The streaming platform Netflix shows a new production that quickly became the leader on its list of most watched films. It is a romantic comedy that has achieved the rare feat of pleasing both experts and the general public, standing out in an often challenging genre.
The current highlight is “Voicemails for Isabelle”, an original work that surprises in the romantic comedy scene. The film was written and directed by Leah McKendrick, a notable fact in a genre often dominated by book adaptations, which gives the production a welcome freshness.
The plot features Zoey Deutch, known for “Not Okay”, and Nick Robinson, from “Love, Simon”, in the main roles. The story follows Jill, played by Deutch, who finds solace in leaving voicemails for her deceased sister. However, when the number is reassigned, she ends up connecting with Austin, played by Robinson, who starts receiving her recordings, starting an unexpected romance.
Currently, “Voicemails for Isabelle” boasts an impressive 86% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, accompanied by an even higher 91% audience approval rating. This performance suggests significant engagement, similar to what was seen with “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” a franchise that spawned a trilogy and a spin-off series. Although the first film in this series reached 96% of critics and 84% of the public, the sequels had sharp drops (41% and 58%), showing the challenge of maintaining quality in serial productions. The success of “Voicemails for Isabelle” could indicate a promising path for a sequel, should creator Leah McKendrick decide to expand the narrative.
Unlike many films of the genre, this production does not fit into the teenage romance category, as Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson, the protagonists, are both 31 years old, directing the film towards a more adult audience. It’s worth noting that this is Zoey Deutch’s second success in Netflix’s romantic comedy genre; she starred in “Set It Up” in 2018 alongside Glenn Powell, who would only achieve stardom in 2022 with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Set It Up” also received an excellent approval rating from 92% of the public.
Lovers of romantic comedies are sometimes difficult to satisfy, especially when adaptations change elements of original books. However, “Voicemails for Isabelle” stands out for being an authorial story, free from these constraints, and achieved one of the highest audience ratings ever seen for the genre on Netflix. Although more criticism may still arise, the expectation is that the film will maintain its leadership position in the platform’s top 10 for a considerable period, surpassing other productions such as the thriller “Maternal Instinct”, which occupied the top for a while.