REVIEW: ‘SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come’ Explores The Complexities of Life

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come, directed by Chloe Lenihan and written by Joseph Mancuso and Chloe Lenihan, follows Birdie (Elizabeth Masucci) and Ben (Joseph Mancuso), a 40+ couple, as they struggle with their inability to have a child. In an attempt to clear their heads and prepare for the next step in their life together, the duo heads out to a cabin where a chance encounter forces them to confront far more than they expected. 

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come opens with its starring couple forced to face a harsh reality. Having their latest attempt to have a child derailed, the pair struggles with decades of emotional turmoil. At the suggestion of Ben’s dad, they retreat for a week to an Airbnb by a lake where perhaps they can get a clearer look at both themselves and the road ahead. 

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come establishes its characters relationships fast and effectively.

Throughout the opening stretch of the film, the narrative effectively establishes the couple’s dynamic. How Ben and Birdie interact shows that they have known each other for decades and care deeply for each other, despite the rough moments that often come when they are in the same room.

As is often the case, the veritable log jam of emotions gets set to break in the most unexpected way. When the pair run into January (Krystina Alabado, Pantheon) and Jerek (Ethan Jones Romero, Lioness), a Gen Z couple who are influencers, they end up coming over to have a night of drinking, laughs, games, and emotional revelations. 

Alabado and Romero go all in on delivering the social media influencer vibe. Phones are nearly always on, filters running as they talk to their audience, and projecting an amount of personality most would only be capable of producing while under some very potent stimulants. When the duo first appeared, I groaned. They instantly felt like a level of obnoxious I was not ready to weather. I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

The influencers in SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come will surprise you with their depth.

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come does an incredible job fleshing out the young pair as they interact with Birdie and Ben. Despite their incessant need to be doing things “for the brand,” the pair is just as authentic as the elder couple. They have their ambitions, but they are also aware of their world and each other. As the guys and girls end up split up at one point, the new pairs do some significant digging into what has been going on with each other. 

The group’s back-and-forth over the course of the focused night explores a lot of topics, and allows everyone to make their own points. From generational friction to reconciling with loss and regret, there is a lot of emotional content explored in fair and non-judgmental ways. Until the dam breaks, and things hit their low.

While all the exploration and depth of character SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come digs into feels nuanced and meaningful; sadly, the ending does not feel so intricate. It’s not terrible, but it feels far too cookie-cutter of a final sequence for what comes before it. The film’s honesty feels slightly undercut by the formulaic ending. 

Side concepts are effortlessly woven together throughout the movie.

The movie effortlessly weaves side concepts within its scenes, allowing it to touch on a lot of issues and augment its look at the complexities of life. Its exhaustive look at its characters is only undercut by its somewhat disappointing ending that feels far too clean a wrap-up for what precedes it. 

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come delivers a nuanced exploration of lifelong love and the struggles that can come from maintaining it. It showcases how a fresh perspective can bring so much into focus and help show us what we really want from our lives.

SMILE… The Worst Is Yet To Come will screen on September 9 at the Laemmle Noho as part of the Studio City Film Festival and is currently targeting a full release in 2027.