Voicemails for Isabelle (2026) Movie Review

Voicemails for Isabelle (2026) Movie Review: Unexpectedly Great

Admittedly, Voicemails for Isabelle flew under our radar when it debuted on Netflix last month. We eventually decided to give it a shot with little to no expectations and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. This hidden gem blends romance, relatable humor, and heartfelt emotion into one neat bow.

Jill (Zoey Deutch) is an aspiring baker living in San Francisco. Ever since they were children, she and her sister Isabelle, who has been battling cystic fibrosis, have stayed connected by sharing voicemails about their daily lives. After Isabelle's passing, Jill continues leaving messages on her old number, unaware that it has been reassigned to a real estate agent, Wes (Nick Robinson). As Wes listens to more of Jill's voicemails, he becomes deeply invested in her life and eventually sets out to meet her in person.

What makes Voicemails for Isabelle stand out is that it's more than just a romantic comedy. Beneath its charming romance lies a heartfelt story about grief, loss, and learning to move forward. It's an emotional layer we never saw coming, and the film handles it with sincerity while seamlessly weaving it into an otherwise familiar rom-com framework. Zoey Deutch is effortlessly charming as Jill, bringing warmth and wit to a character who could have easily felt one-dimensional. Her performance carries much of the film's emotional weight while making Jill's quirky sense of humor feel completely natural. Nick Robinson's character has a few questionable narrative choices early on but the chemistry between the two leads is strong enough to overcome those bumps.

Voicemails for Isabelle won't reinvent the romantic comedy genre and its story eventually settles into a predictable rhythm. Thankfully, that's never really the point. Instead, it succeeds by delivering genuine emotion, likable characters, and a deep and thoughtful message about human connection. We expected a generic rom-com, but what we got was something far more heartfelt and rewarding.

Rating: 4 reels