‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ Movie Review – Is It Worth Watching?

Voicemails for Isabelle is an upbeat romantic comedy-drama from writer-director,
Leah McKendrick, which centres on Jill, a precocious young woman embarking on a new chapter of her life. Having forged a deep and meaningful relationship with her best friend and sister, Isabelle, Jill is forced to come to terms with the heartbreaking idea that her sister may not be there forever. When her attempt to process the inevitable leads her to make contact with a man navigating his own relational difficulties, the two are connected and their fates align.

The film stars Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson, who share great on-screen chemistry. Leaning into the You’ve Got Mail dimension, they are not quite on par with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, but they are easy on the eye and deliver strong performances. Deutch shows she’s more than up to the task of playing the lead, adding some wonderful dimension to the spirited character of Jill.

Voicemails for Isabelle is akin to, and best described as, Bridget Jones meets Juno. The Bridget Jones’s Diary reference is experienced through Jill’s calamitous love life as she bumbles her way from one romantic escapade to the next, never quite sure of herself or meeting the right kind of partners. Navigating the pitfalls and challenges of finding someone just right for her, she adopts a few policies to protect herself and her feelings whilst finding herself in a vulnerable space.

The Juno aspect is evident through the scripting and the main character’s cheeky, cheerful, and fun-loving spirit, which is both witty and offhandedly endearing. From the challenges of working for a pretentious, Gordon Ramsay-style chef – played with a wink from Nick Offerman – to dealing with cutthroat co-workers, Jill finds herself with her back against the wall. She tries to make sense of her professional career as a chef alongside her deep-end excursion into a new city, San Francisco. When Wes inadvertently meets her, the two fall for each other. However, just as the perfect match seems to develop, so do feelings of guilt around their contrived meeting and his inside knowledge.

“You had me at… leave a message after the beep.”

A clever concept, solid performances and smart writing compel this dreamy little romcom, which makes numerous movie references. The main influence is You’ve Got Mail, which serves as the underlying concept updated for modern audiences. Instead of email it’s voicemails, which while still relevant, brings a sense of nostalgia and a curious throwback quality framed from the perspective of films like A Walk to Remember and The Fault in Our Stars. There’s something fresh about this update; it may not have the ultimate star power of Ryan and Hanks, but it works remarkably well with Deutch and Robinson. Taking on the role of Jill, Deutch’s self-assured performance and pure spirit are infectious and lovable.

Playing opposite her, Robinson benefits from writing that cleverly excuses the underlying conceit, offering regular opportunities to show that attempts to address the elephant in the room are genuinely there. A sharp romcom concept, the charm of the co-leads and the cheeky script make Voicemails for Isabelle a heartfelt and entertaining film. Whilst it’s a more intimate and contained version of You’ve Got Mail, it’s not short of great moments. It remains fun and upbeat by switching seamlessly between Jill’s career and love life, and the spunky dialogue remains a plus with its casual snark and spirited temperament. The language can be a bit crass from time to time, and while this feeds into a “live for today” attitude, it does occasionally feel a little unnecessary.

Aspiring to the lofty heights of its influences in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Juno and You’ve Got Mail, the film does pale in comparison, but it remains an enjoyable and even delightful watch that should appeal to most audiences. Deutch proves that she is more than capable of leading a film, delivering a well-weighted and convincing performance that channels plenty of heart and spirit as a young woman stepping out, trying to overcome grief and finding her place in a new city. A touching, sometimes tender film that is both thoughtful and witty, the charm of its co-leads and its fresh spin ultimately win the day.

The bottom line: Spirited