I Wish You All the Best: Film Review

Dorfman’s I Wish You All the Best is an impressive feature directorial debut that teaches us the value of embracing our true identity.

In the case of I Wish You All the Best, Ben (Corey Fogelmanis, of Ma) is thrown out of their parents’ home after building up the courage to share with them that they’re non-binary. Now homeless and afraid, Ben reaches out to their older, caring sister, Hannah (Alexandra Daddario, of The White Lotus). She welcomes them with open arms and invites Ben to stay with her and her husband, Thomas (Cole Sprouse, of Lisa Frankenstein). From there, Ben embarks on a coming-of-age journey, as they come to realize that everyone deserves to feel accepted and loved. After all, when you surround yourself with like-minded, kind people, you feel the confidence to embrace your identity without fear or judgment.

I Wish You All the Best, which is based on a novel by Mason Deaver of the same name, is an impressive directorial feature debut from Dorfman. It will resonate with non-binary people who have struggled with family rejection, feelings of isolation and confusion, and navigating their understanding of who they are in a world where they haven’t felt seen. At the same time, even those who aren’t non-binary will still relate to the story, as it explores the pain of exclusion and the struggles so many teenagers feel when it comes to acceptance.

After Ben starts living with Hannah and Thomas, Ben leaves behind the anxiety and fear of judgment from their old environment. They then enter a home where their identity is fully embraced, and they are encouraged to be themselves. Dorfman’s film has a lot to say about finding oneself and living your life authentically, even when those surrounding you fail to understand or accept your life choices. The movie emphasizes that other people’s judgments about how you should live are irrelevant. Instead, what truly matters is finding personal fulfillment and being comfortable in your own skin.

I Wish You All the Best is a raw, heartfelt story with a realistic tone that is as authentic as its characters are. The cast does a fantastic job of portraying their roles, and each personality archetype seems like someone you could know in real life. From the caring older sister to the disapproving religious parents, the narrative reflects experiences that many teens face every day as they navigate telling their loved ones who they really are while fearing disapproval. At the beginning of the film, Ben is a sensitive, creative, lost soul. As time goes on, they are finally grounded by caring individuals who give them the confidence to own their identity, and Fogelmanis handles the character with such conviction and care. Daddario and Sprouse are also welcome additions, with Hannah and Ben’s scenes feeling the most tender and sincere.

If I had one criticism, it’s that outside of Ben’s rocky relationship with their parents, everything else that happens in their life feels a bit too perfect. Ben’s love interest is the sweetest, most accepting person you could imagine, and all of the friends they make are the same way. That’s not to say that you can’t meet kind individuals in real life. It’s more the fact that everything else in Ben’s life falls into place too conveniently.

Despite that drawback, overall, the film is a highly enjoyable viewing experience. I Wish You All the Best represents non-binary teens who are struggling with their self-identity while making them feel understood and less alone. This is a movie that makes them feel seen, which I’d say is a pretty important achievement in itself.

I Wish You All the Best will be released in select US theatres on November 7, 2025.