Voicemails for Isabelle makes a believer out of this Aromantic

If you know me or my work, at all, you know that I am very critical when it comes to RomComs. As an Aromantic, I have a very specific view of romance and all that comes with it. So, even with 3 of the 4 main cast members being people I adore and respect, I went into this movie expecting some level of disappointment.

I was 100% wrong!

I have seen Zoey Deutch in many different things. Going all the way back to 2011 and her role as Juliet in Sarah Michelle Gellar's Ringer, where she played the troubled step-daughter. I have seen her play Dylan O'Brien's love interest and his sister.

Two different movies, y'all. Weirdos. Oh… She was also a casual hook up for him in a third movie.

And she has impressed me in every single thing she's done.

But Voicemails for Isabelle is a whole new level. Zoey is just phenomenal in this movie. Watching Jill grieve for the loss of her best friend and sister was a punch to the heart. I felt her pain and her grief and her desire to try to live the way Izzy lived. With every look, every tear, every break in her voice - Zoey pulled me into Jill's world and I grieved right along with her.

Like Zoey, I have also seen Nick Robinson in several different things. Going all the way back to 2010 and his role as Ryder in Melissa Joan Heart's Melissa & Joey, where he played the intelligent nephew. I have seen him play a young man accepting his sexuality and falling in love with Keiynan Lonsdale’s character.

Also, like Zoey, this is a whole new level for Nick. Watching Wes grow more and more intrigued with the mysterious Jill and the voicemails she is leaving on his new work phone is fascinating. With every grin and every story he related to Andy and Breeda (more on them in a sec) - I felt myself becoming more intrigued by the mysterious Jill.

And she wasn't even a mystery to me! I already knew who she was!!

Harry Shum Jr. plays Wes' best friend, and cousin, Andy. I have been a fan of Harry for a very long time. In my eyes the man can do no wrong. He is so epically talented and deserves way more attention than he gets from Hollywood. So bless Leah McKendrick for putting him in this movie.

Speaking of Leah, she plays Breeda, Andy's fiancee. This is the first time I have ever heard of Leah and I adore her already.

There is absolutely not enough of Andy and Breeda in this movie. I know they are the C storyline, but OH MY GOD, they are hilarious. And I would so be Besties with them both. And no, I am not just saying that because I am aesthetically captivated by Harry and the scope of his insane talents.

I have said - many, many times - that Harry has gorgeous comedic timing. He exhibits that so beautifully in this movie. Andy is sassy, funny, sardonic, and brutally honest.

Breeda is the perfect partner for Andy. She is funny, sweet, and so real. She is the perfect balance for him.

Okay, now that we know the characters, and the actors, let's get into it.

We are introduced to Jill and her sister, Isabelle, as kids. Izzy has cystic fibrosis, is sick often, and pretty much confined to the house. So Jill's main goal in life is to be as outrageous as possible so that she always has a good story to tell Izzy. A trait I admire, immensely.

There's kissing Colin, punching Colin the very next day - which he totally deserved - kitchen shenanigans, and the absolutely adorable dance to Robyn's Dancing On My Own. Though this theatre kid still hears Megan Hilty's version (sorry Robyn) in my head. Jill and Izzy are the best of friends and their relationship is precious.

But the movie wastes no time in hitting us right in the heart. Not even 13 minutes in and sweet and acerbic Izzy is gone. Complications from the cystic fibrosis just couldn't be overcome in time. What follows is one of the most powerful grieving scenes I have seen.

That moment in the hospital, when Jill collapses after hearing the news, is so heartbreaking. My heart shattered for Jill and her parents.

The funeral was even more devastating, as Jill fights her natural instinct to rage at the injustice of it all. Instead, putting on a brave face and trying to look at the situation the way Izzy would. She both made me proud and ripped out my heart. Her words were absolutely stunning.

Jill's first (drunken) voicemail to Izzy is hilarious. But underneath the jokes and drunken nonsense, Zoey doesn't let us forget that Jill is hurting. She's not even close to healing or accepting that Izzy is gone. Honestly, I was surprised that Wes didn't pick up on it when he listened to the voicemail.

Speaking of Wes, his confusion and delight in this first voicemail are equally endearing. It's easy to overlook him not picking up on Jill's pain. It's less easy to overlook the psycho girlfriend that comes barging into his bathroom. Wes, darlin, I think you need to do more than talk about boundaries.

But I digress.

This back and forth of Jill and Wes on these horrible dates, with two people who are so narcissistic they make my ex-girlfriend look normal, makes me really look forward to these two actually meeting. Because — holy shit — those were some really bad dates. Jill and Wes deserve better. I can't even be mad at Wes for breaking up with Britt over a text message. A much safer decision, for sure.

I really get a kick out of Wes' reaction to Jill's voicemail on the night she goes out with Tyler the dating podcaster guy. My guy is so invested now. And he's right, Jill, lock your door!

Of course, the first scene of Wes' friends, Andy and Breeda, is one of my very favorites. If you've read anything I've put out where Harry's involved, you know how much I love this man's facial expressions, how impressed I am by them. My guy can tell a whole fucking story just with his expressions. This scene of Andy and Breeda at the restaurant with Wes is an excellent example of this.

The voicemail that Jill leaves while Wes is out with Andy and Breeda is devastating. Jill is finally expressing just a bit of anger that Izzy left her behind. And when you finally reach the anger stage, it comes with guilt. Zoey does such a great job of walking the balance between that anger and that guilt.

And Wes' face when he realizes why Jill is leaving the messages, OH MY GOD! You could see just how bad Wes felt for Jill. The shock and empathy that chases each other across Wes' face is flawless. By the time he is back in the restaurant and telling Andy and Breeda about the voicemail, guilt has shown up. Nick did such a great job of expressing all these emotions.

Breeda is right, this is Jill's way of healing. But Andy is also right, and it is kind of creepy that Wes keeps listening. Sweet, but kind of creepy. Breeda agreeing with Andy, word for word, makes me giggle every time.

Jill going to Tyler's live podcast taping, and calling him out for ghosting her, is so gorgeous. This is absolutely something I would do. The level of pettiness is perfect.

Wes showing up at Jill's bench, and the ensuing encounter is so cute. Their conversation over dinner is even more so. I love the way they are immediately comfortable teasing each other and also being brutally truthful. Wes asking Jill for help with his best man speech is sweet. And the 'You've made a believer out of me' line is so good.

Eventually we arrive at Wes' last day in San Francisco and it is time for something big to happen.

Voicemails for Isabelle does not disappoint. First, Wes jumps up to take over the guided bus tour after their guide, literally, jumps ship and runs. He does a really great job and I am baffled as to why the driver makes him stop. I mean, was she really going to drive a bus full of people around for 2 hours with no one saying anything? Jersey guy already proved that this would have been a terrible idea.

Whatever her motivation, we do get the first kiss. And it is a very beautiful first kiss.

Cut to Jill making dinner for Wes for his last night in the city. It's a lovely evening and Jill has prepared an excellent meal. They talk and Jill tells him about Izzy. But the guilt over the voicemails is starting to get to Wes. You can see it in every twitch, every look, even the quieter tone of his voice. Nick did such a gorgeous job of showing us Wes' desire to tell the truth and fear of what it might cost him if he does.

That said, Wes, you should have absolutely told her about the voicemails!

Wes is back in Austin and we are at dinner with Andy and Breeda, again. Which means yay! I absolutely love Andy and Breeda NOT believing Wes when he says that he flew to San Francisco for a work trip, not for Jill.

Breeda's "All I am saying is once in awhile, Wes, someone comes along that changes the whole game." And Andy's "Yeah. Don't be so busy scoring that you miss it." was an absolutely fabulous analogy. They definitely earned those big grins and the first bump. But the synchronized "YOU ARE NOT TOM HANKS!" was just glorious and I laugh every time. (Do Not Ask How Many Times Because I Lost Count After 5.)

Side Note - I really wish we had gotten to see Nick and Harry interacting during all the promotions and premieres, and behind the scenes stuff that's been coming out all week. - End Side Note

Now, it’s time for Andy and Breeda’s wedding!

This is the 3rd thing I've watched Harry's character get married in. Each one has been very different. But perfect for the character in question. Because Harry is a fucking master of his craft and oh so versatile.

In Shadowhunters, Magnus exhibits pure bliss at getting to marry Alec, the man that he will love for eternity.

In All My Life, Sol exhibits a mixture of joy and pain. Joy because he does get to marry his Jenn. Pain because he knows that he will make her a widow very soon.

And here, Andy exhibits giddy joy that keeps him on the edge of breaking down in tears. Which is perfectly on brand for Andy and Breeda's relationship.

The wedding is a quick but happy blur before we end up at the reception. Wes' best man speech is funny and sweet. I gather that he and Andy are not cousins by blood. They call each other that because their mothers were best friends. I find this very interesting.

"You're proof that, sometimes, life rigs things in our favor." I LOVE this line and it is important to remember for later. I love that Wes says this to Breeda and Andy in his speech. And I love that he looks at Jill right after. And I love that he uses the line that Jill gave him during their first dinner together - "You made a believer out of me."

How cute are Andy and Breeda sneaking up to talk to Jill while Wes is getting drinks. Truly Andy and Breeda are my platonic soulmates.

We have now arrived at the third act fight and breakup. This is a trope I always view with mixed feelings. Sometimes it gets used incorrectly. Sometimes it's unnecessary and feels forced in. But it works here. As heartbreaking as it is, it fits. Leah did it right. And Zoey and Nick kill it.

Jill finds Nick’s work phone when she calls Izzy's number and the phone rings. It’s in the pocket of the jacket that Wes put on Jill earlier. She confronts Wes and now she knows everything. And she is not happy. Understandably. She walks away, leaving him standing in the dark. And my heart breaks for them both. More Jill than Wes, though.

Bro, I told you that you should have told her.

Jill is back in San Francisco and going through the motions of her days. The montage we get shows her drifting through with very little emotion in her face. As if Wes' betrayal was the final straw for her heart. Until her phone updates in the middle of the night, and takes all of the voicemails from Izzy that Jill had saved. Her breakdown is brutal, but her emotions are back in the narrative.

Shortly after this, she loses the baker spot because her boss is a misogynist. Jill loses it completely and goes off on Chef. This was long overdue and I enjoyed it immensely.

So what will Jill do now? Thanks to the money that he parents gave her for her birthday, money that had been Izzy's college fund, Jill buys a food truck. Her first day in business is a complete bust. But Zella, her former coworker at the restaurant, shows up and saves the day. They make a great team.

Thanks to Zella, and Hippie Hill, Jill finally finds the kind of people she was talking about in the first voicemail she left for Izzy.

While all this is going on, back in Austin Breeda shows up to check in on Wes. I am proud of Wes for realizing that he was wrong to keep listening to the voicemails. And to not tell Jill about it. I love that Breeda told him about Jill losing Izzy's voicemails and I love that he went to his coworker to try to get them back for her.

The holidays come around and Jill goes home to Austin to visit her parents. She and Wes are back in the same city. Knowing this, Wes takes his coworkers advice and calls Jill. I yelled out 'yes!'

As Wes sits next to his pool and debates whether he will actually follow through and go to the restaurant he mentioned in the voicemail, Andy and Breeda come breezing in. And we get another one of my favorite scenes. Andy yelling 'Intervention.' The argument between Andy and Wes with all the Taylor Swift references and ending up in the pool. It's hilarious and makes me wish, even more, for Harry and Nick interviews.

I love the conversation the three of them have by the pool after. I really love that Andy is the one to get Wes to realize that he loves Jill when he asks 'What was it about her, Wes?" The smirk he gives Breeda tells me that Andy knew exactly what he was doing. And then helping Wes realize that he is worthy of being loved by repeating 'sometimes life rigs things in our favor' - the line that Wes said at their wedding. It’s perfect. As is the way Wes looks at him, and Andy & Breeda telling him to run.

Jill gets Izzy's voicemails back at that exact same moment, and just happens to listen to the one that she does, — well it's almost impossible not to believe in divine intervention. Andy is right.

We get to go along with Wes as he runs to meet Jill. It's a great scene, with the rain and the purple - pink fireworks. But all that has nothing on Wes' confession of love. It's one of the best RomCom confessions I've ever seen.

And we have arrived at the end of the movie. The last scene is beautiful. Wes calling Izzy at the same time that Jill does. The Robyn song starting while they are both leaving their voicemails — Izzy giving her blessing. Wes dancing with Jill. And not only dancing but doing Jill and Izzy's dance. The spectre of Izzy dancing behind Jill. It's all so damn cute. And a damn near perfect end to this beautiful love story.

I do think it is borderline criminal that they had an epic dancing scene and Harry wasn't in it.

And it would definitely be criminal if I, a diehard Harry fanboi, didn't end this review on that note 😏