There are romantic comedies that make you smile. Then there are the rare ones that leave you replaying the soundtrack, revisiting your favorite scenes, and wondering why they hit you so deeply.
Voicemails for Isabelle, now streaming on Netflix, belongs firmly in the second category.
At first glance, the premise sounds almost too quirky to work.
Jill (Zoey Deutch) copes with the loss of her sister Isabelle by continuing to leave voicemails on her old phone number. Unbeknownst to her, the number has been reassigned to Wes (Nick Robinson), an Austin real estate agent who slowly falls for the woman behind the messages before they’ve ever met.
It’s a setup that could have easily become gimmicky, but thanks to two incredibly charming leads and a script that delicately balances grief with hope, Voicemails for Isabelle blossoms into something much more meaningful. Beneath the romance is a heartfelt story about loss, healing, and remaining open to unexpected connections.
A modern ‘You’ve Got Mail‘
The comparisons to You’ve Got Mail are impossible to ignore — and the film knows it.
Rather than hiding its inspiration, Voicemails for Isabelle embraces it with affectionate references throughout. Like Nora Ephron’s classic, this is a romance built on emotional intimacy before physical attraction.
In a world of dating apps and endless scrolling, there’s something refreshingly old-fashioned about watching two people fall in love with each other’s words first.
Zoey and Nick are rom-com gold
IMAGE CREDIT: Netflix
After winning over viewers in Set It Up (2018), Deutch once again proves she has a natural gift for romantic comedies. Jill is witty, vulnerable, and emotionally messy in ways that feel authentic, making her easy to root for from beginning to end.
Nick Robinson is equally irresistible as Wes. Given the premise, Wes walks a fine line. Instead, Robinson plays him with such sincerity and quiet longing that you can’t help but root for him.
Then comes the line that’s already destined to become one of the year’s most swoon-worthy romantic declarations:
“I know you don’t need a man, Jill. But I sure as hell need you.”
It’s the kind of line that stays with you — not because it’s flashy, but because you believe every word of it.
That’s what gives the romance its emotional weight.
A soundtrack worth replaying
The screenplay provides the heart. The soundtrack supplies the soul.
Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” isn’t just background music. It becomes an emotional thread woven throughout the film, connecting Jill’s memories of Isabelle with her journey toward healing. Every time the song returns, it carries new emotional weight, making its final reprise all the more cathartic.
It’s more than just a memorable song choice. It becomes part of the film’s emotional storytelling. Long after the credits roll, you’ll likely find yourself replaying the song and reliving the emotions it carries.
Together with its affectionate nods to You’ve Got Mail, “Dancing on My Own” helps give Voicemails for Isabelle a distinctly modern rom-com identity. It’s a reminder that the best movie soundtracks don’t just accompany a story — they become inseparable from it.
More than just a love story
Other than the romance, it’s also worth highlighting the film’s quiet understanding of grief.
At its heart, Voicemails for Isabelle is about learning to carry loss without letting it define your future. Jill’s voicemails begin as a way of holding onto her sister, but they slowly become something else: a bridge between the life she’s lost and the one she’s still capable of living.
IMAGE CREDIT: Netflix
That’s what gives the romance its emotional weight.
Wes isn’t there to rescue Jill. He simply meets her exactly where she is — with patience, kindness, and the willingness to truly hear her.
The film reminds us that moving forward doesn’t mean leaving our loved ones behind. It simply means making room for new memories alongside the old ones.
The verdict
The best romantic comedies don’t just make us believe in love — they remind us why we keep coming back to the genre. Voicemails for Isabelle does exactly that.
It’s funny, heartfelt, deeply romantic, yet grounded enough to feel genuine. Between the effortless chemistry of the lead actors, the irresistible soundtrack, and its affectionate nods to You’ve Got Mail, the film feels like both a tribute to classic rom-coms and a beautiful reminder of why the genre still matters.
Sometimes the greatest love stories don’t begin with a perfect first date. They begin with someone choosing to listen. That’s what really makes Voicemails for Isabelle so memorable — and why it lingers long after the final voicemail plays.
