**Warning: this article contains spoilers**
Based on the bestselling 2019 novel by Colleen Hoover, romantic-drama “Regretting You” hit theaters on Oct. 24.
Having written over 20 novels in the realm of fictional romance, Hoover’s stories have started to turn to the big screen. Before the August 2024 release of her most popular novel “It Ends With Us,” Hoover had received backlash for romanticizing an abusive relationship: You can read more about the book on our website. The new film has sparked an even greater controversy due to the actress Blake Lively’s lighthearted attitude towards the themes of domestic violence and emotional abuse during her press tour interviewers, upsetting fans more.
Since “Regretting You” was filmed in August 2024, trailers, released scenes and press tour appearances promoted anticipation for its release. After the tense feelings about her last book-turned-movie, fans wondered if “Regretting You” would follow a similar trajectory.
I was originally underwhelmed as it felt like watching an average high school, small town movie. The plot didn’t develop much, until it really did. Bam! The husband and sister were dead at the same time, by the same cause, something the writers didn’t harp on at first, which was a little confusing. The deaths had been shown in trailers, so it wasn’t unexpected, but watching it play out with all of the tiny details felt deeper. From there, the film switched off from highlighting the mom’s mourning and confusion to the daughter’s grief and blooming relationship.
“Regretting You” is more of a romance than a mystery throughout the middle section of the movie, making for a book-like, captivating and sweet watch. The mystery tone feels like more of an unfolding of evidence, proving the dead sister and husband’s affair, and making for an unsurprising watch. The evidence revealing that the husband was cheating on the mother, with her own sister, highly thickened the plot.
As a viewer, I felt a huge sense of sympathy for both the mother, as well as the daughter for losing the two closest people to her. The actors, McKenna Grace and Allison Williams, do an amazing job of creating an undeniable connection between their characters and the viewer.
Nearing the end of the movie though, I had lost hope in a happy ending. The mother-daughter relationship is weak and neither of the couples could figure out their morals. I gave up hope at the perfect time though, because the ending was hands-down one of the best movie endings I’d ever seen. Watching what felt like a replay of the movie through his film, into Promposal, is unexpected, and extremely adorable. The final scenes truly tie the movie into an admirable, cohesive, rather than cringe, love story.
Reflecting on the Hoover drama, the plot differs significantly from “It Ends With Us.” Though viewers have proposed that “Regretting You,” normalizes cheating, it is only a small aspect of the plot that does not come close to comparing to the negative plot intent in “It Ends With Us.”
Separating the movie from Hoover’s controversy, “Regretting You” is a must-see for a great heart-warming cry.
