SPOILER ALERT: This story may contain spoilers for Voicemails for Isabelle, now streaming on Netflix.
Romantic comedies used to be one of the easiest sells in cinema: irresistible chemistry, frequent laughs, beautiful people, iconic one-liners and somewhat ridiculous plots. But the real appeal was knowing you would finish the film believing in love and feeling lighter.
In the past decade, the big-screen rom-com has become less common, with only a handful of breakout exceptions, such as Crazy Rich Asians and Ticket to Paradise. Most rom-coms now live on streaming services — and Netflix has played a big part in keeping the genre going. Its new release, Voicemails for Isabelle, is one example.
The Netflix movie, released on June 19, has secured the streamer’s current top film spot in the U.S. and garnered largely positive reviews. But it has also left viewers in tears — which isn’t a reaction you expect from a rom-com.
What is ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ about?
Zoey Deutch as Jill in Voicemails for Isabelle.
(Diyah Pera/Netflix)
Starring Zoey Deutch — an actor whose performance in films such as Set It Up and Something from Tiffany’s has already cemented her as a modern rom-com favorite — Voicemails for Isabelle follows a grieving chef (Deutch’s character, Jill) as she navigates the death of her sister, Isabelle (Ciara Bravo).
As a way of coping, Jill leaves voicemails on Isabelle’s phone, unaware that the number has been reassigned to a stranger, Wes (Nick Robinson). Wes, an Austin real estate agent, starts listening to them and develops a connection to Jill — sight unseen — growing to understand her loneliness, humor and heartbreak.
What begins as an unusual romantic connection becomes a very moving story about love, loss and the unexpected people who help us heal.
It’s not based on a book but rather an original story by writer-director Leah McKendrick, who was inspired by her real-life bond with her younger sister and the confessional voicemails she used to leave her.
Voicemails for Isabelle is not another teen or college romance, like Off-Campus, The Summer I Turned Pretty and the wave of younger-skewing love stories that have dominated the genre in recent years. Both Deutch and Robinson are 31 and so the film feels mature and speaks to life beyond first love.
Who stars in ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’?
Nick Robinson as Wes in Voicemails for Isabelle.
(Diyah Pera/Netflix)
As well as Deutch and Robinson, who you may recognize from Melissa & Joey and Jurassic World, the movie stars Glee and Grey’s Anatomy actor Harry Shum Jr. and McKendrick, as Robinson’s friends.
Toby Sandeman, from Running Point, also appears, as does Parks and Recreation actor Nick Offerman.
Why is everyone crying over ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’?
While most viewers would expect there to be notes of sadness throughout the film as Jill comes to terms with her sister’s death, numerous flashback scenes help the audience understand the closeness of their relationship and chronicle exactly how Isabelle died.
A large part of that emotional pull comes from the film’s use of Robyn’s 2010 hit “Dancing on My Own.” The song is tied to Jill and Isabelle’s relationship from the start, with the sisters choreographing a routine to it, before it returns in the film’s final scene as Jill dances in a park — a moment made even more emotional by Isabelle’s blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the crowd.
As a result, the film’s a real tear-jerker that will leave most viewers in tears on a couple of occasions — as numerous Instagram posts show. Even Deutch acknowledged the film’s ability to make audiences cry on her own social media account.
What are reviews for ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ like?
Zoey Deutch as Jill and Nick Robinson as Wes in Voicemails for Isabelle.
(Diyah Pera/Netflix)
Reviews are positive, with praise for Deutch, Robinson, their chemistry and the blend of grief and romance.
Rotten Tomatoes currently has it at 84% from 38 critic reviews and a 91% audience score from 250+ ratings, showing it’s both widely watched and well-liked by audiences. IMDB gave it a strong 7.5 rating.
The New York Times calls it a “poignant romcom” and the AV Club calls the film “the best dramedy in years”, adding that it revives both the tearjerker and rom-com genres in one fell swoop. Screen Rant labels it “a film fit for the big screen” and says it “deserves its time to shine” amid the release of Toy Story 5.
The main criticism (via The Guardian) is that the plot can feel a touch creepy. Netflix says McKendrick acknowledged Wes could seem “callous or even manipulative” but said Robinson brought sensitivity to the role.
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