When Justin Baldoni’s It Ends With Us hit theaters last year, many were surprised by how a flawed Colleen Hoover novel transformed into a well-crafted film. Thanks to Blake Lively’s soulful performance and Baldoni’s emotional direction, it became a moving melodrama that silenced many critics. Naturally, expectations ran high for the next Hoover adaptation — Regretting You — directed by Josh Boone, best known for The Fault in Our Stars.
Unfortunately, Regretting You fails to capture the same spark. Despite its talented cast and emotional potential, the film falters under weak direction, uneven tone, and uninspired storytelling.
The Premise: Love, Loss, and Generational Conflict
The story begins in the past, where teenage versions of Morgan (Allison Williams), Chris (Scott Eastwood), Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), and Jonah (Dave Franco) navigate youthful romance and ambition. The problem? These actors are all in their 30s, and despite digital touch-ups, their attempts to pass as teens feel awkward and unconvincing. The artificial de-aging leaves the opening sequence looking strange, setting an uneasy tone for what follows.
Fast-forward 17 years, and Morgan is now a mother to teenage Clara (McKenna Grace). Married to her high-school sweetheart Chris, she lives a comfortable suburban life, though it’s clear her youthful dreams were sacrificed along the way. Clara, meanwhile, feels disconnected from her mother but close to her father and aunt Jenny. The relationships feel authentic at first — until tragedy strikes.
The Turning Point: Tragedy and Secrets
When an unexpected accident shatters the family, secrets emerge that force everyone to reassess their lives. Morgan discovers a painful betrayal, and both she and Jonah must navigate grief and guilt. Meanwhile, Clara finds solace in Miller (Mason Thames), a kind-hearted classmate known as “the coolest boy in school.” Their connection blossoms into a tender romance, offering Clara an escape from her mother’s turmoil.
At this stage, the movie attempts to balance two storylines — Morgan’s emotional recovery and Clara’s teenage love story. Unfortunately, this split focus weakens the emotional impact. Where It Ends With Us concentrated on one mature, complicated relationship, Regretting You tries to cater to two audiences: adults craving heartfelt drama and teens longing for romance. The result? A film that struggles to satisfy either group.
Performances: Strong Cast, Weak Material
Allison Williams delivers a capable performance as a grieving mother trying to find herself again, while Dave Franco portrays Jonah with quiet sincerity. Both actors are talented enough to handle emotional complexity, but the script doesn’t give them the room to breathe. Their grief and guilt are brushed aside too quickly, replaced with lighter teenage moments that feel disconnected from the heavier themes.
McKenna Grace, one of the most promising young talents in Hollywood, brings depth to Clara’s emotional confusion. Yet her chemistry with Mason Thames feels uneven — partly due to awkward writing and partly because their scenes lack genuine tension. The romantic subplot never fully catches fire, leaving their storyline bland and predictable.
Storytelling and Direction: A Missed Opportunity
Director Josh Boone, once praised for capturing raw teenage emotion in The Fault in Our Stars, seems uncertain here. The film lacks the aesthetic confidence and emotional precision that made his earlier work successful. Instead, Regretting You feels inconsistent — oscillating between melodrama and teen movie fluff without committing to either.
Even the cinematography feels off. Instead of the lush, polished visuals of It Ends With Us, Boone opts for a cheaper, TV-style look that undermines the film’s emotional tone. The soundtrack and pacing further contribute to this inconsistency, making Regretting You feel longer than it actually is.
Product Placement and Distractions
One of the film’s most distracting flaws is its blatant product placement. AMC Theatres, Starry soda, and even Paramount itself are inserted so obviously that they pull viewers out of the story. The worst offender is a scene in Miller’s bedroom, filled with Paramount movie posters — a meta nod that feels more like a corporate advertisement than a character detail.
In a world where subtlety is key to immersion, Regretting You constantly reminds you that it’s a product, not an experience.
Representation and Supporting Cast
Clara’s best friend Lexie (Sam Morelos) is introduced as comic relief, and while she brings occasional humor, her character feels underdeveloped. She, along with Miller’s coworker (one of the film’s few other people of color), is pushed into the background. Their brief romantic subplot feels forced and tokenistic rather than meaningful.
These missed opportunities highlight the film’s lack of depth — it never fully explores the world beyond its central white suburban bubble.
Comparing It to It Ends With Us
While It Ends With Us succeeded in reimagining Hoover’s writing into a visually rich and emotionally mature story, Regretting You does the opposite. It strips away complexity and nuance, replacing them with clichéd melodrama and thin character motivations.
Where Baldoni’s film had a strong sense of identity, Boone’s direction feels unsure. The movie wants to be both a weepy adult drama and a light teen romance, but ends up a confused hybrid that pleases neither audience.
The Visual Symbolism: Reinvention Gone Wrong
In one of the film’s recurring metaphors, Morgan attempts to remodel her family home — a beautiful lakeside house filled with mid-century charm. She takes a hammer to the walls, trying to make it more her own, but by the end, what’s left is generic and uninspired. It’s an unintentionally perfect metaphor for Regretting You itself: a story with a solid foundation that’s been stripped of its character and heart.
Final Verdict: A Forgettable Adaptation
Despite its emotional premise and talented cast, Regretting You lacks the creative spark that made It Ends With Us work. Its uneven tone, shallow writing, and distracting corporate influence make it feel like a rushed cash grab rather than a meaningful adaptation.
If the Colleen Hoover film trend was destined to fade, Regretting You might just be the project that seals its fate.
Still, for fans of melodrama and familiar faces like Allison Williams and Dave Franco, the film offers a few redeeming moments — but not enough to make it memorable.