Regretting You is a dramatic romance that achieves much more in the comedy department than in the romance one. It is overly aspirational in its adaptation of the 2019 novel by writer Colleen Hoover, attempting to cram in oversized tragic plotlines without enough dramatic chops to measure up to the task—whether from its cast or, more critically, its script. We are witnessing a run of Colleen Hoover novels adapted for the big screen, with some leaving a mark and others unfortunately missing it. Regretting You finds itself in a middle ground, able to garner the intended laughs and occasional sighs from its audience, but failing to take on emotional scenes that could drive the impact of tragedy beyond a mere plot device. We observe the characters, but do not feel the anxiety or anguish of their crossroads, nor see a semblance of range in their possibilities or choices. This may be partly due to the movie offering rushed resolutions to heavy plot points, glossing over family deaths, extramarital affairs, illness, and depression.Â
Like all great rom-coms, the story begins with a group of friends heading to a beach party, paired with a pregnancy reveal from 17-year-old Morgan (Allison Williams), who is accompanied by her boyfriend Chris (Scott Eastwood), her sister Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), and her sister’s boyfriend—and Chris’s best friend—Jonah (Dave Franco). After this reveal, we are transported 17 years later to the happy and stable home of Morgan and Chris. It is established (albeit haphazardly) that Jenny and Jonah have reunited and recently had a baby of their own. We follow the traces of those early encounters and choices in the familial setting now shown, scattered with hints that both couples are “mismatched.” The film does not make much of this until both Chris and Jenny are killed in a car accident. The news ruptures the family with grief and loss, while the hidden relationship between Morgan’s husband and sister adds doubt and betrayal to an already teeming mountain of pain.
The film rejects opportunities to connect the tragic events to elicit an emotional response that could linger, relying instead on comedic one-liners that “do the job” yet distract from the central story of a mother and daughter grieving together. Instead, we are shown separately how each finds and resists love through their grief, in their respective romantic interests: Jonah, who must continue life as a single father, and Miller (Mason Thames), a young boy interested in film and burdened by his parents’ past.
It is the parallel story of Clara (Mckenna Grace) and Miller meeting each other that, at times, feels more fleshed out than Morgan and Jonah’s untimely recognition of their sentimental feelings. Serving as a light-hearted romance, its bumpy road seems to have been condensed a bit too much for a feature film and would have benefited from a mini-series format. There are, however, fun parts of the movie, particularly Clara’s best friend, Lexie (Sam Morelos), whose comedic timing, though her presence during dramatic scenes often felt destabilizing.
Regretting You is a lighthearted film burdened by a heavy plot it can’t quite carry. It’s entertaining enough for viewers seeking an easy watch, but those hoping for the emotional resonance may find themselves wanting more. Still, within the growing list of Hoover adaptations, Regretting You holds its own as a pleasant, if imperfect, rom-com that focuses on laughs over lasting impact.
Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures