Unlike characters in other emotionally weighty films who are visibly burdened by life’s complexities, the cast of Regretting You seems to float through a world of impeccable homes and perfect aesthetics. Based on Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel, Josh Boone’s (known for The Fault in Our Stars) adaptation is eye candy of the highest order, echoing a distinct Sooraj Barjatya aesthetic in its polished presentation. Beautifully shot yet emotionally shallow, the film opens at a beach party with a teenage Morgan (Allison Williams) revealing her pregnancy to Jonah (Dave Franco). This is complicated by Jonah’s relationship with Morgan’s free-spirited sister, Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), while Morgan is dating Chris (Scott Eastwood).
Seventeen years later, the foursome celebrates Morgan’s birthday. Morgan and Chris are now married with a daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace), who adores her father and aunt Jenny more than her mother. Jonah, after years out of touch, has returned and shares a baby with Jenny. A sudden, terrible accident forces Clara, Jonah, and Morgan to confront uncomfortable truths and long-held secrets.
Regretting You (English)
Clara dreams of becoming an actor and shares a tender connection with local ‘bad boy’ Miller (Mason Thames), who aspires to make movies – much to Morgan’s dismay. The film suffers from a bland predictability, with its emotional beats consistently failing to land. It leans heavily on clichés, featuring everything from terminal illness and a gruff grandfather to self-referential movie jokes and archetypal supporting characters like the snarky friend, Lexie (Sam Morelos), and the nerdy friend, Efren (Ethan Costanilla), all vying for screen time.
Following a former teen show star’s appearance in another Colleen Hoover adaptation, *Regretting You* features Allison Williams from Girls. Despite its exploration of weighty themes such as death, love, betrayal, lies, parenting, and grief, the film glides by on glossy filters, offering only a fleeting mention of social media, and ultimately leaves little impact. Even the storyline involving the baby remains underdeveloped and unresolved.
A curious aspect of the film is the characters’ seemingly nonexistent careers. While Jenny mentions returning to work after maternity leave, everyone appears to spend their days lounging in comfortable clothes on impossibly cozy couches, indulging in exquisitely prepared food, smoothies, and wine. Even their fridges and kitchen counters are meticulously organized with color-coordinated bottles of elegant provisions! If the film aimed for a deeper sense of familial bond, perhaps a symbolic ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’ family anthem would have helped tie it all together. If you’re seeking a visual treat with a handsome cast, Regretting You might be worth your time. However, don’t expect to be deeply moved or to find profound answers to life’s big questions.
The film Regretting You is currently available in cinemas.