It’s not that Voicemails for Isabelle is bad. If anything, the Netflix rom-com starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson is actually a expertly paced story that has all the girlies on board. There’s the gut-wrenching sister story line, that features Deutch as Jill leaving titular voicemails to her late sister.
Nick Robinson (Maid, Love, Simon) nails yearning as Austin real estate broker Wes. And it has plenty of comedic high notes amidst the prerequisite grief. But while San Francisco gets a fair shake with its depiction of the wharf (no Chonkers in sight though), and fanciful bakeries helmed by mustachioed chefs, Austin natives and visitors alike have a bone to pick with how the capital of the Lone Star State is showcased.
On first watch, the sets have an Austin patina that’s forgivable. The high-rise properties Wes hawks could be anywhere within the downtown area, sure. There’s a packed South Congress-y street during the film’s romantic climax that feels Austin-y enough. But eagle-eyed viewers will noticed a Paramount Theatre that’s too uncanny valley to sit right.
One said viewer, a local filmmaker who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin’s radio, television and film program took to social to sound off on the Cap City mess.
View on Threads
Jason Habel, 51, pointed out glaring flubs including a “The famous “Paramount Theatre” sign on Congress was all off (neon cursive), and then there’s this much talked about skyline view of Austin with duplicate buildings.”…