'I Wish You All the Best' Review: The Coming-of-Age Tale Every Non-Binary Teen Deserves
Coming out to your family sucks. Unless they're as progressive as *insert leftist joke here,* it's an uphill battle to tell your folks you're under the rainbow spectrum. As a city kid who came out during their 20s, I always tip my hat to anyone who dared to do so during their teens, especially in the South in front of your conservative ass family. That’s the case for non-binary teen Ben DeBacker in actress/writer/director Tommy Dorfman's sweet-natured, coming-of-age young adult drama, I Wish You All the Best. Based on Mason Deaver's novel of the same name, Dorfman tackles the longing for acceptance that every queer teen wishes for and gives them a semblance of hope through a charming adaptation about family and love. In hindsight, I recognize why many Floridians I know moved to New York.
Courtesy: Ace Entertainment
NR
Runtime: 1 Hr and 36 Minutes
Production Companies: Ace Entertainment, TeaShop Films
Distributor: Lionsgate
Director: Tommy Dorfman
Writer: Tommy Dorfman
Cast: Corey Fogelmanis, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Alexandra Daddario, Cole Sprouse, Lena Dunham, Amy Landecker, Lexi Underwood, Lisa Yamada, Judson Mills, Brian Michael Smith
Release Date: N/A
SXSW 2024 Coverage
After coming out as non-binary to their parents (Amy Landecker and Judson Mills), 16-year-old Ben DeBacker (Corey Fogelmanis) is thrown out of their house and calls their estranged older sister, Hannah (Alexandra Daddario) for help. They move in with her, her high school English teacher husband Thomas (Cole Sprouse), and their newborn baby in Raleigh, North Carolina, and start life anew. Still grappling with their identity, fear of rejection, and teenage anxiety, Ben's struggle to find solace halts when they meet their eccentric art teacher, Ms. Lyons (Lena Dunham), who acts as their confidant, and Nathan (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), a sweet and endearing cool kid who takes them under his wing along with Sophie (Lisa Yamada) and Meleika (Lexi Underwood). With their new support system and family, Ben tries to find happiness as their true, authentic self.
Thank God we've been ushered out of the sick-kid trauma drama YA era that had a chokehold on Hollywood during the 2010s to get essential stories like I Wish You All the Best. Unlike something such as Love, Simon, where its plot hinged on a kid's coming out experience under the most heteronormative studio confines, Dorfman approaches Deaver's text with a tender yet honest ambiance. She's holding every baby queer's hand and softly speaking, "Don't worry, everything is going to be alright, baby gay. I got you." For her debut, Dorfman makes sure Ben's experience dodges every trapping that'll trigger her audience, and she balances that with heartfelt solemnity. In its opening, Dorfman illustrates the effect of the argument between Ben and their folks after coming out, but not the argument itself.
Dorfman must've been on TikTok for hours because her character writing amongst her young Gen-Z ensemble nails today's progressive culture. There is no social hierarchy in the high schools of today, for the queers are the cool kids, and they discuss their favorite artists like King Princess. Since Dorfman is an icon amongst those stars, she adds authenticity by incorporating their music into the background. In a snap, Ben finds their people in Nathan, Mel, and Sophie. It's as if Dorfman saw the friend group in Love, Simon, acknowledged them as the shitheads they were and formulated a better group of pals who allow Ben to flourish in their newfound identity. Their primary source of love is Nathan, who has an adorable friend-to-lover buildup while allowing Ben to figure out their identity. I still think about him saying, "So is it giving they/them?" It's one of the purest lines that connects them.
I'm glad that I Wish You All the Best addresses the other side of Gen-Z culture where kids lash out at older people trying to learn a concept they're familiar with. There's a scene where Ben feels personally attacked by Thomas trying to approach a gender subject and says something so mean. It's so Gen-Z, but my Black side said, "Uh-oh, kiddo, you better check yourself."
But since it’s a coming-of-age high school flick, the lead will find solace in an art teacher they befriend. It's wild that, in this case, it's Ms. Lyons, played by Lena Dunham (whom I did get a jump scare by). Surprisingly, Dunham's eccentric personality perfectly aligns with the art teacher archetype, and she's so good at helping Ben blossom into their identity and, eventually, find their voice.
The growing bond between siblings Ben and Hannah is the strongest emotional crux within the story. Both scorned by their shitty parents and finding fresh new chapters in their respective lives, they become a family again, repairing – if not tightening – their loose relationship. Daddario is the best she's been, evoking that distant family member we all have. Daddario and Fogelmanis share solid familial chemistry; sometimes, their naturalistic bond lends to some stellar scenes. I also adored the maturity Cole Sprouse brought to Thomas, this corny, comedic yet sweet brother-dad to Ben, who also tries them as their teacher and guardian while getting to know them.
I Wish You All the Best is Corey Fogelmanis' one-person show. They display an array of power, slowly progressing to lower their anxiety-fueled barrier, among other things. As time progresses and Ben adjusts to their surroundings, the more lived-in and confident they become with themselves. Fogelmanis perfectly mirrors that.
For a short YA tale, the film's sweet, breezy flow is far too sugary to translate its structure. As the story reaches its second half, Dorfman unleashes a continuous string of saccharine cues that become overwhelming and overstuffed (even though I cried). Still, it doesn't negate the good this film will do for queer youths today.
Endearing, heartbreaking, and full of resounding hope, I Wish You All the Best is a sweet LGBTQ+ coming-of-age tale that will surely help many kids these days – especially those in the closet and without much foundation – feel seen.
Rating: 3.5/5 | 75%
