You feel that first spark with him on a cool evening night at your local coffee shop, Refuge Cafe, in North Carolina. You are sitting down, enjoying a cup of coffee while doing homework, when Miller asks if he can join you. It is just a regular morning, but the world you know will flip upside down.
On Oct. 24, the Paramount movie “Regretting You” made its way to theaters in the entirety of the United States. Paired with popcorn and a soft drink, this rom-com made for a great weekend watch, leaving audiences eager for more.
A rendition of Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel, the movie’s main character, Clara Grant (McKenna Grace), faces a tragic car accident involving her father and aunt, leaving her and her mother behind. In the aftermath, the two confront family secrets while Clara begins to find love with Miller Adams (Mason Thames). Between distrust, grief and misunderstandings throughout the plot, Clara’s rebellion against the characters around her leads to eventual self-discovery. At the same time, Clara’s mother is also finding love. As a whole, the film is not only about “first love,” but seeking connection amidst a dual storyline.
With golden hour lighting emulating themes of youth and young love, Thames and Grace — who are dating outside of the movie — share an authentic dynamic, bringing easy warmth to the film. The cinematic ambience was coupled with a popular soundtrack, including “Everywhere, Everything” by Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams, “When You Were Young” by The Killers and “Writing’s On The Wall” by ROLE MODEL, all highlighting the tight bond between Clara, Miller and the topic of teenage love.
Rated PG-13, it was an enjoyable movie that had most viewers falling in love with the characters, as well as the idea of love.
The movie currently has a rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. On IMDb, the movie has a rating of 6.3/10.
Josh Boone, director of “Regretting You,” handled tonal shifts from grief to romance in a subtle manner. The pacing allowed space for emotional pauses, reflection and authentic interactions, instead of rushing from event to event. This gave characters “room to breathe,” and viewers could see each character’s emotional growth unfold naturally.
The dialogue, especially between Clara and her mother, felt raw and real. It often was weighed down by misunderstanding rather than resulting in neatly resolved conflicts, which mirrors real-life relationship struggles. Similarly, the dialogue avoided being overly ‘slangy’ or artificial, which most teen movies fail to execute.
If you are looking for a movie to watch that will touch your heart and perhaps even make you cry, this movie should be at the top of your list.
Rating: 5/5
