First things first: are rom-coms finally back? Just a few years ago, we were lamenting the lack of simple, sweet romances that could make us swoon, chuckle, and believe in fictional love again. The first half of 2026, however, has kept us fed, Heated Rivalry hype train was about, dissecting Benedict Bridgerton, Alex Nilson and Garrett Graham, and eagerly looking forward to updates about the upcoming onscreen adaptation of Ali Hazelwood’s bestseller, The Love Hypothesis.
Netflix’s latest hit rom-com, Voicemails For Isabelle is a sweet, no-frills film that has a character outraged over how its proceedings feel like a ‘messed up You’ve Got Mail’. Now, there is little else that comes close to the charm of that nineties film, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.Voicemails For Isabelle, however, banks heavily on the earnest charms of its leads, and the nostalgia that its breezy, simple story harkens back to.
Voicemails For Isabelle (English)
Director: Leah Mackendrick
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Harry Shum Jr
Runtime: 118 minutes
Storyline: Grieving the death of her sister, an aspiring chef continues to send voicemails to her, only for it to be intercepted by someone else
Jill Shaw (Zoey Deutch), an aspiring chef and baker in San Francisco, and her sister Isabelle Shaw (Ciara Bravo), a cystic fibrosis patient grow up incredibly close, and fiercely protective of each other. Jill is dealing with an unhinged boss, an unfriendly workplace and the loneliness of trying to make it on your own in an unfamiliar city. Through this all, her sister remains her number one hype girl, constantly encouraging her to pursue her dreams. When Isabelle suddenly passes away, Jill is left to deal with grief that somehow, doesn’t seem to ever diminish. A drunk voicemail to her sister’s number ends up being overheard by a real-estate agent, Wes (Nick Robinson, always ready with a winsome smile).
While entertained, Wes attempts to, and fails to tell Jill that he now has her sister’s number. The voicemails continue, and Wes now has a front row seat to Jill’s dating exploits, and the soul-crushing grief of losing her sister that she grapples with. He lands up at San Francisco and orchestrates a scenic, yet stalker-y meet cute, and the pair become friends.
Selling your heart and soul to any rom-com requires a willing suspension of disbelief. Voicemails for Isabelle asks of this willingness to ignore the voice in your head that threatens to raise very valid questions about how much of a breach of privacy you can look past so that the genre’s most beloved tropes can play out.
Nick Robinson as Wes and Zoey Deutch as Jill in a still from ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’
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Netflix
You can’t help but buy into Wes and Jill’s super fun montage exploring San Francisco, reminiscing about Austin, and the growing attraction that follows. Leah Mackendrick, who writes and directs (and stars as the very funny Breeda) ensures that the romance agenda does not eat away at Jill and Isabelle’s bond, and the relationship they once shared. This remains the emotional core of the film from start to finish, and rightfully so.
The film’s lead actors Zoey and Nick, and even the supporting cast which includes Harry Shum Jr, and McKendrick herself, are warm, funny and immensely likable. Zoey in particular, inhabits a grief-stricken Jill with an open, honest vulnerability.
Sit down to watch Voicemails For Isabellewith some tissues for those tears, and to be charmed by its leads. One can never have too many of these sweet and breezy rom-coms amidst the box-office’s peaking love for blustering action films or the more intimidating horror fare there currently seems to be an abundance of.
Voicemails For Isabelle is streaming on Netflix
Published – July 02, 2026 12:55 pm IST
