What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Review of Imagine Me & You (official site here - worth visiting btw, because it lists in ASH's credits some roles I've never heard of but am now curious about!)
Anyone who's seen the trailer or read the adverts will know this much so I'm not going to cut it:
The movie is about a girl named Rachel ("Rach") marrying a guy named Hector ("Heck"). At her wedding she meets the florist, another woman named Lucy ("Luce"), and they strike it off. At first she tries to set him up with Cooper ("Coop"), but as it turns out Luce is gay. She and Rach really strike it off, leaving Rach in a dilemma over what to do when she feels she has to choose between her new love and Heck.
And how does Tony fit in? Anthony Head plays the father of Rach, a man named Ned. As far as I know, Ned is not a cute nickname for anything, although if it was, I wouldn't be surprised ;^)
Although, in my opinion, the cutest of the cute nicknames in the movie was the little girl named "H". She says something like, "Everyone assumes that's because my real name starts with an H, but it doesn't. It stands for Jesus H. Christ, which is what my mom said when she found out she was pregnant with me." *hee*
Anyway:
As for Tony, *sigh* Well...actually, I kinda wish he wasn't in this movie. I just don't like the role for him. He spends most of it making these weird and ugly facial expressions and looking confused. I think he's just trying to play the role of the embarrassing father that you wish wouldn't ever come to social functions, but I have never found him less attractive than in this movie. Most of the time he's just being oblivious (like telling his daughter to blow out the candles on her birthday cake while her husband is trying to walk out on her) or being in the way and being ignored (he tries to give a speech at his daughter's wedding, but the microphone keeps sliding down and they take it away from him). Plus he has a weird accent going on.
The only really good speech he gets to give is toward the end when Rachel tells her parents she loves another woman. It's a really good speech and well delivered, but it's how he knew his wife always thought he wasn't quite good enough for her and how he agreed and how if she had ever found anyone better that she really loved, he'd let her go in a moment. *whimper*
ALTHOUGH!!!! When the movie becomes available *cough* on you computers, there is a scene I SO want someone to icon. Remember that Angel episode where there's embarrasingly bad Angel dancing and Wesley dancing? Well there's a fantastic scene of Tony dancing that looks like he's just flapping his arms. It's pretty cute and would make a fantastic icon. Actually if someone could manage an icon that had clips of that dance plus the Angel dance plus the Wesley dance with a caption along the lines of "My fandom dances" it would be supercute and I'd love you forever ;^)
So the movie itself...well, my first beef is with the poster. *points*
From this poster, you would assume there were two couples, right? No. The girl in the wedding dress (Rachel) is with her husband, Heck, but the other pair is Luce and Coop. Coop tries to hit it off with Luce, but she's always quite clear on the fact that she's gay and hasn't the slightest bit of interest. I do like that they have the lily though. As she says in the movie, a lily says "I dare you to love me."
But the movie itself was okay. It was cute in someways, though a little more serious than I would normally make a romantic comedy which is what they classify this as. Not fluffy and there were a few laughs, but most of them weren't big ones.
My main problem was with character motivation. Half the time I had trouble finding it believable because the movie just didn't give me any reason WHY the characters would act the way they were acting.
It was okay though. I found myself enjoying it mostly and there were some decently cute scenes, like in the grocery store when Heck and Rach were shopping and keep running into Luce and her female friend in what almost turns into a game of "who's stalking who" complete with "what's your sexual orientation" banter. And the scene where Luce and Rachel first meet each other after Rach has dropped her wedding ring in the punch is just adorable. Plus they had some fun with the scenes with customers in Luce's flower shop. The guy picking out the phallic cactus (seriously, you should see the thing) to make up with his girlfriend was a hoot!
I sure did feel sorry for Heck though. It's hard to know there's something wrong in your relationship and not know how to fix it. Even harder to know the person you love is in love with someone else, no matter who it is. I admire him for the choice he made, but still...poor man. Thank god after the credits (this movie is FULL of credit cookies, btw, so stay in your seat) it looks like he's going to get back on his feet.
Maybe worth a watch if you think you're interested. It is a decent movie at least, and does kinda deal well with the subject matter of what do you do if you find your true love not only on your wedding day but also with someone of the same gender. Poor Heck. He and Luce were both pretty good characters, really. Though again, I just don't think they developed Rachel's reasons for anything as well as they could have.
Randomly: best line for flirting with the guy you just met and found out was writing a book? "You're writing a book? That's so perfect! I can read!" *snort*
Oh, and, as another side note, I think the leather sofa is ugly.
Also, why on earth is this movie rated "R"? *is confused* Why would this movie even earn a PG-13? Is there a sex scene I don't remember? Any violence at all? Or a word or phrase more profane than "You're a wanker, number nine?" 'Cause I don't remember a single thing warranting that sort of rating. Must be because it's an indie film about lesbians. *nods* Yeah...that's all I can think of.
Speaking of, that's one thing I found interesting. When I went to Brokeback Mountain, I kinda expected to see some pairs of men, you know? But I think I only saw maybe one. The rest were women or women with their boyfriends. This movie was different. I was the only one sitting by myself. Then there was a man and woman. And then there were about six other couples. All women. I'm thinking at least some of those weren't "just friends." ;^)
Speaking of Brokeback Mountain...This movie shows the flip-side of Brokeback Mountain in a lot of ways. Both involve people in marriages who find themselves in love with people of their own gender. Of course this movie is more modern and doesn't have to deal with all the stigma issues. Although you feel sorry as...well, heck, for Heck, it's just not as deep and serious.
The reviews I see online for this though are positively raving. In the same ways the reviews for Brokeback Mountain were, really.
But you know my dirty little secret? I liked Brokeback Mountain; I enjoyed it and the thought the end was sad and touching, but...well, I didn't exactly think it was the best movie of the year, or even close. I know, I know...a lot of you on my flist went to see it multiple times and have icons of it and such, but I just thought it was okay. I'm glad I went and all, but I mean honestly, if the characters had been het I probably would have been pretty bored. In fact, in places I was pretty bored. I read better fanfic all the time that not only has better sex but has more emotional depth and a better story as well.
This movie too, is just okay. In fact, in this movie, I don't even find the relationship as believable as in BBM, but maybe that's just me.
Still, I think the reason people are heralding these movies is because they feature gay relationships and more or less champion them without making them completely ridiculous. In a way, they're revolutionary. But look back at most of the revolutionary movies of the past and today they don't seem like much either.
There are other gay movies out there that manage to do this...most of them are just made and released so quietly we never hear about them and never see them. BBM got enough press that it's going mainstream, but it was indie and this one is pretty indie and limited too. I think what's really happening is we just don't have enough movies portraying and concentrating on realistic (and non-flamboyant, stereotyped, or side-showish) homosexual relationships and the issues associated with that to choose from. So we settle. And that's just sad.
Still, the more they make and the more they get accepted the more there will be in the future. So...
*sits back and waits to be pelted with stones for saying that about BBM*
Anyone who's seen the trailer or read the adverts will know this much so I'm not going to cut it:
The movie is about a girl named Rachel ("Rach") marrying a guy named Hector ("Heck"). At her wedding she meets the florist, another woman named Lucy ("Luce"), and they strike it off. At first she tries to set him up with Cooper ("Coop"), but as it turns out Luce is gay. She and Rach really strike it off, leaving Rach in a dilemma over what to do when she feels she has to choose between her new love and Heck.
And how does Tony fit in? Anthony Head plays the father of Rach, a man named Ned. As far as I know, Ned is not a cute nickname for anything, although if it was, I wouldn't be surprised ;^)
Although, in my opinion, the cutest of the cute nicknames in the movie was the little girl named "H". She says something like, "Everyone assumes that's because my real name starts with an H, but it doesn't. It stands for Jesus H. Christ, which is what my mom said when she found out she was pregnant with me." *hee*
Anyway:
As for Tony, *sigh* Well...actually, I kinda wish he wasn't in this movie. I just don't like the role for him. He spends most of it making these weird and ugly facial expressions and looking confused. I think he's just trying to play the role of the embarrassing father that you wish wouldn't ever come to social functions, but I have never found him less attractive than in this movie. Most of the time he's just being oblivious (like telling his daughter to blow out the candles on her birthday cake while her husband is trying to walk out on her) or being in the way and being ignored (he tries to give a speech at his daughter's wedding, but the microphone keeps sliding down and they take it away from him). Plus he has a weird accent going on.
The only really good speech he gets to give is toward the end when Rachel tells her parents she loves another woman. It's a really good speech and well delivered, but it's how he knew his wife always thought he wasn't quite good enough for her and how he agreed and how if she had ever found anyone better that she really loved, he'd let her go in a moment. *whimper*
ALTHOUGH!!!! When the movie becomes available *cough* on you computers, there is a scene I SO want someone to icon. Remember that Angel episode where there's embarrasingly bad Angel dancing and Wesley dancing? Well there's a fantastic scene of Tony dancing that looks like he's just flapping his arms. It's pretty cute and would make a fantastic icon. Actually if someone could manage an icon that had clips of that dance plus the Angel dance plus the Wesley dance with a caption along the lines of "My fandom dances" it would be supercute and I'd love you forever ;^)
So the movie itself...well, my first beef is with the poster. *points*
From this poster, you would assume there were two couples, right? No. The girl in the wedding dress (Rachel) is with her husband, Heck, but the other pair is Luce and Coop. Coop tries to hit it off with Luce, but she's always quite clear on the fact that she's gay and hasn't the slightest bit of interest. I do like that they have the lily though. As she says in the movie, a lily says "I dare you to love me."
But the movie itself was okay. It was cute in someways, though a little more serious than I would normally make a romantic comedy which is what they classify this as. Not fluffy and there were a few laughs, but most of them weren't big ones.
My main problem was with character motivation. Half the time I had trouble finding it believable because the movie just didn't give me any reason WHY the characters would act the way they were acting.
It was okay though. I found myself enjoying it mostly and there were some decently cute scenes, like in the grocery store when Heck and Rach were shopping and keep running into Luce and her female friend in what almost turns into a game of "who's stalking who" complete with "what's your sexual orientation" banter. And the scene where Luce and Rachel first meet each other after Rach has dropped her wedding ring in the punch is just adorable. Plus they had some fun with the scenes with customers in Luce's flower shop. The guy picking out the phallic cactus (seriously, you should see the thing) to make up with his girlfriend was a hoot!
I sure did feel sorry for Heck though. It's hard to know there's something wrong in your relationship and not know how to fix it. Even harder to know the person you love is in love with someone else, no matter who it is. I admire him for the choice he made, but still...poor man. Thank god after the credits (this movie is FULL of credit cookies, btw, so stay in your seat) it looks like he's going to get back on his feet.
Maybe worth a watch if you think you're interested. It is a decent movie at least, and does kinda deal well with the subject matter of what do you do if you find your true love not only on your wedding day but also with someone of the same gender. Poor Heck. He and Luce were both pretty good characters, really. Though again, I just don't think they developed Rachel's reasons for anything as well as they could have.
Randomly: best line for flirting with the guy you just met and found out was writing a book? "You're writing a book? That's so perfect! I can read!" *snort*
Oh, and, as another side note, I think the leather sofa is ugly.
Also, why on earth is this movie rated "R"? *is confused* Why would this movie even earn a PG-13? Is there a sex scene I don't remember? Any violence at all? Or a word or phrase more profane than "You're a wanker, number nine?" 'Cause I don't remember a single thing warranting that sort of rating. Must be because it's an indie film about lesbians. *nods* Yeah...that's all I can think of.
Speaking of, that's one thing I found interesting. When I went to Brokeback Mountain, I kinda expected to see some pairs of men, you know? But I think I only saw maybe one. The rest were women or women with their boyfriends. This movie was different. I was the only one sitting by myself. Then there was a man and woman. And then there were about six other couples. All women. I'm thinking at least some of those weren't "just friends." ;^)
Speaking of Brokeback Mountain...This movie shows the flip-side of Brokeback Mountain in a lot of ways. Both involve people in marriages who find themselves in love with people of their own gender. Of course this movie is more modern and doesn't have to deal with all the stigma issues. Although you feel sorry as...well, heck, for Heck, it's just not as deep and serious.
The reviews I see online for this though are positively raving. In the same ways the reviews for Brokeback Mountain were, really.
But you know my dirty little secret? I liked Brokeback Mountain; I enjoyed it and the thought the end was sad and touching, but...well, I didn't exactly think it was the best movie of the year, or even close. I know, I know...a lot of you on my flist went to see it multiple times and have icons of it and such, but I just thought it was okay. I'm glad I went and all, but I mean honestly, if the characters had been het I probably would have been pretty bored. In fact, in places I was pretty bored. I read better fanfic all the time that not only has better sex but has more emotional depth and a better story as well.
This movie too, is just okay. In fact, in this movie, I don't even find the relationship as believable as in BBM, but maybe that's just me.
Still, I think the reason people are heralding these movies is because they feature gay relationships and more or less champion them without making them completely ridiculous. In a way, they're revolutionary. But look back at most of the revolutionary movies of the past and today they don't seem like much either.
There are other gay movies out there that manage to do this...most of them are just made and released so quietly we never hear about them and never see them. BBM got enough press that it's going mainstream, but it was indie and this one is pretty indie and limited too. I think what's really happening is we just don't have enough movies portraying and concentrating on realistic (and non-flamboyant, stereotyped, or side-showish) homosexual relationships and the issues associated with that to choose from. So we settle. And that's just sad.
Still, the more they make and the more they get accepted the more there will be in the future. So...
*sits back and waits to be pelted with stones for saying that about BBM*