Grief and love can make us vulnerable; they can also open us up to new possibilities. That’s the central theme of this Black List breakout screenplay, now a Netflix rom-com. Starring Zoey Deutch as Jill and Nick Robinson as Wes, “Voicemails for Isabelle” follows Jill, an aspiring pastry chef, in the aftermath of losing the love of her life—her little sister. Struggling to cope, she continues to leave Izzy voice messages. It’s super sweet and very “You’ve Got Mail,” because Jill has no idea Wes, an Austin real estate agent, is now receiving her extremely personal audio diaries. He’s listening in on her deep dive into the horrors of dating in San Francisco, and he’s all in.
Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, “Voicemails for Isabelle” is two love stories in one. The first is the tale of two sisters. Jill is a fully self-actualized ‘live, laugh, love’ kind of girl. Izzy is chronically ill with cystic fibrosis and spends most of her time between home and the hospital. That’s why Jill is living life x 2, experiencing the biggest feelings in the most colorful ways so Izzy can experience them too. When Izzy dies, Jill doesn’t slow down, but she struggles to find a connection. After a life of dating disappointments that started on the playground, the only person she can talk to is her sister. She keeps replaying Izzy’s messages and responding with new ones. As the movie points out, it’s her attempt to heal, and that’s pretty healthy.
That’s where the second love story begins. Wes is a romantically untouchable high-dollar realtor who spends his time with his cousin Andy (Harry Shum Jr.) and Andy’s fiancée, Breeda (McKendrick). He’s the kind of guy who’ll utilize any edge to attain his goals—even the ethically questionable ones. It never occurs to Wes to stop listening to Jill’s messages or to avoid using them in getting to know her when they meet-cute. And although we cringe at his methods, the entire thing is so adorable we’re mostly willing to forgive him…If Jill does…and he learns his lesson.
This is a rom-com with many themes and an acute (sometimes pink) eye for current dating woes, social media pitfalls, and misogyny. Giving us classic rom-com aesthetics, McKendrick balances this storyline whirlwind without it becoming overblown. A big part of that is the writing and cast. Deutch is fierce, but also awkward and perceptive, like Jill. Robinson’s Wes is a sweetheart, but he’s clueless with wobbly boundaries. Adding to the charm are Nick Offerman—when is he not the secret sauce—and the character-acting chameleon Lukas Gage. They’re a pair of posers/chefs who despise women, allowing the movie to cut deep into the chauvinism found in the workplace. That works well alongside the uncertainty that reigns during times of mourning. Shum Jr. and McKendrick are the “bestest” couple, seeing and saying what’s right when Wes doesn’t. If you don’t end up quoting them, that’s on you, bro.
This is a true rom-com: we know where it’s going, but the good times are in the roadmap to getting there. The banter sparkles with the kind of inside jokes found in friend groups (and the writing lets us in). The grand gestures are unexpected, while the couple’s bonding moments are real, ridiculous, or both. “Voicemails for Isabelle” has a high emotional IQ, a romantic journey you’ll want to follow, and a real sense of the lunacy that makes life hilarious—even when we’re hurting. McKendrick packs a lot of ingredients into this big love burrito, and just like the best taco trucks, it works ‘cause it meets us where we’re at with the goods.
