No, you won’t hear Pink Floyd’s iconic rock song of the same name anywhere inJulia Stiles' feature directorial debut, and you won’t see Stiles anywhere inWish You Were Here, either. Stiles made a unique and shining name for herself with that tough-gal demeanor we all adored in throwbackhits like10 Things I Hate About You, but it does feature a talented little ensemble of other stars that mostly carries this new Lionsgate offering — based off Renée Carlino’s acclaimed novel — all the way to the tear-jerking finish line.
Fleeting Moments of Forever Love
Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here, directed by Julia Stiles, follows Charlotte as she searches for fulfillment. After a passionate encounter with Adam, who later disappears, she learns of his terminal illness and dedicates herself to making his final days meaningful.
In the style of Richard Linklater’s masterpieceBefore Sunrise, the romantically charged first act unfolds over one eventful night, where love-deprived Charlotte (Horizonstar Isabelle Fuhrman) stumbles upon what seems to be the perfect stranger: a charismatic artist named Adam (Mena Massoud). 20-something Charlotte knows she is destined for greatness, or at least a career beyond serving margaritas at a local Mexican restaurant, and the thoughtful Adam might help her eyes open to that and to the world’s beauty.
After a chance run-in on the city streets, Adam introduces Charlotte to his impressive street art and unique perspectives on things, finally leading to a sleepover that doesn’t officially begin until the wee hours of the morning. It’s a fine line between erotic chemistry and just plain connection between the two single adults — so what could go wrong?
A Confusing Rejection & Comedic Distractions
The morning after doesn’t exactly put the icing on Charlotte’s cake, so the supposed next chapter of her love life may not be taking off after all. Feeling let down, she returns home and seeks comfort and solace in her wildcard sister/roommate Helen (the peppy Gabby Kono-Abdy) and kooky parents (Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer), who also happen to live close by. Why did Adam pull a 180 upon sunrise and virtually kick her out that next morning? “What is happening,” Charlotte mutters to herself as she rushes out. One might even call this film a rom-com at the outset based on the laugh-out-loud banter that often ensues between Charlotte and her family, coworkers, and others, but remember, this is just the drama’s first act.
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On that comedic note, though, Charlotte’s dating app connection with Seth (the excellent Jimmie Falls) elicitc some good chuckles. Nonetheless, the immediately likable Charlotte still can’t shake that fleeting night with the long-gone Adam. It doesn’t help that Charlotte often passes his wondrous graffiti on the street, which Adam appears to have modified and expanded, perhaps as a way of reaching Charlotte in an alternative sort of way. But why? Isn’t he no longer interested in her?
Just a Splash of Kelsey Grammer
Wish You Were Herehighlights Fuhrman’s skills and shows that she can also carry a small-scale romance film, with a charming but no-nonsense demeanor folks similarly loved with other performers in, say,10 Things I Hate About You. On that note, perhaps that’s another reason director Stiles was drawn to the source material as a big-screen adaptation forWish You Were Here, other than simply reading it back in the day and realizing it could make a gripping film as well (asStiles told us in our last interviewwith her).
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It’s too bad that Kelsey Grammer isn’t utilized a bit more throughout her film, however, but he does get a killer comedic scene in the kitchen. Perhaps Stiles was worried that too much of such hilarity would sway her directorial debut toward a full-on rom-com. Female co-stars Grey and Kono-Abdy maintain the film’s pulse as Charlotte’s mom and sis, respectively, especially when the tragedy-laced romance angle becomes a bit overcooked between the two main characters. Even if that melodrama becomes overkill for some in the third act, there’s no denying the magnetic spark in actor Massoud’s arresting eyes once Adam reconnects with Charlotte, and they continue their unique journey together for as long as they can.
From Lionsgate,Wish You Were Herewill be released in theaters on January 17.
