Voicemails for Isabelle Parent Guide

Jill (Zoey Deutch) and Izzy (Ciara Bravo) are not only sisters; they’re best friends. Izzy’s cystic fibrosis keeps her at home, so the two spend hours in the kitchen dreaming up inventive creations. As an adult, Jill has graduated culinary school and moved to San Francisco, where she keeps Izzy entertained during their nightly phone calls with stories of her irritable boss and failures in the dating scene. But when Izzy passes suddenly, Jill is left without her constant companion, and in her grief, she continues to leave voicemails at Izzy’s number. 

Miles away, Wes (Nick Robinson) has a new work phone and starts getting voicemails from a stranger talking to her sister. Not sure how to tell her he’s getting these messages, he starts to listen in and finds himself taken in by the mystery caller’s buoyant personality and vulnerable honesty. When an opportunity arises to go to San Francisco for work, he seizes the chance to try to meet the woman he can’t stop thinking about. 

There is no shortage of poorly made, badly written direct to streaming rom-coms releasing far too frequently, and I have the misfortune of reviewing many of them. Very luckily for me, Voicemails for Isabelle is not one of them. I greatly enjoyed this movie. It’s funny, heartfelt, and romantic without the toxic dynamics so common in the genre. I laughed countless times and even teared up a little at the emotional climax. If you’re looking for a sweet, high quality romantic comedy, this is the best one I’ve seen in a while. 

One of the factors that makes this a great flick is the high quality of the production. It’s obvious that both money and care were put into every step and there are no weak elements. Yes, the story is predictable, but if it wasn’t it wouldn’t be a rom-com. The acting, cinematography, and writing are all excellent, with just the right balance between emotion and comedy. I appreciate that the writers didn’t depend on slapstick or wacky antics for cheap laughs; the comedy comes primarily through situations and observations rather than direct punchlines, making it feel much more intentional. 

On the negative side, I should note that this plot is not original, bearing strong similarities to the highly mediocre Love Again. Is it too much to ask that filmmakers tell fresh stories instead of reworking existing ones? 

Genre fans should be aware that this is not a squeaky-clean production, coming in at a TV-14 rating. There is a notable amount of swearing and sexual discussion, as well as a couple of sex scenes with no nudity, though both are played for laughs rather than titillation. It’s cleaner than a lot of Netflix romances, but it is definitely for adults; not teenagers. If those content concerns aren’t a deal breaker for you, I can recommend this movie. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy, which is a rarity.