Colleen Hoover is quickly becoming as popular as Nicholas Sparks. Similar to Sparks, Hoover is a successful novelist from Texas with a dedicated following, and her books are attracting attention in Hollywood. While Sparks has had eleven of his novels adapted into films, Hoover is catching up fast – she had a movie released last year, another this year, and already has two more planned for 2026.
“Regretting You” is based on Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel of the same title. The film is directed by Josh Boone, known for the romance “The Fault in Our Stars” and the less successful superhero film “The New Mutants.” Boone and screenwriter Susan McMartin attempt to bring Hoover’s dramatic story to the screen. While I haven’t read the book, the movie feels far more over-the-top and chaotic than the source material likely is.
The movie suffers from a weak and unbelievable story, and even a talented cast can’t overcome it. They give it their all, fully embracing the script despite its overly sentimental and bizarre moments. However, the script itself is the problem. The story feels inconsistent, awkwardly shifting between heartbreaking scenes and silly teenage romance. It’s a jarring mix of emotions, with tears and awkward humor happening at the same time.
Morgan and Jenny are sisters who are very different people. Morgan has always been the responsible one, while Jenny is more carefree. Things changed for them in high school when Morgan unexpectedly became pregnant with her boyfriend Chris. They ended up marrying, and around the same time, Jenny broke up with her boyfriend Jonah, who secretly had feelings for Morgan. He left town after Morgan and Chris got together. Now, Jonah has returned and quickly gotten engaged to Jenny after she became pregnant with his child. It’s a complicated family history!
Okay, so the film introduces us to two families – one with a brand new baby, and the other navigating the complexities of a teenage daughter. That’s where Clara comes in, played wonderfully by Mckenna Grace. She’s a high school senior with dreams of drama school and, naturally, a crush on the popular kid, Miller Adams (Mason Thames). Miller seems like a genuinely good guy, a bit of a film buff, and he’s shouldering a lot of responsibility caring for his sick grandfather, played by Clancy Brown. Honestly, once Clara and Miller start connecting, it hits a lot of familiar teen romance beats – but it’s all pretty charming.
As a big movie fan, I’ve seen my share of dramas built around loss, and “Regretting You” definitely leans into that. The film kicks off with a really shocking moment – Morgan and Jonah find out that Jenny and Chris were killed in a car accident, and it turns out they were a couple. Of course, that revelation throws everything into chaos and sets up a lot of difficult questions. As they uncover some truly painful details, Morgan and Jonah decide to keep it from Claire, fearing how much it would hurt her. Honestly, though, keeping something like that from a teenager feels… unrealistic, especially when you consider they aren’t exactly living in isolation. Still, the story unfolds…
After that, the story quickly becomes a messy mix of intense emotions, fights, and sweet romance. The actors do their best with the inconsistent tone, but the characters suffer the most, partly due to some strange creative decisions. For example, the choice to digitally make Morgan, Jenny, Chris, and Jonah look younger in a short opening and a flashback doesn’t work. The effect is obvious and unintentionally funny.
The characters in this story are caught in a strange world where the adults behave like children and the kids act like grown-ups. Clara, the main character, can be stubborn and makes some surprisingly bad choices, but Grace delivers a generally appealing performance that makes us feel for her. Williams manages to find some strong moments despite playing a somewhat frustrating character. Fitzgerald fully embodies her role, while Eastwood feels a bit typecast. Dave Franco, wearing glasses, doesn’t quite fit the part and doesn’t have much on-screen connection with Williams.
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2025-10-25 22:58