REGRETTING YOU – Review by Susan Kamyab
Regretting You is based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel. While there is a lot less gossip surrounding this film adaptation, there is also less interest.
Director Josh Boone, who previously captured our hearts in the romantic drama, The Fault in Our Stars teams up with writer Susan McMartin to bring this novel to life. The film stars McKenna Grace, Allison Williams and Dave Franco. Without giving too much away, we begin meeting two sisters, Morgan and Jenny, who are complete opposites. Morgan is the responsible one, while Jenny is the free spirit. Morgan is married to Chris, with whom she got pregnant in High School. They have a 17-year-old daughter, Clara. Jenny is engaged to her High School boyfriend, with whom she has a baby. After a fatal accident, both family’s lives are turned upside down. Morgan and Clara struggle with their now strained relationship, which forces them to confront shocking secrets and betrayals.
I know there is a lot to process. And trust me, the plot gets even stickier. While we are mourning the loss of loved ones and processing affairs, a new young romance is blooming when Clara falls for the “coolest guy in school”, Miller played by “Black Phone” star Mason Thames. Tonally, the story is all over the place and at times the shift in moods will take you out of the movie. There are tears, fights, several breakdowns, and predictable first love tropes. But, as a fan of this kind of melodrama, I am not against it. While the screenplay is a struggle and the all-star cast deserves better, they are the ones who salvage the film. Especially thanks to the incredible chemistry between Grace and Thames, who are now a real-life couple because of this movie.
Through a critical eye, Regretting You has many flaws, but through the eyes of audiences who enjoy the romantic drama genre, this story is sure to satisfy and entertain.
