I Wish You All The Best (2025) – Review and Summary
Corey Fogelmanis and Tommy Dorfman combine their talents into I Wish You All The Best, which avoids being sappy and focuses on the honesty of the lead character’s portrayal.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“I Wish You All The Best” Film Details
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 32 Minutes
- Seen Via: Film Festival – NewFest (More Coverage Of The 2025 NewFest Film Festival)
- Released On: In Theaters
- Public Release Date: November 7, 2025
- Director(s): Tommy Dorfman
- Writer(s): Tommy Dorfman
- Based On Work By: Mason Deaver
- Primary Language: English
- Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Young Adult, LGBT+
- Rating: Rated R
- Distributor: Lionsgate
- Official Site Link
Movie Summary
Only recently, Ben, later B, decided to speak to their parents about being non-binary, and with their deeply held religious beliefs, they did the same thing they did to B’s older sister, Hannah, and kicked them out as a means to teach them a lesson. Thankfully, both Hannah and her husband Thomas were able and willing to take B in. Leading to, for most of I Wish You All The Best, B trying to navigate the love that remains, the rejection they experienced, and embracing who they are while surrounded by people who love them for every aspect that defines who B is.
Cast and Characters
B (Corey Fogelmanis)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: B is a young person who is a talented artist, whether drawing or something slightly out of the box, who is also non-binary. They are also quite talented in math.
Hannah (Alexandra Daddario)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Hannah is B’s older sister, who had their own issue with their parents but has now created a new family with Thomas and their son, and they invites B to be part of this new family.
Thomas (Cole Sprouse)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Thomas is Hannah’s husband, a local high school chemistry teacher who, like Hannah, does their best to operate as both an older sibling and a parental figure to B.
Nathan (Miles Gutierrez-Riley)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Nathan is one of B’s first friends, introduced to them by Thomas, who also becomes their boyfriend. In addition, Nathan identifies as bi.
Ms. Lyons (Lena Dunham)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Ms. Lyons is the art teacher, recently divorced, and is one of B’s biggest champions regarding expressing themselves through art – albeit mainly for the art fair.
What To Expect In “I Wish You All The Best” (Rated R) – Content Overview
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Throughout
- Sexual Content:
- Sexual Situations: Implied
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
- Drug Use: Recreational
- Smoking: Yes
Collected Quote(s)
- I got to deal with my pain before I carry yours – B
- We all need to be carried from time to time – Ms. Lyons
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
How It Handles B’s Privilege [86/100]
One of the things we love and appreciate about I Wish You All The Best is that it recognizes, even when in a position like B, where your parents reject you and kick you out, there can still be a certain level of privilege there. Now, it doesn’t go into how B is skinny, and as a non-binary person, can be fluid in ways others may not, but it does present that, because of Hannah, B got to avoid a lot of what others go through in terms of homelessness.
Yet, at the same time, it is recognized that just because B has their basic needs met, even a boyfriend, that doesn’t mean life is good. They are still navigating their own definition and expression of what it means to be non-binary, and there isn’t anyone around who can walk them through that experience. Yes, the film is set in modern times, so they could have went online, but there is only so much parasocial relationships can do when you need a tangible person to speak to.
But, most of all, you watch as B tries to navigate missing who they saw their parents as, the fond memories they share, and how their relationship dramatically changed because of one aspect of them. It leads to this imperfect storm, which reminds you that all that looks good on paper doesn’t reflect the lived experience of someone’s reality.
B and Nathan [84/100]
Nathan, who has his own problems, as most characters do, is such a welcome part of B’s story. While initially put upon by Thomas to show B around their new school, they befriend B and form the type of relationship that makes you swoon. But it is not without its issues. In some ways, B’s misery loves company, and being that Nathan is so positive, his joy is sometimes foreign and too much. You can see B sometimes struggle to exist in Nathan’s world.
It almost acts as a reminder that while external love is nourishing and can be healing for some, if there is still internal turmoil, even the most loving, attractive, understanding, sweet, all the good adjectives, partner, isn’t going to be enough. No, you don’t have to wait or work on being perfect or your best to be in a relationship, or deserving of one, but you at least have to be at that point where you can be vulnerable, open, and willing to let someone see you at your worst without fear of rejection.
Comical Moments [82/100]
Like any good drama, there are moments of levity. Ms. Lyons, for example, reminds you that, for as much as people may hate on Lena Dunham, she can be a funny actress and can be likable. Never mind, then there is Nathan’s antics, Hannah and Thomas trying to navigate being B’s siblings, Thomas as an in-law, while also acting as parents, and even smaller roles get to have moments which allow characters, and their actors, to stand out in surprising ways.
Hannah’s Own Journey [83/100]
While it is recognized B’s journey is the main storyline, you can’t discount them saying that they lived in Hannah’s shadow and her having her own struggle with their parents. One that doesn’t eclipse or compete with B’s, but does inform how they try to be both the big sister they are, and also the parent B needs and Hannah wishes they had.
This adds another layer to B’s journey, for you can see between Nathan, who is bi, and Hannah, who grew up with the same parents, there is this desire to use the similarities to connect with B. Yet, with B’s unique upbringing, you can see how similar is not synonymous with the same and how empathy can only take someone so far.
Overall
Our Rating (83/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)
I Wish You All The Best perfectly navigates the new age, wanting to be honest, but not trying to deliver the trauma porn that long has plagued youth, LGBT+ coming-of-age stories. It’s honest about what non-binary teens, especially those who don’t live in major cities go through, while recognizing even if you don’t live in NYC, Los Angeles, or similar cities, you can find community, support, and a sense of freedom. It’s just, you have to find your people, allow them in, and sometimes get out of your own way to be happy.
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