Director Josh Boone, best known for The Fault in Our Stars, returns to familiar territory with Regretting You, another adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel that blends heartbreak, family tension, and young love. But unlike his earlier hit, this film struggles to find emotional consistency, swinging unevenly between grief and corny romance.
The story opens with Morgan (Allison Williams) and Jonah (Dave Franco) as high schoolers navigating complicated relationships. Morgan is dating Jonah’s friend Chris, while Jonah is involved with Morgan’s sister Jenny. A beach party, a surprise pregnancy, and a tangle of teenage emotions set the tone for what becomes an intergenerational drama.
Seventeen years later, Morgan and Chris are married with a teenage daughter, Clara (McKenna Grace), who aspires to pursue a career in acting. Jonah and Jenny share a child from a one-night stand, and the two families maintain an uneasy coexistence until a sudden tragedy reshapes their lives.
The film’s emotional core lies in the mother-daughter dynamic between Morgan and Clara, though much of their conflict feels contrived. Grace brings warmth and charm to Clara, but even her sincerity cannot overcome the film’s uneven pacing and forced sentiment.
A romantic subplot involving Clara and classmate Miller (Mason Thames) adds little depth, alternating between sweetness and teenage melodrama. Meanwhile, moments meant to be touching often drift into cliché, from self-medication with wine to overly tidy reconciliations.
While Boone’s direction maintains a polished look, the film lacks the raw honesty that made The Fault in Our Stars resonate. The dialogue often feels unnatural, and the tonal shifts between humor, sorrow, and romance undercut the story’s emotional weight.
There are a few bright spots: Williams delivers a grounded performance, and the film occasionally captures the bittersweet chaos of family life. But these moments are fleeting. What should have been a heartfelt exploration of loss and forgiveness instead feels like a predictable melodrama that never quite earns its tears.
Regretting You, a Paramount Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for sexual content, teen drug and alcohol use, and brief strong language. Running time: 117 minutes. ★½ out of ★★★★.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
