Despite not being familiar with the source material, I wasn’t surprised to learn that I Wish You All the Best is based on a young adult queer novel. It’s a story that exists somewhere between the harsh realities of coming out of the closet and the comforting desires of how it can all resolve amicably. Teetering between being a heartfelt coming-of-age story and a fantastical melodrama, the heart of this film ultimately outweighs the darker perceptions of how non-binary teens will proceed, making for a reality one wishes were more present.

The desire for a better world is certainly desired from the bitter opening of the non-binary Ben (Corey Fogelmanis) coming out to their parents and being kicked out of the house. With nowhere to turn, they calls their older sister, Hannah (Alexandra Daddario). Having also been abandoned by her folks, Hannah understands some of what her brother is going through, at least more than her husband, Thomas (Cole Sprouse), who struggled to use the right words. Those awkward conversations are worth the new home as Ben’s new school leads to a charming love interest with the chipper, Nathan (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). Their chemistry feels genuine and tender as they progress from cute tutoring sessions to sexy makeout sessions.

While the dynamic between Ben and Nathan is a powerful force, the adults around Ben are almost too gentle. There’s an empathic level of comfort from Ben’s art teacher played by Lena Dunham approached with just the right amount of playfulness and honesty. But Hannah and Thomas seem to almost be walking on eggshells when trying to be blunter about how tough it is to house Ben with a younger child in the house. While Ben’s parents, played by Amy Landecker and Judson Mills, are pretty terrible for how they kick out their son and later try to sell them on a conversion camp, they also relent pretty easily in turning over Ben to Hannah’s care on a level that seems quietly amicable.

With this framing, there’s a tearfully happy ending to Ben’s story. I loved watching them fall in love and be more open with their identity around the most understanding of adults, but mostly because of the sad start for Ben’s coming out. There’s a darkness lingering in the distance of many teens who do not have a Hannah to retreats or an art teacher to speak with about their feelings. Many teens end up on the streets and struggling to survive. Thus, the film almost feels like a test to see how willing you are to embrace the tender comfort over the harsh reality. Walking that fence, I narrowly fell on the side of falling for the happy ending, if only because it’s a favorable route. While not all stories of teen abandoment for their queerness have sweet resolves, this film at least will give the uncertain kids a road map of where to go when everybody seems to be against you. There are Hannahs and Toms out there and it’s good to seek out somebody who will take you in from the cold when everything goes awry.

There’s a gentle joy to how effective I Wish You All The Best weaves its tale of a non-binary romance. While I’ve never read the book, I can certainly see the appeal of the drama explored and how important it can be for queer teens to see themselves in a story grounded enough to be vital. I can also easily recommend a movie like this for any teen still grappling with who they are and who will support them when they figure that part out. While the adults might feel like figures still struggling to understand the nature of queer kids, the dialogue between the teen characters has a charming and relatable tone. It’s why I’d recommend the film for the parents who still don’t understand the LGBTQ+ progression, but are willing to learn more. They may not grasp all the pronouns, but they should remember what it’s like to be young, curious, angry, and horny. Ben has all those familiar traits and any decent parent would want to see him find that happiness we all want out of those formative years.

Not available on any streaming platforms.

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