Once director Josh Boone read the script for Regretting You, the movie adaptation of the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, he jumped right in.
“Regretting You is a coming-of-age story about relationships between parents and children growing up, like my previous films Stuck in Love and The Fault in Our Stars,” shares Boone. “I have always been and always will be attracted to movies about families, specifically kids who are finding out that their parents are fallible. That’s an important moment in anybody’s life.”
In Regretting You, Allisom Williams and Mckenna Grace play the mother-daughter duo of Morgan and Clara Grant, respectively, as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. Regretting You is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco, Mason Thames and Sam Morelos, with Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown.
Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace play a mother-daughter duo in Regretting You
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
The story works on multiple levels, says Allison Williams, which makes it perfect for a wide audience. “There’s so much contained within this movie,” says Williams, who plays Morgan Grant. “When I’m talking to another mother, I say it’s about a mom who is watching her daughter go through a moment that completely changed her own life. She is hoping that her daughter won’t do the same thing, but at the same time she does not regret having her daughter. When I talk to younger people, it’s about a couple that’s clearly meant to be together. That could actually be referring to either of the romances in the movie. It is also about a relationship that begins at the moment when two kids are about to embark on a new adventure in the world. That’s part of what made it so meaty and such fun to work on.”
For Mckenna Grace, who plays Morgan’s teen daughter Clara, the story was also a big reason she wanted to be part of the film; it was the quality of the script that impressed her from the start. “It hits all the right places,” Grace says. “It’s really sad, but still such fun. When I read the book, I really connected to Clara. The dialogue felt so natural that I sometimes threw in things from the book that weren’t in the script, but that were so right for Clara. Josh created such a fun and safe environment to create in that it was easy. He’s so much funnier himself than I ever expected.”
Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco and Allison Williams in Regretting You
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
When director Boone offered Dave Franco the chance to play Morgan’s love interest, Jonah, Franco seized the opportunity to play a character different from what he’s played before. “I have played degenerates in recent films, so when he [Josh] called and asked if I was open to playing a nice guy, I was ready,” says Franco. “It is fun to play morally ambiguous characters, but it’s also nice to play someone that audiences can root for.
“There is a lot of drama in this movie and a lot of romance,” continues Franco. “Mckenna once said that she’s either crying or kissing or doing both in every single scene in this movie. And that’s not far from the truth. We’re hitting the broad spectrum of emotion.”
Mason Thames, who plays Miller (Clara’s love interest), agrees. “This movie can be very sad, but it’s also very sweet, often funny and a bit of a journey. I hope the audience leaves crying. It’s an emotional roller coaster, so bring plenty of tissues.”
Mckenna Grace and Mason Thames in Regretting You
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
Bestselling author Colleen Hoover, whose stories are known for powerful emotions, tumultuous relationships and unforgettable characters, shares: “Audiences will have a fun and emotional experience. It is something you can watch with friends and family and feel good about, then go back and watch it a second time with a different group of friends. It’s just a real feel good movie.”
There are certainly heartbreaking moments in the movie, but ultimately the filmmakers want audiences to be uplifted by the tale. “No matter what, life keeps going and things keep happening. says Boone. “You are going to laugh again. I say that from experience.”
Regretting You, from Paramount Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas October 22. #RegrettingYouMovie
