Regretting You

This movie tried to be touching but was almost silly to me. A family tragedy upends the lives of a mother and her teenage daughter. The lack of communication around this event seemed very unrealistic. The smart daughter is somehow oblivious to what most is upsetting to her mother. Meanwhile, potential romances develop for both. Perhaps this was the appeal to the audience. Other than my party of four age 60s folks, the other 25 or so viewers appeared to be all teenage or college girls. And some clapped at the end -- while I shook my head. I've not read any Colleen Hoover works, but will not be attending any more movies from her novels.

Okay, full disclosure: I know full well I'm so biased on this one, but I really enjoyed 'Regretting You'. From the moment the first frame rolled I was drawn in - visually it's gorgeous, the leads are absolutely stunning, and yes, my heartstrings were tugged. Any film that gets a tear out of me instantly gets a higher rating in my book, haha.

I'll admit: I've read the book (by Colleen Hoover) so there was extra nostalgia and expectation baked in. The film adaptation doesn't always dig as deep as one might hope - some character arcs feel glossed over, some of the emotional beats just skim the surface. Critics have flagged uneven storytelling and tonal whiplash. But honestly? For me it didn't matter, because what it does deliver is warm, cute, and full of heart.

If you're after a perfect chick-flick with a lot of heart, this is your match. The daughter-mother dynamics, the romance, the grief, the scenic backdrops - it comes together into something that's far from perfect, but deeply enjoyable. Sure, it could've been deeper, but sometimes you just want to be moved, to smile, to sniffle, to leave the cinema feeling something. And that's exactly what I got.

Poor script writing or poor directing made this movie just barely tolerable. Had its cute little moments but overall very predictable. Completely unbelievable , not to mention a complete waste of McKenna Grace's acting skills. There was potential to make this a better film but unfortunately that didn't happen. Although it's cute enough if you go in with low expectations.

A very disappointing experience with a film where both the performances and the writing fell flat, Actors seemed to be waiting for their turn to speak rather than reacting to what other characters said.

It sounds like the core idea of Regretting You might have potential, but the poor execution of the script and acting severely damaged the final product.

Regretting You is everything you'd expect from this genre - and from this author. It's cheesy at times, emotional, dramatic, and heartwarming - the perfect kind of popcorn movie for the season. It'll make you feel warm, cozy, and simply happy - just an overall good time.

What truly elevates it is the cast, especially Mckenna Grace and Mason Thames, who shine with such authenticity and charm. Both are clearly on the path to future Oscar glory, with incredibly bright careers ahead.