Voicemails for Isabelle review: Zoey Deutch shines in a heartfelt romantic comedy about grief, healing, love, and second chances.
Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, the filmmaker behind Scrambled, Voicemails for Isabelle is endearing, authentic, funny, and emotionally resonant. The film stars Zoey Deutch as Jill, an unlucky-in-love San Francisco chef struggling to cope with the loss of her younger sister, Isabelle. To keep her memory alive, Jill continues leaving voicemails on Isabelle’s old phone number, unaware that the number has been reassigned to Wes, played by Nick Robinson, an Austin real estate agent who slowly becomes captivated by the woman behind the messages. The film also stars Nick Offerman, Harry Shum Jr., Lukas Gage, Ciara Bravo, and McKendrick herself as Breeda.
The film smartly establishes the relationship between Jill and Isabelle before tragedy strikes, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the bond only sisters and best friends can share. When Isabelle dies after a long battle with illness, the loss is heartbreaking, leaving Jill to navigate her grief, lingering regrets, and the pressures of her career without the person she always turned to most.
This is the romantic comedy I’ve been waiting for. While the film absolutely delivers the romance audiences want, it has much bigger things on its mind. At its core, it’s a story about grief, healing, friendship, family, and finding the courage to open your heart again after loss. McKendrick understands that healing isn’t linear, and the film beautifully balances heartbreak and hope without ever feeling manipulative.
In my opinion, this is the best performance of Zoey Deutch’s career. Audiences are used to seeing Deutch play the quirky, lovable, quick-witted girl, and she’s always excelled in those roles. What makes Voicemails for Isabelle stand out is that it allows her to tap into something much deeper emotionally while still retaining the charm that makes her so watchable. She’s effortlessly charismatic, refreshingly natural, and never relies on exaggerated rom-com antics to win over the audience. Instead, she grounds Jill in genuine emotion, making every laugh, awkward moment, and tear feel earned.
Nick Robinson has fully stepped into leading-man territory. As Wes, he brings plenty of charm while allowing glimpses of vulnerability to break through his carefully constructed facade. Lukas Gage provides some of the film’s funniest moments, while Harry Shum Jr. and Leah McKendrick are charming as Andy and Breeda, a couple and two of Wes’ closest friends. Their scenes add warmth, humor, and a sense of community that makes the world feel lived in. As Breeda, McKendrick never pulls focus from the story she’s telling. Instead, her performance blends seamlessly into the film’s warm and good-natured spirit. Nick Offerman also makes the most of a relatively small role as Jill’s overbearing chef boss, elevating what could have been a forgettable supporting character.
Just as impressive is the way McKendrick writes grief. You don’t just understand Jill’s pain; you feel it. The film never rushes Jill’s healing or tries to wrap her emotions up neatly. Instead, it acknowledges how messy loss can be. That honesty gives the story much of its emotional power.
The film’s message about staying connected to the people we love resonated deeply. While Voicemails for Isabelle uses a romantic setup to bring Jill and Wes together, the heart of the story is really about the relationships that shape us and the people we carry with us long after they’re gone.
What makes Voicemails for Isabelle so special is that it refuses to follow the typical rom-com formula. Yes, there’s romance. Yes, there are laughs. But this film is really about learning how to move forward when life doesn’t go the way you planned. It will punch you in the gut when you least expect it and then gently remind you that joy, connection, and love can still find their way back to you.
At its core, Voicemails for Isabelle is about connection, grief, healing, and the lasting impact the people we love have on our lives. It’s funny, emotional, deeply human, and a testament to Leah McKendrick’s talents as both a writer and director. The film further solidifies her as a filmmaker worth watching, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Voicemails for Isabelle is now streaming on Netflix.
