"You're not going to like the way this story ends," the adolescent lead of Don't Make Me Go narrates at the beginning of the movie. "But I think you're going to like the story." These words could not be more true. The events that unfold over the dramedy's 109-minute runtime are emotional and shocking, and its ending is destined to divide viewers, but there is one thing that is not up for debate and that is the movie's high quality and charm.
Written by Vera Herbert and directed by Hannah Marks, Don't Make Me Go introduces a father-daughter pair, played by John Cho (Cowboy Bebop, Searching) and Mia Isaac (in her feature debut). Intimately, the duo, Max and Wally, show the good, the bad, and the ugly of single fatherhood and being an almost-16-year-old who knows what she wants—and it is not her dad's "play it safe" lifestyle as an insurance salesman. Cho, who plays Max, sees this in his daughter and admires her for it, despite his (totally normal) parental fears that life will not be kind to her. He tells her at the midway point of the movie, "You have a fire inside you, Wally. Life is going to try to pull some moves to put it out."
This movie is not one's typical coming-of-age drama, the issues presented go far beyond mental health, first crushes, sex, and clothing, it is guided by one major, inevitable wet blanket: death. Max is diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and is told that he only has one year left to live, unless he decides to take a risky operation with a meager 20% survival rate. He jumps straight into action and begins counting down his limited days, making it his goal to teach his daughter some valuable life skills and ensure that she will be in good hands after he passes. Under the guise of a road trip from California to New Orleans for his college reunion, he invites Wally to join him, promising to teach her how to drive along the way. What she doesn't know is that he plans on reuniting her with her estranged mother who abandoned the family shortly after she was born.
Simply put, everything about this movie was done right. While there are scenes that will have critics and viewers thinking, "Well, I would have done that differently," Don't Make Me Go has a rock-solid foundation that makes it clear that this was the story the creators wanted to tell. The movie's only offense is that the supporting characters did not do much supporting, screen-time was wasted on Kaya Scodelario (from Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City) as Max's secret lover Annie (who is a commitment-phobe), and Wally's friend and not-official boyfriend— but this was not entirely the fault of the actors as nobody could have foreseen the showstopping chemistry between Cho and Isaac.
Isaac's Wally is filled with love and adventure, and was so carefully curated by the actor and the creators. She is a rebellious high schooler whose actions speak towards her loving upbringing. She sneaks out to go to parties, but is sympathetic when she is caught and validates the concerns of her loved ones. The teen makes fun of her father for his embarrassing dad moves and she gets blind with anger when she sees his faults, but she never misses an opportunity to tell him that she loves him. The character is captivating and unforgettable (which is a tremendous feat given Cho's proven charm and ability to steal scenes) and this can be credited both to Isaac's talent and Herbert's script. Wally is a girl's girl and a breath of fresh of air in the oversaturated coming-of-age genre. The same sentiment goes for the patriarch character. The duality of Max will keep viewers on their toes as they watch him stumble through fatherhood. While from the get-go it seems as though he is managing with ease, as he faces his own mortality, the control slips through his fingers—which is something that Wally has always wanted.
Following Max and Wally on their journey is a treat, and the trip is fun... until it is not. It has brilliantly timed comedic relief, up until the very last moment, despite the high stakes and dread that was introduced within the first few minutes. With a surprising ending and a heaping amount of love, the movie leaves its viewers with one major lesson: Life is not fair, but you still have to live it.
Don't Make Me Go premieres July 15 on Amazon Video. It screens at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival June 15 and June 19. Tickets can be purchased here.