Voicemails For Isabelle might be labeled as a romantic comedy, but it is so much more than that as it tackles heavy themes of love, loss, and grief.
As a sister and a mother of two daughters, Voicemails For Isabelle absolutely broke me. I fully thought I was settling for a cute romantic comedy, but I didn’t realize just how hard this movie was going to hit me. Sure, it has its funny moments, but it is the way it highlights the bonds between sisters that takes it to the next level. It does a wonderful job of celebrating that unbreakable bond, which left me in tears many times over.
Perhaps I can relate so well to this movie because of all the millennial references. So many of my favorite movies are mentioned throughout, like The Notebook and A Walk To Remember. The soundtrack is incredible, including banger after banger (we were totally spoiled with TWO Taylor Swift songs). What I love most about this film is that it really is about family. Yes, it is a love story as well, but that is not at the center of the story, which the lead character, Jill, actually mentions at one point.
Most rom-coms are predictable and this one is no different, but that doesn’t really matter, honestly. We know going into Voicemails For Isabelle the plot points that it is going to be sure to hit, but including the sister element really changes things up. When I say have tissues handy, I mean that you are going to be needing them within the first ten minutes and then sporadically throughout the entire movie. And the end? Well, just make sure you save some for that last scene.
The leads have incredible chemistry but it is Zoey Deutch who really makes the movie. Without someone willing to completely commit to the goofy and outgoing side of Jill, as well as the sensitive side, Voicemails For Isabelle would not work the way that it does. She hits every comedic beat perfectly, but when she sits down and cries, you want nothing more than to hold her. The scene where she loses her sister is extremely painful to watch. I immediately clutched my heart and committed to calling my sister to catch up after the movie – and I did just that.
The writing itself is brilliant. It is a perfect blend of humor and heart, with a little bit of sexy mixed in. It is smart, funny, but also real and raw. Unfortunately most people will go through a devastating loss like this in their lifetime, whether it is a sibling or parent or close friend. It is never easy. Grief manifests itself in many different ways, and watching Jill find her own way to heal is inspiring. I love how Voicemails For Isabelle doesn’t shy away from the difficult stuff. That is part of what makes it such a beautiful film.
I should have known with someone like Leah McKendrick behind the camera (and in front of – boy is she such a great choice for Breena) that this one was going to leave me with a headache from crying for a day. Her previous film Scrambled also broke me, so I should have prepared myself.
I must also call out the always fantastic Lukas Gage and Nick Offerman. Their characters might be awful, but that just shows what amazing actors they are because in real life they are lovely humans. They perfectly deliver on the comedic moments. Even when they are being terrible, I couldn’t help but crack up.
Watching it with my daughters added a whole new layer to Voicemails For Isabelle, however. By the end of the movie they were holding hands and crying together. Telling each other how much they loved each other and even hung out together for the rest of the day. They are 13 and 15 so I promise you, that is quite rare.
Voicemails For Isabelle is not your standard romantic comedy. In fact, it is anything but. While the love story is adorable, if not predictable, it is the grief plotline that really shines. It might be almost two hours long, but it flies by thanks to perfectly times pacing. This one is special. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out, so watch it now on Netflix.
Rating: 5 out of 5
About Voicemails For Isabelle
Jill copes with her sister’s death by leaving her voicemails chronicling her chaotic life in San Francisco. When the number is unknowingly reassigned, an elusive Austin real estate agent begins receiving the hilariously confessional messages.
Voicemails For Isabelle is now streaming on Netflix.
