ZOEY DEUTCH EXPLAINS WHY VOICEMAILS FOR ISABELLE BROUGHT HER BACK TO THE ROM-COM GENRE AFTER YEARS AWAY

For many romantic-comedy fans, Zoey Deutch’s performance in the 2018 hit Set It Up remains one of the most memorable entries in the genre in recent years. Starring opposite Glen Powell, Deutch helped deliver a modern romantic comedy that earned widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. Despite the film’s success, however, the actress spent the years that followed largely avoiding similar projects.

Now, Deutch is making a return to romantic comedy with Netflix’s Voicemails for Isabelle, but according to the actress, this latest role felt very different from the traditional rom-coms she had intentionally stepped away from.

In a recent interview, Deutch opened up about her complicated relationship with the genre and explained why this particular project convinced her to come back after years of hesitation.

The actress admitted that she has generally been cautious about accepting romantic-comedy roles since Set It Up. While she appreciates the genre and understands its popularity, she revealed that she has often been reluctant to pursue projects that fit neatly into the traditional rom-com formula.

What ultimately attracted her to Voicemails for Isabelle was the story’s emotional depth.

Rather than focusing solely on romance, the film explores themes of grief, family, healing, and the enduring impact of love after loss. For Deutch, those elements elevated the project beyond the expectations typically associated with romantic comedies.

She explained that the script resonated with her because it addressed universal experiences such as mourning a loved one, maintaining emotional connections after loss, and finding ways to move forward while preserving cherished memories.

Although the movie includes a romantic storyline, Deutch saw it as something far more emotionally layered than a conventional love story.

The actress acknowledged that she initially approached the opportunity with some reluctance. Having already experienced success in the genre, she did not want to repeat herself or take on a project that felt predictable.

However, after reading the script, she felt a strong connection to the story and ultimately became deeply passionate about the film.

Looking back now, Deutch says she is grateful that she chose to participate and feels immense pride in the finished product.

Her co-star Nick Robinson, who plays Wes in the film, was quick to express his appreciation for her decision. According to Robinson, the movie greatly benefited from Deutch’s involvement, and he suggested that audiences were fortunate she agreed to take on the role.

At the center of Voicemails for Isabelle is Jill, a young aspiring baker portrayed by Deutch. Struggling with the loss of her sister Isabelle, Jill continues leaving voice messages on her late sibling’s old phone number as a way of coping with her grief and maintaining a sense of connection.

Unbeknownst to her, the phone number has been reassigned to a man named Wes, played by Robinson. Over time, Wes becomes intrigued by the heartfelt messages appearing on his phone and develops an emotional attachment to the mysterious stranger behind them.

The unusual premise creates the foundation for a romantic relationship while simultaneously exploring themes of loss and remembrance.

For Deutch, however, the strongest aspect of the story was not the romance.

Instead, she was most moved by the depiction of the relationship between the two sisters.

The actress revealed that the sisterly bond at the heart of the narrative immediately captured her attention when she first encountered the script several years ago. She described the emotional connection between Jill and Isabelle as one of the film’s most powerful elements.

The story’s exploration of sisterhood resonated particularly strongly because of Deutch’s own close relationship with her sister.

She has frequently spoken about the importance of family in her life, and in discussing Voicemails for Isabelle, she referred to her sister as one of the most significant people in her world.

Because of that personal connection, the film’s emotional themes struck a deeply meaningful chord.

Deutch explained that she was drawn to the script’s ability to balance humor, romance, and heartbreak. While the movie contains many lighthearted and entertaining moments, it also addresses profound emotional experiences in a sincere and authentic way.

She appreciated how the story managed to be both uplifting and devastating, often within the same scene.

That balance distinguished the project from many other romantic comedies she had encountered.

The comparison inevitably leads back to Set It Up, the Netflix film that helped establish Deutch as one of the genre’s most promising stars.

Released in 2018, the movie followed Harper, played by Deutch, an overworked assistant struggling under the demands of her powerful boss. After meeting Charlie, another exhausted assistant played by Glen Powell, the two hatch a plan to set up their bosses in hopes of improving their own lives.

As their scheme unfolds, Harper and Charlie gradually develop feelings for one another, creating a classic romantic-comedy storyline filled with humor and chemistry.

The film quickly became a major success for Netflix and received widespread praise for its fresh take on familiar rom-com conventions.

Both Deutch and Powell earned acclaim for their performances, and many viewers hoped to see Deutch continue working within the genre.

Instead, she spent much of the following decade exploring a wide variety of other projects.

Reflecting on the years since Set It Up, Deutch emphasized how much she has changed both personally and professionally.

At the time of that film’s release, she was in her early twenties and still navigating the early stages of her career. Now in her thirties, she says she feels like a very different person.

The actress described herself as being more grounded, self-aware, and aligned with her goals than she was during that earlier period.

She also feels that she has entered what she considers a new chapter in her professional life.

Rather than simply continuing along the same trajectory, Deutch views her current career phase as a fresh beginning characterized by increased confidence and creative excitement.

One of the most significant changes she identified involves her relationship with anxiety.

For much of her life, Deutch says she viewed herself as an extremely anxious person. Feelings of worry and uncertainty often shaped both her personal experiences and professional decisions.

Today, however, she feels considerably calmer and more secure.

While she does not suggest that anxiety has disappeared entirely, she explained that she now experiences a greater sense of stability and confidence than she once did.

That shift has allowed her to approach projects with renewed enthusiasm and a stronger sense of purpose.

The actress described feeling inspired by the opportunities currently available to her and excited about where her career is heading.

Her return to romantic comedy through Voicemails for Isabelle reflects that renewed confidence.

Rather than avoiding the genre altogether, she found a project that aligned with her evolving interests as an artist and storyteller.

The timing of the film’s release coincides with an especially busy period in Deutch’s career.

In addition to starring in Voicemails for Isabelle, she is involved in several other high-profile projects that showcase the breadth of her talents.

Among them is Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, another feature that highlights her versatility as a performer. She is also lending her voice to the upcoming animated project Minions & Monsters, further expanding her range across different genres and mediums.

Taken together, these projects illustrate the diversity of opportunities Deutch is pursuing during this new phase of her career.

While Voicemails for Isabelle marks her return to a genre that helped establish her popularity, it also demonstrates how selective she has become when choosing roles.

For Deutch, the film represents more than a simple romantic comedy. It is a story about family, memory, grief, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection.

Those deeper themes ultimately convinced her that returning to the genre was worthwhile.

And judging by both her enthusiasm for the project and the positive response from audiences, it appears that the decision has proven to be the right one.

After years away from romantic comedies, Deutch has found a story that not only brought her back but also reminded viewers why she became one of the genre’s most beloved stars in the first place.