I Wish You All the Best

by Mike McGranaghan

I Wish You All the Best is made with the very best of intentions and all the depth of a greeting card. We need movies that are willing to tackle the subject matter of gender identity, which is why it’s a shame this one isn’t a little deeper. Then again, audiences need an entryway into sensitive topics, especially where gender is involved. Hilary Swank and Jared Leto had to play transgender characters in Boys Don’t Cry and Dallas Buyers Club before actual transgender actors Karla Sofía Garcón and Trace Lysette could make Emilia Pérez and Monica. If nothing else, hopefully Tommy Dorfman’s film will pave the way for more nuanced pictures down the road.

Ben DeBacker (Corey Fogelmanis) is a non-binary teen who comes out to their ultra-religious parents (Amy Landecker and Judson Mills). To say they respond negatively would be an understatement. Ben ends up fleeing to the home of his older sister Hannah (Alexandra Daddario) and husband Thomas (Cole Sprouse). It’s a supportive environment, leading Ben to feel comfortable exploring the range of their gender. A high school art teacher (Lena Dunham, seemingly believing she’s in a wacky comedy rather than a teen drama) aids in this process. Ben eventually integrates into a group of accepting peers but struggles to cope with their parents’ disapproval.

Non-binary adolescents will certainly identify with a lot of what’s in I Wish You All the Best. The movie offers important representation of the type we haven’t seen a lot of to this point. It’s easy to imagine a teenager watching the film and feeling like they’re finally seeing themselves up on the screen. That’s a powerful thing that should not be undervalued. Credit is richly deserved for addressing the topic cinematically.

Having said that, the story plays out in a thin manner that doesn’t offer much new insight. For example, Mr. and Mrs. DeBacker are portrayed as one-note religious bigots. Why not give them some dimension and delve realistically into why they have trouble evolving their perception of Ben? As the story progresses, Ben starts adopting a more feminine appearance, yet we never really grasp how they’re making choices or how those choices are enriching them. It doesn’t help that Fogelmanis gives a performance that’s more mannered than layered. I Wish You All the Best presents problems on a superficial level, then provides relatively easy answers.

Daddario and Sprouse are effective in their roles, and I applaud the film for approaching gender identity with compassion. The fact remains, though, that this is an overly simplified treatment of a complex subject. The movie that ultimately makes a big difference will be the one that probes further and has a bolder perspective.

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