Miss You, Love You
- James B.
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If there's one movie I'd recommend in 2026 as of May 29th, 2026, it's Miss You, Love You, starring Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells. HBO Films acquired the movie, written and directed by Jim Rash (Dean Craig Pelton in Community) in April 2026 following a secret screening at the 2026 Sundance Festival.
Writer and director, Rash has a storied career: a featured character in That 70's Show, That 90's Show, Friends, Reno 911 and, of course, Community. Unbeknownst to me, he was the co-writer on The Way Way Back, starring Steve Carrol, and co-writer of The Descendants.
But Rash's talent becomes very apparent early in Miss You, Love You. Rash has captured my generation of coming out, and the backlash that comes with it, both hurtful and hopeful. The writing in Miss You, Love You reminds me of Night Mother, a play that involves only two characters in profound and painful discussions about their separate experiences of a connected life, and Steel Magnolias, a movie that makes you laugh while sloppily crying.
Alison Janney plays a recently widowed divorcee with an estranged gay son. Tyler, a very successful author and irresistible, charismatic journalist that we never see (save an occasional photo), sends his assistant (Rannells) to attend to his mother and be of help in her time of mourning after his stepfather's death.
Perhaps it's because of my estranged relationship with my mother, who has never accepted me, her gay son, that this movie was so impactful. Watching Janney present such a powerful persona of a mother who loves her son unconditionally is a stark contrast for me. And Tyler, because of his love for his father, rejecting that love from his mother, such a contradiction to my journey.
Maybe.
But I think it's the honesty and beauty of the script (all dialogue ... mostly, so that it feels like a play more than a movie) with two impressive actors embodying the words that made me ugly cry and laugh out loud.
I'm not sure what the cook used to make the stew, but it was damn good. I highly recommend. Five out of five stars.
Cast
Allison Janney as Diane Patterson
Andrew Rannells as Jamie Simms
Bonnie Hunt as Judith Bibbs
Suzy Nakamura as Kathy
Oscar Nunez as Minister
Lisa Schurga as Nance
Production
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