Film Review – Regretting You (2025)

Film Review – Regretting You (2025)

      Regretting You, 2025.

      Directed by Josh Boone

      Featuring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Alison Williams, Dave Franco, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The film highlights the troubled relationship between young mother Morgan Grant and her teenage daughter Clara, worsened by the tragic death of Morgan’s husband Chris, compelling them to face life’s hurdles together.

      There’s a moment in the aptly named Regretting You where a minor character, one of the few likable figures in this softly focused ensemble, states, “we’re going to ride this shit out together.” This line stands out as one of the rare intentionally humorous moments in the film and serves as a rallying cry for those enduring this overdramatic portrayal of grief.

      The film had the potential to be the type of mid-range melodrama that often filled multiplex schedules rather than getting lost among streaming service suggestions — something akin to a Notebook or Dear John-style drama suited for girls' or date nights. Directed by Josh Boone, who successfully brought The Fault in Our Stars to $300 million at the global box office, it is also based on a novel by TikTok sensation and popular author of It Ends With Us, Colleen Hoover.

      Regretting You begins with great promise; there's an engaging meet-cute between Mason Thames's character from the wrong side of the tracks and McKenna Grace's wholesome college hopeful; a flashback shows our main characters indulging in beer pong and teenage pregnancy; and the overall vibe evokes a nostalgic and cozy feel reminiscent of Dawson’s Creek.

      However, after a predictable double twist, Regretting You devolves into a somber, absurd experience with some of the most awkward dialogue seen outside of a cable-channel telenovela. Lines intended to convey trauma draw laughs instead, and significant moments, particularly those involving Dave Franco’s character Jonah, are undermined by a delivery that feels almost embarrassed and stilted.

      Even the earlier setup between the film’s two youngest stars, who have a natural charm, features a Usual Suspects-style revelation that renders their entire story arc and central romance quite unsettling while also being utterly hilarious. This reflects the film's inconsistent tone.

      The cast does their utmost with the overly sentimental script, but when talented actors like Alison Williams, commendable in HBO’s Girls and Get Out, and Willa Fitzgerald, excellent in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher, are reduced to such shallow, lifeless roles, something has gone terribly wrong.

      Regretting You ultimately is worse than just living up to its title; it floats between being a so-bad-it’s-good comedy for a Friday night and simply being painfully dull.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ / Movie ★ ★

      Matt Rodgers – Follow me on Twitter

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Film Review – Regretting You (2025)

Regretting You, 2025. Directed by Josh Boone, featuring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Alison Williams, Dave Franco, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald, and Clancy Brown. SYNOPSIS: Focuses on...