Movie Review

Regretting You - A Movie I Definitely Regret Watching

1. Introduction

I recently watched Regretting You, the new film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, and honestly, I went in mostly out of boredom and curiosity. Her last film adaptation, It Ends With Us, was a huge flop that was painfully different from the book, which I actually enjoyed reading. Hoover’s books are everywhere right now, and any movie based on one of her stories is bound to get attention. Unfortunately, the film stood out for all the wrong reasons, mainly the plot holes you could almost fall through.

Here’s the trailer if you want to see what the hype was supposed to be about:
Regretting You Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEQqe4jDu-M&

2. Background & Context

What It Is

Regretting You (2025) is a romantic drama directed by Josh Boone and based on Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel. The movie stars Allison Williams as Morgan, Mckenna Grace as Clara, Dave Franco as Jonah, and Mason Thames as Miller. Boone’s best-known work is The Fault in Our Stars, which at least handled emotional material with more care. So I expected a certain level of depth, but the film didn’t get there.

Quick Plot Summary (No Spoilers)

The story follows Morgan and her teenage daughter, Clara, after a tragic car accident kills Morgan’s husband and her sister. As the truth behind the accident unravels, both of them are forced to confront secrets that shake their relationship and their understanding of family.

Box Office & Reception

The movie cost around $30 million to make and has earned about $87 million worldwide, though reviews have been rough. Critics called it “overly melodramatic” and complained that the emotional moments didn’t land.

3. Analysis: What Worked and Mostly What Didn’t

Compared to Other Work by the Same Director

Boone usually balances heartache and warmth, but here the emotional beats feel rushed and exaggerated. Critics specifically mentioned that the drama felt forced instead of earned.

Compared to Other Films in the Genre

It tries to fit into the family-drama/romantic-melodrama category, but instead of feeling heartfelt, it comes off more like a soap opera. Major reveals happen so awkwardly that they lose impact. Even The Harvard Crimson wrote that character reactions were confusing and sometimes straight-up unrealistic.

4. Interpretation: Why It Matters 

Hoover adaptations are a cultural trend right now, and young audiences especially love her themes of messy relationships and emotional healing. Regretting You clearly aims at that same crowd. But instead of exploring the deeper issues (infidelity, grief, rebuilding trust), the movie skims the surface.

There aren’t exactly harmful stereotypes here, but the film definitely leans on dramatic clichés, tragic accidents, secret affairs, and sudden arguments, without giving them the emotional depth they need.

5. Evaluation: Strengths, Weaknesses & My Overall Take

Strengths

• The cast is strong. Dave Franco was amazing per usual, however that might be biased. Although Mckenna Grace and Mason Thames especially have some genuinely sweet moments.

• The film looks good visually. Boone knows how to create a nostalgic, dreamy atmosphere.

• Some of the Clara/Miller scenes feel natural because the actors improvised parts of them.

Weaknesses

• Huge plot holes: Clara somehow doesn’t realize the obvious truth about her dad and aunt’s affair, even though the audience can see it from a mile away.

• Underdeveloped characters: Miller’s girlfriend shows up for no real reason and then disappears just as fast.

• Tone problems: It bounces between grief, romance, and comedy in ways that don’t mesh.

• A rushed ending that tries to fix everything too quickly.

So Is It Good?

Honestly? Not really. It’s mediocre at best. The emotional story is there, but the writing doesn’t support it. I doubt it’ll be remembered a month from now, let alone a year.

How My Opinion Compares to Critics

Critics were actually harsher than I expected. Many called it “melodramatic,” “flat,” or “lacking chemistry.” Reddit users had the same issues mentioning a predictable plot, odd editing, and inconsistent writing.
6. My Engagement With the Movie and Its Buzz

After watching the movie, I looked up reviews and social media reactions. The official social media accounts for the movie are surprisingly quiet now, not much behind-the-scenes content, clips, or cast interaction. That didn’t help maintain excitement for the movie.

Friends who read the book told me that the film cut out a lot of emotional nuance, which explains why certain plot points felt confusing or shallow on screen.

7. Conclusion

In the end, Regretting You had potential, but the execution fell short. With its strong cast and emotional source material, it could’ve been powerful. Instead, we got a story with noticeable plot holes, uneven writing, and underdeveloped themes.

Writing this critique helped me realize how much the structure of a story matters. Even a great premise can crumble if the emotional beats aren’t supported by solid writing and logical character choices. 

Sources

“Regretting You | Official Trailer.” YouTube, uploaded by Lionsgate, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEQqe4jDu-M&

“Regretting You (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regretting_You

“Regretting You Review.” RogerEbert.com, 2025, https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/regretting-you-film-review-2025

Bromwich, Jonah. “Regretting You Review – Colleen Hoover’s Novel Loses Its Emotional Depth on Screen.” The Guardian, 22 Oct. 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/22/regretting-you-review-colleen-hoover

“‘Regretting You’ Fails to Deliver Emotional Payoff.” The Harvard Crimson, 11 Nov. 2025, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/11/11/regretting-you-review/

“Fans React to the Regretting You Movie.” Reddit, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1ofgyzw/