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REGRETTING YOU

Regretting You is a poignant picture of betrayal, desire and reconciliation. While it leans on stereotypical characters and trite storylines, director Josh Boone's willingness to embrace these clichés is ultimately what brings the film its heart and timelessness.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of the American South, Regretting You follows a seemingly-perfect family struck not only by an unimaginable tragedy, but by revelations of truths that threaten to destroy the fragile balance its survivors have found. When Morgan (Allison Williams) attempts to restore a sense of normalcy to her teenage daughter's (McKenna Grace) life, both find themselves on parallel paths of healing and self-discovery.

Regretting You tackles heartbreaking themes such as grief and deception, but projects them through a heavily romanticized lens. The creative team chooses to emphasize the optimism and togetherness that usually follow acceptance, only briefly acknowledging the emotional aftermath of a loss. Love is equally idealized, painted as an all-withstanding entity that exists in the form of letters and watermelon Jolly Ranchers, in tearful confessions in the rain, golden sunsets and starry skies. Conflict and suffering are given inadequate weight; despite its dramatic premise - Regretting You is a vision of perfection, not realism. However, this rejection of authenticity creates a fleeting atmosphere of hope and comfort. The film is an invitation to safety, taking viewers directly to the picturesque, imagined worlds we retreat to when reality's light becomes too harsh. The creators don't glorify pain; they simply opt for a portrayal shallow enough that it allowed me to immerse myself in the story for the time that it lasted, then walk away without its emotional weight - a meaningful but ephemeral escape from reality. The majority of Regretting You is a sentimental portrait, composed of overused clichés and excessively sentimental exchanges, but this allows the film's few gems of both comedy and true drama to stand out. For example, Allison Williams delivers an especially captivating performance upon discovering that a loved one has been unfaithful. The classical characters carry a feeling of nostalgia, while the film's predictability creates a sense of tragic irony that makes it impossible not to get lost in.

Regretting You is a reminder that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Beautiful things are born from the worst of circumstances; losing something cherished can be the beginning of something else. Your loved ones can help you build a new life, start over, and, with time, learn to heal.

I give Regretting You 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The film releases in theaters on October 24, 2025.

By Ruhi K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 16

Colleen Hoover's popular novel, Regretting You, is now a movie! Despite being slightly predictable, I enjoyed this film with its heartfelt scenes, deep themes, and occasional laugh-out-loud one-liners.

Following the same plot as the book, Regretting You focuses on a young mother Morgan (Allison Williams) and her teenage daughter, Clara (McKenna Grace) as they work through two significant losses in the family. It explores their grief, mother-daughter conflicts, and romance all while uncovering shocking family secrets.

I've never read the book so I can't attest to the accuracy or which is better. However, I can say this is a great movie for romance and drama lovers. There are a few plot holes and some of the characters lack complexity, but I don't think this movie is one to be deeply analyzed and should just be treated as a cute, yet emotional love story. A bonus is that this film has two romance plots - one between Clara and her high school crush, Miller (Mason Thames) and the other between Morgan with her high school friend Jonah (Dave Franco). Mckenna and Mason perfectly capture young love and almost every scene with them is so adorable. Clara's best friend, Lexie (Sam Morelos), definitely provides the comedic relief of this movie and she got quite a few laughs out of me and the rest of the audience as we were watching it. Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace's mother and daughter relationship feels incredibly real with their disagreements and bonding moments, so it is refreshing to see how their connection grows and changes throughout the film. The film has a couple flashbacks when Morgan, her husband, her sister, and Jonah, were teenagers, and it is strange that they used the same actors to play themselves as teenagers because, while they look younger, they definitely don't look like teenagers. I think it would've been a better fit to hire different actors who were actually teenagers to play them. So, while there are some aspects of the plot that seem unresolved and elements that could've been done better, this film still is worth watching if you're looking for a simple and warm romance story.

Messages of forgiveness, understanding, family, and love are present throughout the film. It shows how dynamic relationships between parents and children can be, and how miscommunication and loss can impact these relationships. But it also displays how love and peace can be found after difficult times. Parents should be advised that are many mature themes present, such as profanity, romance scenes, and underage drinking and drug use, that are not suitable for younger children.

I give Regretting You 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on October 24, 2025.

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Based on the bestselling book, REGRETTING YOU introduces audiences to Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) as they explore what's left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. REGRETTING YOU is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco and Mason Thames with Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald, in theatres October 2025.