Voicemails for Isabelle

Zoey Deutch stars as Jill Shaw, a woman in her late twenties living in San Francisco, who is grappling with the recent death of her younger sister, Isabelle (Ciara Bravo). The sisters were exceptionally close, sharing an apartment, inside jokes, and a daily ritual of leaving each other rambling voicemails throughout the day, messages that ranged from mundane grocery lists to deeply personal confessions about their romantic lives and career frustrations.

After Isabelle's sudden passing, Jill finds herself unable to stop the habit. She continues dialing her sister's phone number, leaving voicemails that serve as a therapeutic outlet for her grief. Unbeknownst to Jill, Isabelle's number has been reassigned to Wes (Nick Robinson), a quiet, introspective graphic designer who recently moved to San Francisco after a painful breakup. Wes initially finds the voicemails intrusive but becomes captivated by Jill's unfiltered honesty, leading to an anonymous correspondence that changes both their lives.

Directed by Leah McKendrick, who also appears in the film as Breeda, Jill's supportive coworker, Voicemails for Isabelle is a romantic comedy that uses its gimmicky premise to explore genuine grief. The film features a score by Este Haim and Amanda Yamate, cinematography by Julia Swain, and a budget of $18 million. It grossed over $82 million worldwide and has been credited with revitalizing the romantic comedy genre.[edit]

Jill Shaw works as a junior pastry chef at a high-end San Francisco restaurant run by the demanding Chef Bastien (Nick Offerman). Her days are a blur of failed soufflés and harsh critiques, but her nights are spent leaving voicemails for her late sister Isabelle, messages that mix kitchen disasters with memories of their shared childhood. She talks about her disastrous attempts at online dating, her fear that she's failing to honor Isabelle's memory, and her complicated feelings about moving forward.

Wes, a graphic designer nursing wounds from a recent breakup, receives these messages on his new phone. At first, he tries to ignore them, but Jill's raw, often hilarious honesty draws him in. He starts looking forward to her voice, finding comfort in her daily struggles and triumphs. After weeks of listening, he finally works up the courage to respond, leaving a voicemail that explains the situation without revealing his identity.

Jill is mortified but intrigued. They begin an anonymous voicemail correspondence, sharing their lives through messages left on a phone neither is willing to give up. Jill confides in Wes about her fear that she's failing to honor Isabelle's memory, while Wes opens up about his own losses and his struggle to reconnect with the world. Meanwhile, Jill's personal life gets a boost from her supportive coworker Breeda (Leah McKendrick) and her well-meaning but overbearing parents (Tanis Dolman and Gil Bellows). Wes navigates his own life with his friend Arthur (Lukas Gage), who encourages him to pursue the woman behind the voicemails, and his colleague Andy (Harry Shum Jr.), who offers more cautious advice.

The film builds toward the inevitable moment when Jill and Wes must decide whether to meet in person, risking the destruction of their unique connection. Along the way, Jill creates an elaborate dessert inspired by the stories Wes has shared, and Wes saves every single voicemail. The central conflict revolves around their fear of disappointment, what if the real person doesn't match the voice they've come to love?[edit]