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By Zak Wojnar
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Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson star in "Voicemails for Isabelle," the new film from Netflix that combines classic romantic comedy shenanigans with a beautiful story of the bond between sisters. Zoey plays Jill, an aspiring baker with dreams of culinary fame, grinding away under an egomaniac chef (Nick Offerman), waiting for her big break. However, her world is shattered when her younger sister, Isabelle (Ciara Bravo), who has long suffered from cystic fibrosis, passes away from the condition. Unwilling to move on from the tremendous loss, Jill continues calling her dead sister's phone, leaving her voicemails as a way to cope. However, Isabelle's phone number was inherited by Wes (Nick Robinson), who hears the voicemails and resolves to travel to San Francisco to meet Jill. From there, well, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all shakes out.
The film is written and directed by Leah McKendrick, a bona fide triple threat who wrote, directed, and starred in 2023's "Scrambled," which put her on everyone's radar due to its tap-dancing comedy surrounding difficult-to-navigate subject matter. She applies that same gracefulness to "Voicemails for Isabelle," deftly navigating the tragedy of familial loss with the jolly sensibilities of a crowd-pleasing rom-com. Against all odds, it succeeds with both sides of this particularly unique coin.
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I had the opportunity to chat with Leah McKendrick about her work on "Voicemails for Isabelle." She talks about navigating the complex tone of the film, shares some editing suite stories, and explains exactly why it's impossible not to fall in love with the dreamy Nick Robinson. She also talks about how the story is partially inspired by her relationship with her own sister (who, thankfully, is still alive). Finally, she shares her history with the project, how it originally fell by the wayside before she was hired to direct it, and how the story evolved over time (hint: it was not always set in San Francisco and did not always involve the world of the high-class eateries).
Check out our complete chat below, and catch "Voicemails for Isabelle," which is now streaming on Netflix.
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