Voicemails for Isabelle
The brief
McKendrick crafts a romance that feels refreshingly grounded despite its high-concept premise, letting Zoey Deutch's motormouth vulnerability carry the emotional weight while Nick Robinson plays the perfect confused listener. The pacing walks a tricky line between grief comedy and meet-cute without stumbling into manic pixie territory, mostly because Deutch makes her character's pain feel genuinely messy rather than quirky. At two hours it occasionally meanders, but the cast chemistry (especially Nick Offerman in what feels like a perfectly calibrated supporting role) keeps things buoyant. Perfect for anyone who loved The Half of It or wants You've Got Mail updated for the generation that processes trauma through oversharing.
The verdict
If you're drawn to character-driven romances where messy grief meets genuine chemistry and don't mind your meet-cutes served with emotional oversharing, this is a standout that updates classic romantic comedy tropes for modern sensibilities. If you prefer your romance streamlined and aren't patient with meandering pacing or motormouth protagonists working through trauma, you'll find the nearly two-hour runtime more tedious than charming.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for couples who love talking through feelings
- 👤 Solo viewing for processing your own messy emotions
- ⚠️ Skip if you're grieving recent loss of family
Heads up
- Death of family member (sister) drives plot (moderate)
- Grief and loss themes throughout (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Leah McKendrick
- Cast
- Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage, Harry Shum Jr., Ciara Bravo, Megan Danso
Official synopsis
A young woman's hilariously confessional voicemails to her late sister are unknowingly redirected to a stranger, who begins to fall in love from afar.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both explore intimate connections through unconventional communication and emotional distance.
Total runtime: 1h 59m + 1h 29m = 3h 28m
