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Writing a successful romantic comedy is trickier than people might think. Yes, we all know the formula, but for a rom-com to really hit, the formula needs to be executed well, with enough personality in the movie itself to set it apart from the films that just stick to the most basic version of the method. Writer-director Leah McKendrick has done that with her latest film, "Voicemails for Isabelle." The easy chemistry of the romantic leads allows you to revel in the comfort of their love story, while the relationship between the sisters provides a unique access point for something more.
Jill (Zoey Deutch) and Isabelle (Ciara Bravo) are as close as two sisters can be. So when Isabelle dies due to complications with cystic fibrosis, Jill feels lost. To try to find her way through her grief, she leaves voicemails for Isabelle, filling her in on her life as an aspiring pastry chef and a single woman trying to find love. What she doesn't know is that Isabelle's phone number has been reassigned, and those messages are going to Wes (Nick Robinson), a real estate professional who finds himself falling in love with the stranger on the other side of the messages.
I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to feel about this movie, because a relationship formed on a lie of omission is a pretty tough sell. What allows "Voicemails for Isabelle" to work is that when Wes comes clean, and Jill is understandably upset, he doesn't get pushy about trying to stay in her life. That choice, combined with an electric connection between Deutch and Robinson, allows this movie to move past what could be a risky setup.
It doesn't hurt that the film is legitimately funny, thanks to a really great supporting cast. Toby Sandeman as the dating influencer is wonderful, Lukas Gage as her competition in the kitchen is hilarious, and Nick Offerman as Chef Bastien has one of the funniest character introductions I've seen in a minute. They all help to support the lovely performances from Deutch and Robinson, making "Voicemails for Isabelle" something more than just content to put on while you scroll on your phone.
But as much as this is a love story between Wes and Jill, it is also a love story between Jill and Isabelle, and the grief that can accompany the loss of someone close to you. The film is long for a rom-com, at nearly 2 hours, but McKendrick uses her time wisely, building characters who feel fully formed, rather than like caricatures. When Isabelle dies, we care, because we have had time to feel like we know the sisters.
This is the kind of movie that doesn't really have a twist or elements that can be spoiled. "Voicemails for Isabelle" is a straightforward romantic comedy, so there's not much here that you don't see coming. Even so, you might discover a few things you weren't expecting: a new found love of Robyn and a tear in your eye.
Rating: 4/5
Alise Chaffins is a freelance and Tomatometer-approved film critic.