The Wasteland Reviewer

I Wish You All the Best (2025) Written Review

What is still one of the most challenging things for young queer and gender queer individuals? Coming out. Things have gotten much better in so many ways but there are still plenty of dangerous spaces for those who do not conform to “normal” sexual and gender conventions. For younger generations, things are seemingly better and more accepting but when it comes to parents, there is still that unpredictability. I Wish You All the Best tackles the experiences of a young nonbinary individual who is thrown out of their home by their parents and moves in with their estranged sister. This moving coming-of-age tale is all about their journey to find themselves. 

How does writer/director Tommy Dorfman bring this story to life on screen? You can tell this is an indie flick made on an indie budget, but Dorfman (mostly) overcomes that fact. There are warmth and tenderness in the atmosphere that gives the film some depth and emotion. This is a story that needs to be handled with respect and care and Dorfman certainly feels like the right choice based on how I Wish You All the Best turned out. There is a good sense of humor as it captures that teenage high school dramedy feeling. The moments that feel a tad overly produced and melodramatic are unfortunately those involving our protagonist’s parents. Those scenes are so important to establish the weight of the situation, but Dorfman feels like they take a bit of an over-the-top approach to them when the rest of the film feels so grounded. Dorfman creates plenty of space for the emotions of the story at least. I Wish You All the Best might not feel unique in presentation, but it strikes the right combination of humor, emotion, tension, romance, music, and filmmaking to honor this story. 

Speaking of the story, does Dorfman’s script do right by Mason Deaver’s novel and Ben (Corey Fogelmanis)? This film tackles the idea of nonbinary existence and all the stress this can have on a young individual. The film starts with some good visual storytelling and strong editing that leaves space for some mystery while getting across that poor Ben is on their own and needing help. The estranged brother/sister dynamic is certainly one of the film’s strengths as they bond over their lost time and the different challenges they experienced with their parents. Then you must key elements of a coming-of-age story with Ben “finding his people” in his new queer friend group at school. There isn’t anything new or fresh about it but there is an earnest and engaging romance as well with Ben and his new friend Nathan (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). Dorfman does a good job fleshing out the story with some rich minor characters including his art teacher and his no-nonsense boss at the elder camp that Ben works at. The story certainly follows a blueprint exactly, but it is engaging and Dorfman injects enough heart into the film.

Besides Dorfman’s passionate commitment to the material, what is the other standout element of I Wish You All the Best? This cast does plenty of heavy lifting. Subtle and understated to start, we see a great evolution for Ben through the tender and empathetic performance of Fogelmanis. Alexandra Daddario is given a great role as Ben’s sister with the space to show some genuine emotion and connection. Cole Sprouse gets a few fun moments as Daddario’s onscreen husband. Gutierrez-Riley is one of the real standouts with a charismatic and magnetic supporting performance while having great chemistry with Fogelmanis. There are other standouts in the supporting cast but few leave quite the humorous impression that Lena Dunham does as the eccentric art teacher at Ben’s new school. A strong cast helps elevate some of the most underwritten or tropey elements of the film for sure. 

Is I Wish You All the Best a strong entry into the realm of “coming out” and coming-of-age stories? This is a moving, engaging, and affecting story, for sure. Dorfman does a good job of leveraging expected beats combined with passion for the subject to deliver an experience that lasts with you. There are certainly a few standouts in the film from Fogelmanis to Daddario. A little unevenness and familiarity do bring this moving film too far down.