In Wishful Thinking, love isn’t just complicated, it’s cosmically unstable.

Charlie (Lewis Pullman), a struggling musician, and Julia (Maya Hawke), an ambitious video game designer, are stuck in that uniquely frustrating relationship purgatory: they can’t make it work, but they can’t seem to walk away either. Enter their woo-woo wildcard friend (Sophie Lachman), who nudges them toward a couples therapy seminar led by the Tillies, TikTok-famous twin gurus played with pitch-perfect chaos by Kate Berlant.

The Tillies preach manifestation, radical empathy, and the idea of “twin flames”. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, “twin flames” are two people sharing the same soul, destined for an intense, almost gravitational connection. For Charlie and Julia, their relationship could literally save the world or destroy it. That sounds extreme, but that’s exactly the story Wishful Thinking tells.

When Charlie and Julia are in sync, life blooms. Careers take off, plants thrive, the world feels oddly cooperative. But when they fracture, reality fractures with them. Objects break. Opportunities collapse. The world itself begins to tilt toward chaos. Their love isn’t just personal anymore, it’s apocalyptic.

A Devastating Exploration Of Love And Loss…

Wishful Thinking is a devastating exploration of love, loss, and the impossible question of what it really means to do right by someone. Yes, it plays with familiar ideas, the notion of loving someone enough to let them go, even when it hurts, but it reframes them through a surreal, sci-fi lens that makes those emotions feel fresh. 

The film lives and dies by its central duo, and thankfully, Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke deliver something incredible. Their chemistry doesn’t just spark, it ricochets. The duo’s balancing act is incredibly effective. Every argument they have cuts deep, while every moment of tenderness feels earned. I found myself rooting for them, even as I realized that the relationship itself was the problem. 

The most devastating realization? It’s not “wrong person, wrong time.” It’s something far more haunting: the right person, wrong lifetime.

In the spirit of my personal favorite rom-com, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Wishful Thinking isn’t interested in giving you the ending you expect. It gives you the one that makes sense, even if it stings. And by the time the story reaches its conclusion, the heartbreak doesn’t feel cruel. It feels necessary.

This film is in my top 5 from SXSW because Wishful Thinking is the kind of film that lingers. It’s the kind of storytelling that makes you want to recommend it to your friends, giving you an excuse to watch it again.

For more Reviews, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.

Keep Reading:

Edie Arnold Is a Loser Review: Punk Rebellion Powers a Charming Coming-of-Age Story