"This is definitely a coming-of-age movie for Wally. It is about her finding herself," says Don't Make Me Go's Mia Isaac who dominates the screen with John Cho (Cowboy Bebop, Searching). "She is in this weird halfway point between being a kid and being an adult, and she is learning a lot about her father. She is at this point where you find out that your parent is a hero and that they're human, they make mistakes. It is a growing experience."
Not only did the Tribeca world premiere of Don't Make Me Go, mark the 18-year-old actor's festival debut, but it is also her debut feature. While a novice to the Hollywood scene, she has already proven her star power both on the red carpet and in the movie, as we dubbed her character "captivating and unforgettable" in our review. The dramedy, written by Vera Herbert and directed by Hannah Marks, follows a father-daughter pair (played by Cho and Isaac). The father, Max, is diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and has been given one year to live. He jumps right into action, making it his goal to teach his daughter, Wally, the most crucial life skills before he passes. Under the guise of a road trip from California to New Orleans for his college reunion, he recruits Wally to join him, promising her driving lessons along the way. But, what she doesn't know is that he plans on reuniting her with her estranged mother.
In an exclusive interview with Game Rant, Isaac shares that she "channeled her inner teen" to get into character. "I try to be as professional as I can, but Wally is just so much fun. She is rebellious, she is a kid. It was fun to get to be that and care about boys, my clothes, and stuff like that." Her counterpart, Cho, had a tougher time connecting and disconnecting with his character. He says that he "carried" the intensity of the role for a while. He adds, "Thankfully, a lot of what I carried was the tenderness of this relationship between father and daughter. It was not all negative."
The two strike an undeniable chemistry which carries the movie, given its careful depiction of the relationship. Giving insight into the story-building process, director Marks says, "I was really excited about the father-daughter story. There is not a ton out there, especially about single fathers. I thought it was an opportunity to tell something unique, that is also universal. Everyone can relate to a parental relationship." The filmmaker, whose acting credits include The Runaways and Awkward, and who just wrapped directing the movie adaptation of John Green's Turtles All the Way Down, expresses that she felt "so lucky" when the cast came together. "I have been a fan of John [Cho] for so long. He is so talented and a total veteran. He can do comedy, drama, sci-fi; he can sing, dance, and act. I mean, he is incredible. And I am so excited to see Mia as she is so wonderful."
While the movie tackles some heavy moments, it is funny, until it is not. Both lead actors share that they are anticipating the audience's reaction to the nude beach scene. Cho jokes that he is looking forward to "seeing what people think of the dangling wangs," and Isaac is just waiting to see her mom's reaction (given that both of her parents were in attendance at the screening). "I legally could not be around naked people, so they used pasties to cover them up, which wasn't any better. It was just like seeing naked people with tape over the things that mattered," says the young actor. "It was funny and definitely an experience I'll never forget."
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.