It’s hard to imagine a more suitable person than trans lesbian Tommy Dorfman to direct and write the movie adaptation of “I Wish You All The Best” (Lionsgate), based on the Y/A novel by non-binary writer Mason Deaver. Dorfman brings all the necessary sensitivity and perception to the project.
Ben (queer actor Corey Fogelmanis) is a high school junior living with his religiously conservative mother (Amy Landecker) and father (Judson Mills) in Raleigh, North Carolina. When he comes out to them as non-binary, they throw him out of the house.
Initially wandering the winter street in nothing but a hoodie and without shoes, Ben calls his older sister Hannah (Alexandra Daddario), whom he hasn’t seen in 10 years, and she comes to his rescue. Like Ben, she was thrown out of the house for having an abortion after getting pregnant as a teenager. As an example of the parents’ fanaticism, they told Ben that Hannah was exiled for being a drug addict, not because she wanted to terminate a pregnancy.
Ben learns this after moving in with Hannah, her high school teacher husband Thomas (Cole Sprouse), and their baby son Cyrus. Thomas enrolls Ben as a transfer student at the school where he teaches. He also introduces Ben to Nathan (out actor Miles Gutierrez-Riley), an openly queer senior at the school. Through Nathan, Ben makes new friends, including Sophie (Lisa Yamada). He also meets art teacher Miss Lyons (Lena Dunham in a role she was born to play), who will come to be a mentor to him.
Hannah arranges a job interview for Ben with her gay friend Chris (Brian Michael Smith) at Perennial Day, a day camp for senior citizens diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory function disorders. Suddenly, Ben’s life is full of positive influences, and he begins to put what happened with his parents behind him. That is, until they show up at Hannah and Thomas’ where Hannah makes it clear they are unwelcome. Further complicating things is a voicemail message from his mother on his birthday, leading to a confrontational meeting at a diner, which doesn’t go well. Fortunately, Nathan and Sophie tagged along just in case something like that happened.
Despite some of the darkness, including a bout with severe depression, there is light in Ben’s life. He comes out to Nathan as NB. Ben and Nathan begin a romantic relationship. Hannah and Thomas file for permanent guardianship of Ben. At the school art fair, Ben’s artwork, including a portrait of Nathan, is well received. As Ben begins to embrace his true self, he changes his name to B and begins dressing in clothes that fit how he sees himself, including tights and a skirt at the roller rink, and a long flowing shirt (with Chuck Taylors) as he dances down the street over the closing credits.
Propelled by strong performances, including Fogelmanis’ authentic embodiment of the lead character, “I Wish You All The Best” is a welcome addition to the canon of LGBTQ+ cinema.
Rating: B+
