-meets-girl-under-unusual-circumstances story"
FILMINK : 'WIIW?' REVIEW
filmink.com.au
JOHN NOONAN
OCTOBER 10th, 2017
"Giving the leads of your romantic comedy mental health issues is tricky ground to navigate. Jokes built around your characters could be seen as laughing at them, rather than with them. Additionally, in the pursuit of true love, there’s a certain danger of downplaying their daily struggles. 'What if it Works?', from first time director Romi Trower, not only tackles these issues, it does so with success."
'WIIW?' to open 2017 CinefestOZ in Bunbury
THE BUNBURY MAIL
KAYLEE MEERTON
JULY 28TH, 2017
"CinefestOZ are gearing up for their opening night on August 23 with the screening of Australian romantic comedy 'What If It Works?'. Starring The Black Balloon’s Luke Ford and Anna Samson, the WA premiere of the film will be followed by a special question and answer session with the film’s writer and director Romi Trower."
'WIIW?' wins Best Indie at GCFF
cinemaaustralia.com.au
April 27th, 2017
"Romi Trower’s feature film debut 'What If It Works?' was selected from a group of five independent Aussie features included in the 2017 Festival program.The Best Australian Indie Film award is a new initiative by the Gold Coast Film Festival designed to highlight local, independent film-making ... the award highlights the best of Australian cinema coming from our talented outsiders making features without traditional funding."
THE REEL BITS: 'WIIW?' REVIEW
thereelbits.com
RICHARD GRAY
APRIL 25th, 2017
Mental health on screen is something that tends to either get played for laughs, or takes the viewer through a harrowing ordeal. The directorial debut of actress Romi Trower, 'WHAT IF IT WORKS?' is a unique kind of film that works both angles ... A fun and engaging first feature from an Australian filmmaker, one that worms its way into your gooey insides the longer you spend with it.
INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR ROMI TROWER
itsaquestionofbalance.com
RUTH COPLAND
March 25th, 2017
"Talking about her feature debut, ‘What If It Works?’, Romi says it is a film about human beings finding the inner strength to solve their own loneliness not through the more common sexual/romantic relationship but through true friendship and deep understanding. Ruth Copland talked to Romi at the Hammer Theatre in San Jose after the film’s world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival."
JASON GOES TO CINEQUEST
jasonwatchesmovies.blogspot.com.au
JASON WIENER
MARCH 3RD, 2017
"To a large extent this isn't a "love conquers all" movie--this is a movie that, for all it's sweet tender moments, never loses sight of the fact that mental illness is terrible and it takes a lot more than love to deal with it ... Excellently made, the acting is fantastic, with compelling characters who are shown with affection, but not through rose-colored glasses."