Lost with You
June 5th, 2026
MOVIE: LOST WITH YOU
STARRING: MADISON SHAMOUN, JAKE SHORT
DIRECTED BY: MIKE SOUTHERLY
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 86 MINUTES
When making a two-hander built almost entirely on dialogue and a long day of conversation, the gold standard remains Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy. All three films, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, follow two people falling in love while discussing the experiences that have shaped their lives. Lost with You, written and directed by Mike Southerly, attempts to bring that concept into the modern era, pairing a conservative and a liberal on a guided hike through the Hollywood Hills, where they discover that their differences may be the very thing drawing them together. Like many films that try to bridge America’s political divide, Lost with You crafts a sweet romance while acknowledging that some problems remain impossible to solve.
The story follows Naomi (Madison Shamoun) and Ethan (Jake Short), who meet in the parking lot before the trail. Naomi is hoping to clear her head before writing an important essay, while Ethan serves as the guide for the day. As luck would have it, they are the only two participants on the hike, allowing their journey to unfold at whatever pace they choose. Their conversation begins with lighthearted introductions. Ethan shares stories about the Hollywood Sign, Rebel Without a Cause, and the Griffith Observatory, while both reveal how different their family lives have been. As the hike continues, the discussion deepens, their connection grows stronger, and it becomes increasingly clear that they see the world in very different ways.
One of the most important elements of a film like this is chemistry between the leads, and Lost with You succeeds in that regard. Shamoun possesses a warmth that shines through Naomi’s frustration with the world, while Short brings the easygoing charm of a classic John Cusack-style romantic lead. Together, they establish a sharp and natural rhythm, moving effortlessly between conversations about Ethan’s adoption and his two fathers, Naomi’s politician father, and the ongoing housing crisis in Los Angeles. As the topics become more personal, so does their connection. Their differences never feel like deal-breakers; instead, they become opportunities for deeper understanding and stronger emotional bonds.
Where Lost with You loses me is in its treatment of the issues it raises. The film introduces many of the same topics families debate around dinner tables every day, yet it seems content to leave them unresolved. No one expects a romantic drama to solve the world’s problems, but the film ultimately becomes an example of just how impenetrable today’s political climate can feel. Southerly appears more interested in presenting the conversations than exploring them in meaningful depth, often ending debates with a clever quip or an interruption from a passing bystander. While that approach keeps the film light on its feet, it also prevents many of its most interesting discussions from reaching satisfying conclusions.
It is also unfair to place the burden of solving these issues entirely on Southerly. Lost with You is, first and foremost, a romance about finding connection despite disagreement. Viewed through that lens, the writing is sharp, occasionally idealized, and perhaps a little too enchanted by its own sunset backdrop. It is probably best not to wonder how Naomi and Ethan will navigate their ideological differences years down the road. What matters is that, for one day, two people met and shared a beautiful hike through the Hollywood Hills. The film may not deliver the conventional Hollywood ending audiences expect, but it offers a romance worth taking the journey for. Lost with You searches for a path forward, and perhaps that search itself is the point.
2 ½ STARS
LOST WITH YOU IS STILL LOOKING FOR A RELEASE DATE.
Written by: Leo Brady
