Movie Review ~ Wish You Were Here 

Few genres demand as much emotional precision as tragic romance. As streaming platforms continue to churn out romantic dramas by the dozen (sometimes on the same weekend), Julia Stiles’s Wish You Were Here aims to strike that delicate balance.   Adapted by Stiles from Renée Carlino’s bestselling 2017 novel, the film aspires to join the ranks of iconic tearjerkers like The Notebook and Love Story. While it begins with promise, it ultimately falters under the weight of its own predictability. As a directorial debut, it’s a mixed bag—evidence of Stiles’s potential behind the camera but also her inexperience.

Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan: First Kill) stars as Charlotte, whose chance encounter with a mysterious, charismatic stranger evolves into an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Fuhrman, recently winning awards for her riveting work in The Novice, brings a welcome complexity to what could have been a standard romantic lead. Her performance captures the tightrope precision often necessary in these films that require their female leads to demonstrate vulnerability and determination, even as the script repeatedly tests her range with increasingly melodramatic turns. 

However, her chemistry with Aladdin‘s Mena Massoud, who plays the enigmatic love interest, leaves much to be desired.  If we’re being honest, it’s Massoud who fails to generate the magnetic presence needed to justify Charlotte’s emotional investment. Their scenes together lack the essential spark that makes audiences invest in a couple’s journey, leaving the film’s critical emotional core frustratingly hollow. The chemistry between leads can make or break a romance (see the recent Anyone But You for how to do it perfectly right), and here, it barely registers above room temperature.

Stiles approaches the material with an actor’s sensitivity, particularly in intimate moments where she demonstrates occasional flashes of directorial insight. Scenes between Charlotte and her family are particularly effective, revealing the character’s inexperience in ways that feel honest and unforced. Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer, who play Charlotte’s parents, bring warmth to their roles, even if the script doesn’t give them much to work with.  Grey, in particular, has a lot of fun in her limited screen time, reminding viewers of that she’s more than Patrick Swayze’s co-star in Dirty Dancing. Grammer, who worked with Stiles in 2021’s The God Committee, is in this so little it is the definition of calling in a favor.    Grammar, Fuhrman and Jordan Gavaris as Charlotte’s brother have all previously worked with Stiles, signaling that she wisely brought an amiable team to keep her company. 

Despite these strengths, the film’s pacing and structure are major hurdles. The narrative meanders, lingering too long on certain subplots while rushing through others. This unevenness creates a disjointed viewing experience, preventing the story from building the momentum needed to deliver an emotional payoff. While competent, Stiles’s direction lacks the confidence to fully commit to a singular vision, leaving the film caught between heartfelt drama and overwrought melodrama.  

I guess what’s most frustrating about Wish You Were Here is the glimpses of a better film hiding beneath its conventional surface. Fuhrman’s earnest performance and Stiles’ directorial flourishes  suggest possibilities of how this could have turned out that remain tormentingly out of reach. Instead, we’re left with a film that adds to the growing library of romantic dramas that pass the time without leaving a lasting impression.

Ultimately, Wish You Were Here feels like a first draft of something potentially special. The raw materials for a compelling romance are present, but the execution lacks the confidence and clarity needed to elevate the material above its genre conventions. For fans of the genre, it offers enough emotional beats to be worth a watch, but like its title, the film leaves you wishing for the more ambitious and assured version it might have been.