Regretting You Depicts the Complexity and Hardship of Growing Up Through the Lens of a Mother-Daughter Duo

The “Regretting You” movie poster features the four main characters, from left to right, Jonah Sullivan (Dave Franco), Miller Adams (Mason Thames), Clara Grant (Mckenna Grace), and Morgan Grant (Allison Williams). The movie poster gives hints at the story's plot, while also omitting enough detail that viewers still have many questions. Photo Creds:IMDb

Carrie Bradbury, Review Desk Lead

Mild Spoiler Warning

Josh Boone’s “Regretting You” has earned instant attention from fans, captivating all ages with its unique storyline and unconventional character dynamics. The movie follows mother-daughter pair Morgan (Allison Wilson) and Clara Grant (Mckenna Grace) as they learn how to live with unexpected tragedy while also allowing space for new beginnings. Based on the original book written by Colleen Hoover, “Regretting You” is a brilliantly crafted movie that presents the struggles and successes that may come and go in everyone's life. 

Morgan Grant, mother of 16-year-old Clara, finds herself stuck in life, torn between being a wife, mother, and finding her own purpose. She is trapped in a failing marriage with Chris Grant (Scott Eastwood), her high school sweetheart and father to Clara, and she can’t find a way to escape. Morgan has a close relationship with her sister, Jenny Davidson (Willa Fitzgerald). They find companionship in each other while trying to navigate life in their early 30s. However, this simple life for Morgan turns upside down when the climax of the movie occurs.

Around halfway through the movie, the story takes a dramatic turn that most viewers who haven’t read the book would have never expected. Boone takes viewers through an emotional rollercoaster throughout the whole movie, never letting you know what will come next or how the story will play out. Key events keep viewers on the edge of their seats. While certain scenes were awkward to watch, with lines full of flirtatious comments and family banter, the acting for the four main characters makes the movie of top-notch quality. 

The character of Morgan and the events that affect her life make the story more relatable to older ages in ways that a teen love story can not. Focusing on her character, viewers see a close-up example of what can happen to someone when tragedy strikes. While this seems more like a horror story than a romcom, her character sheds light on the difficulties in life and how to move on despite them. The events that affect Morgan make this movie a bit of a sob story, but one worth watching. Morgan’s character brings depth and perspective to the story, which in turn makes the movie one that captivates an audience of all ages.

Clara’s character, played with the utmost professionalism and superb acting skills by Grace, represents the struggles that many teen girls face when going through high school. The original personality shown at the beginning of the story and the character development that occurs throughout make Clara stand out compared to other female teenage characters. The connection to events that affect many young girls, such as controlling parents, unavoidable loneliness, and confusion over what life is really about, makes Clara’s character a beacon of hope for all the young girls watching “Regretting You”.

Clara’s main focus during the duration of the movie is on her love interest, Miller (Mason Thames),  and their development. While teenage love is often thought of as cliché and an overdone topic in cinema, it is evident by the end of the movie that the connection between Clara and Miller is more than your typical romcom. The two characters are battling with rough family situations, which both bring them together and cause conflict throughout the story. 

The romantic relationships in “Regetting You” definitely caught the attention of the crowd, but I found the dynamic between Morgan and Clara to be far more interesting. In contrast to Clara, Morgan is going through her own love story at a far more complicated and unorthodox time in her life. Navigating love amidst tragedy is something that is hard for both Morgan and Clara, as it often is a struggle for most people in their situation. The constant debate over how relationships should come about leads to intense character development for the two women. The contrast between the two love stories brings mother and daughter together, but is also the root of most of their fights. The topic of love and how each of the characters goes about it makes the movie even more interesting and relatable to people watching. 

The rocky relationships between Morgan and Clara, which never seem to be in perfect peace, momentarily come into perfection over one item: a vision board. While this scene only took 10 minutes out of the 2-hour-long movie, I felt that it was one of the most important moments for the two main characters and an unforgettable part of the movie. 

“Regretting You” in summary is about navigating life in your teens and late 20s, and the ups and downs that come with that time period. I think the deep connection that the characters feel to something as simple as a vision board highlights the contrasting simplicity and complication of life, which is seen through the eyes of these main characters. “Regretting You” is an intricate story that compels viewers to think outside their own world and imagine what life could be like if tragedy were to happen. While the script of the movie can be awkward at times, it hardly takes away from the message and themes displayed in “Regretting You”. This movie is a sob story, a romcom, and a coming-of-age story all in one, and without a doubt one of the best movie releases so far this year.