Love and relationships can be quite complicated. Passion and romance can often cloud people’s best judgment and make them blind to the overall impact of their relationships. And it often takes something dramatic happening to help people realize that they are involved in a toxic relationship. Well, writer/director Graham Parkes has taken this idea to a boldly creative level with Wishful Thinking.
Julia and Charlie, played by Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman, are a loving but tempestuous couple desperately working to save their troubled romance. Despite their love, arguments erupt regularly. At the urging of Julia’s best friend, Ella (Amita Rao), the couple attends a couples therapy seminar led by twin “healers,” “The Tillies” (both portrayed by Kate Berlant). Initially, the session appears ineffective, yet escalating fights soon have global catastrophic consequences. Desperate to prevent further tragedies, Julia and Charlie suppress their emotions to avoid fighting.
Filmmaker Graham Parkes makes his feature-film debut with Wishful Thinking, and does so wonderfully. I was impressed by his storytelling skills and the creative ways he examines toxic relationships. The film blends comedy, romance, science fiction, drama, and heartbreak exceptionally well. Anyone who has stubbornly stayed in a troubled relationship knows these emotions all too well. Clearly, Parkes has some experience in this area as well.
I was also genuinely impressed with the performances of both Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman. It is rather easy to label these young actors as “nepo babies” given their pedigrees, but the more I see of both Hawke and Pullman in movies and television, the more I admire their natural talents. The two share outstanding chemistry here, credibly portraying the fiery and passionate Julia and Charlie. Their acting in this movie is a testament to their range. The film also features entertaining and fun turns by Randall Park, Jake Shane, Eric Rahill, Kate Berlant, and Kerri Kenney-Silver.
I was able to enjoy this wonderful film on the opening night of the festival, but unfortunately, anyone who didn’t see it at SXSW will have to wait until February 12, 2027, when it finally gets released in theaters. I will have to be sure to remind my readers to check it out then, because it is definitely a must-see film.