Regretting You

Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) got pregnant just out of high school. She married her boyfriend Chris (Scott Eastwood) and together they raised their daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace). When Chris is in a fatal accident with Morgan’s sister and Clara’s aunt Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), an unbelievable betrayal comes to light. Morgan is now forced to pick up the pieces, but she isn’t alone – best friend and Jenny’s baby daddy Jonah (Dave Franco) is in the same boat.

Based on the best selling novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, this is the second title to be adapted for the screen. After all the background drama surrounding It Ends With Us, I was skeptical to give this one a go. That being said, I did read the book a few years back and remember enjoying it. I also had the chance to watch this at an advanced screening so how could I say no?

There are quite a few characters and I thought that the casting choices were spot on. Williams was a shoe in for Morgan; she had the cautious and overprotective parent act down pat. Morgan’s relationship with Clara was an interesting one filled with many ups and downs. Williams and Grace worked well off each other and I bought them as mother/daughter. I still can’t get over the fact that Grace is nineteen now. I remember her starring as literally every single little girl character in every movie or tv show out there not too long ago! Franco had the whole quiet and slightly nerdy type down to a tee. His character was not the typical leading man, though as the film progressed, it became clear that that is exactly who he was. While Eastwood and Fitzgerald aren’t featured as much, the scenes that they were in helped to set up the dynamic between the friend group which I appreciated as there is a lot of important backstory.

Although there are some dramatic themes throughout the film, there are some sweet romances too. Clara falls for Miller Adams (Mason Thames), the most popular boy in school. He becomes a pillar of support for her after the death of her father and aunt. I thought they did a great job depicting their relationship. It really encapsulated that first love feeling. I also loved the will they won’t they for Morgan and Jonah. He’s had feelings for her for forever and somehow ended up with her sister instead. How it all develops between them had me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, Regretting You exceeded my expectations. It had everything you could want from a romantic dramady. Complete with swoon worthy moments and some devastating ones, what it all came down to was the importance of family. As far as I recall, it was also true to the book which always gets extra points from me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

I Want You Back

Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Jenny Slate) are both dumped on the same weekend. Struggling to move on from their respective exes Anne (Gina Rodriguez) and Noah (Scott Eastwood), the two stumble across one another in the office building where they work. After much commiseration, they come up with a seemingly perfect plan: break up their exes’ new relationships and win them back.

An offbeat romantic comedy, I Want You Back has been getting lots of praise since its initial Friday release. While the storyline may come across as predictable, there is still a lot to enjoy here. You’ll want to root for Peter and Emma from the get go, not only to make their exes regret their choices, but to also get together themselves. The chemistry between Charlie Day and Jenny Slate was really charming to watch, not to mention the two are really funny individually.

The supporting cast in Rodriguez and Eastwood, as well as their new love interests Logan (Manny Jacinto) and Ginny (Clark Backo), all added that something extra. Ben McKenzie of The OC fame also had a cameo in this as a dad. Oh how times have changed. He’s still hot though. The intricacies of these characters was fun to watch and never provided a dull moment.

Though there is nothing particularly special about the plot, I Want You Back reminded me of something from the 90s or early 2000s. It kept me engaged throughout and apart from that abrupt ending, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the ambiance of it all.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5