Adapted from the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, the 2025 romantic drama “Regretting You” is centered on the strained relationship between Morgan Grant and her teenage daughter, Clara, in a small North Carolina town. Their lives are brutally upended when a tragic car accident claims both Morgan’s husband, Chris, and her younger sister, Jenny. The immediate tragedy spirals into overwhelming grief, compounded by the devastating secret that Chris and Jenny were having an affair—the catalyst for their deaths.
Morgan’s decision to hide the affair from Clara, in an attempt to protect her from further pain, only fuels the tension as Clara senses that her mother is concealing the truth. As Clara navigates a budding romance with Miller Adams, Morgan must contend with her own guilt, betrayal, and her evolving relationship with Jonah, Jenny’s widower, who harbors long-standing feelings for Morgan. For a directorial effort covering such complex subject matter, the execution is notably polished and commercial, and the direction is effective, capitalizing on the emotional moments it explores. Compared to other adaptations in the CoHo genre, “Regretting You” manages to feel far more cohesive and engaging than It Ends With Us, at least.
While it ultimately succeeds as a casual, fun flick, great for relaxing after a long day, the film struggles to move beyond its surface-level presentation. It often feels like it’s relying heavily on established clichés. Though interesting and funny, the plot offers way too easy resolutions, resulting in a narrative that feels significantly half-baked and lacks genuine dramatic tension. The entire initial plot involving Jonah and Morgan, which is crucial to the story’s narrative, often feels unnecessarily drawn out and almost too fictionalized, failing to convey the emotional weight it should carry.
The movie is at its strongest when exploring the lighter, more spontaneous relationship between Miller and Clara, who genuinely have a fun dynamic going. But critical character arcs—such as the backstory involving Chris and Jenny, and the development of Jonah and Morgan’s complex relationship—are underserved. The film attempts to cram years of backstory and relational evolution into too few moments, leaving the audience without the necessary depth to care or feel anything profound. The result is a very surface-level entertainer with actually very little drama.
Despite its emotionally charged premise, involving grief and betrayal, it manages to be a genuinely heartfelt and humorous watch that never bores the viewer. It is an enjoyable flick perfect for casual viewing when you need to unwind. While it indeed relies on romantic drama clichés, the film utilizes them effectively to maintain the pace and inject humor, making it an easy and relaxing experience that requires little deep thought but still manages to feel warm. The most compelling element of the entire film is Sam Morelos as Lexie, who delivers perfect comic relief in the movie.
A final, noticeable critique is the soundscape. While the chosen music tracks were excellent selections, the movie suffered from a minimal soundtrack, leaving scenes feeling dead silent at times and robbing the narrative of potential emotional resonance, which occasionally made scenes feel awkward.
“Regretting You” is a decent, heartfelt watch for those seeking undemanding entertainment. However, those hoping for deep emotional exploration or complex themes will find that this one doesn’t delve beyond the surface. It is a rather good movie, but a bad adaptation of the book by Colleen Hoover.
