Fridae

Do you like your romantic comedies bittersweet? Well, then you would love Imagine Me and You, which is possibly one of the more sugar-coated romantic comedies that has been released for a very long time. But wait, there's more - the film features a bisexual/lesbian relationship as its central focus, a departure from the usual male-female dynamics that can be found in 99% of all movies in this genre. Add to that a very eye-pleasing cast and relatively decent performances from the entire ensemble cast, and what you have is a sure-fire winner, especially for the GLBT crowd.

Rachel (Piper Perabo) is the lucky girl who has it all in life - she's a beautiful, witty woman, and deeply in love with her best friend, the rich and handsome Hector (Matthew Goode). The two are finally tying the knot after years of courtship, but something goes awry during the wedding ceremony. Rachel locks eyes with Luce (Lena Headey), the florist who handled the floral arrangements, and finds herself instantly falling in love with the attractive woman, who happens to be lesbian.

Rachel is disconcerted, but carries on with the wedding nonetheless. However, she can't seem to stop thinking about Luce, and it's driving her to distraction, so much so that even Hector begins to notice something wrong. It turns out that Luce is also keeping Rachel in her thoughts, and both parties try desperately to ignore the obvious attraction between them. Their paths cross time and again, and soon the two women can no longer deny what they feel. However, Rachel feels guilty that she is thinking of leaving Hector, and Luce feels guilty for having driven a wedge between the newlyweds. Will true love prevail in the end?

Although the lesbian angle is rather fresh, the rest of the movie is actually pretty formulaic - it doesn't take much for one to guess the eventual outcome. However, first-time writer and director Ol Parker has managed to write some very witty lines that are capably delivered by the cast, in particular Matthew Goode, who gets the most memorable dialogue in the movie.

The film is also filled with some wonderfully tender moments that make this better than the average romantic comedy, one of the best which comes late in the movie, where Rachel's younger sister H (Boo Jackson) provides a little act of kindness to a devastated person in need of solace.

None of the leads - except for Perabo who played a lesbian teenager in the lesbian must-see movie Lost and Delirious - are well-known actors, but they manage to do a rather capable job even in the tougher emotional scenes. It also helps that they are all very pretty to look at - Lena Headey in particular bears an uncanny resemblance to Keira Knightley, and Matthew Goode offers up the male eye candy in the film. They are bolstered by a more experienced supporting cast, who all manage to craft out interesting characters despite having limited screen time. The most interesting subplot belongs to Rachel's parents, who can't seem to stand each other, but for some reason are still together after so many years.

Are there flaws in Imagine Me and You? Sure there are. The repercussions of Rachel and Luce's actions aren't given much attention at all and everything that happens to them is peachy keen and sweet. But by the same token, audiences are spared excruciating "I should kill myself because I'm gay?" and melodramatic coming out to unaccepting family scenes.

Watching Imagine Me and You is like indulging in pink cotton candy - sweet, fluffy and gives you a buzz.


Double-bill Charity Premiere presented by Fridae
Imagine Me and You Singapore Premiere
Date: 12 September 2006 (Tuesday)
Time: 9.15 pm
Venue: Shaw Lido 3
Price: USD$20 (approx. S$30)
Book online

My Summer of Love Singapore Premiere
Date: 16 October 2006 (Monday)
Time: 9 pm
Venue: to be announced soon
Price: USD$20 (approx. S$30)
Book online


Tickets are also available at the W@Nation Launch party at Club 95 (95 Club St) on Saturday, Sept 9 from 8pm till late. For information and ticket reservations, call Rodin or Tiffany at 62762132 from 10am-7pm. If you are unable to attend the premieres but wish to make cash donations to AWARE and the CWS, you may do so through the Fridae Shop.

Related article:
Double-bill charity premiere 'Imagine Me & You' and 'A Summer of Love'