Imagine Me & You Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
There Goes The Bride.
The path to true love isn't always straight... (UK DVD Tagline)
Rachel and Heck, long time friends and lovers, finally tie the knot, and during the celebration, Rachel starts a friendship with their florist, Luce. And while Rachel originally intended to match her new friend, Luce, up with her husband's friend, Cooper, she soon finds out that Luce is a lesbian. During the course of their friendship, Rachel starts to question her own sexuality. And though she comes to realize she may have feelings for her new friend, Rachel must decide who she will ultimately find the most happiness with: Heck, her new husband who is also adored by her family, or Luce, who has turned her life and everything she thought she new about love upside down.
| Piper Perabo | Rachel |
| Lena Headey | Luce |
| Matthew Goode | Heck |
| Celia Imrie | Tessa |
| Anthony Head | Ned |
| Darren Boyd | Cooper |
| Sue Johnston | Ella |
| Boo Jackson | H |
| Sharon Horgan | Beth |
| Eva Birthistle | Edie |
| Vinette Robinson | Zina |
| Ben Miles | Rob |
| John Thompson | Priest |
| Mona Hammond | Mrs. Edwards |
| Rick Warden | Gordon |
| Ol Parker |
6.80 out of 10 (5218 votes)
Visitor Reviews
a true romantic comedy
posted on 31 Jul 2009This movie is striking...I couldn't disagree more with the opinions that it lacks heart and conviction and is built up on too many clichés. Obviously with the genre it is difficult to avoid these things, but Ol Parker did a wonderful job breathing life into this love story. I walked in with very few expectations and left wanting to own a copy to watch again and again.The characters, if somewhat two dimensional, are relate-able and passionate. Rachel is flawless, perhaps the best I have seen of Perabo (especially compared to her performance in her other lesbian film, 'Lost and Delirious'). The movie is worth seeing for her alone--she conveys with the simple wring of a hand or glance a thousand words. She brings to the part the giddy excitement of anyone who's ever been in love before, but at the same time deals with the obstacles of marriage and her newfound homosexuality in very real ways.Matthew Goode also has a very praise worthy performance. In fact, most of the actors here really are excellent in their parts and their timing is brilliant. I laughed out loud multiple times and it was nice to see 'funny girls' on their own terms in the current Hollywood of 'Wedding Crashers' and 'Anchormen' where comedy is becoming routine and lackluster. Gotta love the British humor! On a final note, this is an exceptional film in my eyes for the way it handles the lesbian theme. Parker is tasteful and human about it, making it about love more than anything else. This is the kind of atmosphere that makes you believe in love, whether you're gay or straight, and have faith that there is one person out there if only you'll keep your eyes open.
Ol Parker is Brilliant! His Writing Fantastic! His Directing Perfect!
posted on 25 Jul 2009I just finished watching this movie IMAGINE ME & YOU and as an indie filmmaker and screenwriter - I was taken aback. I had no complaints except that it left me wanting more. More More More! Such a good feeling and unconventional feeling but a good one... Yet everything is how it should have been. Excuse me for rambling but again I just finished watching it and came right to my computer to vent! I watched the Q & A with the director and cast after and saw that maybe test audiences wanted to see more "screen time" between the two leads but no... in a movie like this it's the responsibility of the director and editor to pace it correctly ... it's a comedy - so timing and pace is everything. Such a heart wrenching romantic love story. And it felt so complete. Nothing cookie cutter and all happily ever after, nothing standard and conventional.But this was not a gay story as some friends would have had me think. It wasn't that at all, this movie could have starred different, races, genders even a different planet; the rules of love and romance are universal. This was a perfectly written and directed movie.Perfectly cast'd ESPECIALLY Boo? The little girl that played (Jesus) H. (Christ)... classic line so very clever - She was wonderful. I truly hope to see more from this Writer/Director because his vision was refreshingly real and the dialogue was real speak - true to life - here or abroad - He just got it. He gets it.I highly recommend this film be watched completely sober and with someone who isn't chatty and actually loves good cinema - because the writing is fantastic; the acting doesn't seem like acting its so real, and you don't want to miss one tiny morsel of this clever, witty beautiful film.Sylvia V. Hillman
Oh! There's nothing like a love story...
posted on 22 May 2009Wonderful stuff. I'm sure happier after this...(sigh) Can't quite figure out why it makes me cry so much... Happy tears though. (Gorgeous photography, if you're into that... the interiors are specially beautifully lit). Such a good story! I wonder, is it more appropriate to comment here on technical aspects, or rather the totally positive impact that the 'oeuvre' produced in me... Even further out, to think of it as the moment it was, in my life, all my attention directed to it... With a cast 'working' so nicely, a crew of pro's and a joyful story, I'm sure glad to live in it... and i couldn't stop myself from thinking "oh, no... i don't want it to end".
MPAA is stupid.
posted on 16 Apr 2009I am not here to talk about this film. I am FUMING because of the MPAA rating for this film. Rated R. ARE YOU KIDDING????????? This film was a harmless romantic comedy just like the millions out there: Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days- all of which are rated PG 13. I am so angry at the blatant discrimination in the rating of this film. Because it portrays lesbians FAIRLY (meaning, no one freaks out about their sexual orientation), it is rated R. And this might be no big deal. I mean, after all, we can all watch this film as adults. However, the blatant discimination makes me angry. And furthermore, making this film, like thousands of other films about LGBT people unavailable to a younger audience further isolates and "other-izes" LGBT people. Its not right.
Wonderful
posted on 04 Apr 2009I recently viewed this lovely Gem of a movie. It certainly shows that lesbians can be beautiful and feminine. The entire cast delivered a heart warming performance, full of that wonderful dry humor found in other British comedies, i.e, Love actually, and Three weddings and a funeral. This movie gives us a very poignant image of love between two women. The story is done well and incorporates numerous subtle images that really draw you into the storyline. This movie is a lighthearted and humorous adventure that makes you believe in that "butterflies in your stomach, dizzy, lightheaded falling in love feeling again.." Well Done!
Very Cute Movie
posted on 09 Mar 2009Okay, I really enjoyed this movie....I thought it was well made, very entertaining. I loved it as a love story, where you think of love and not lesbian love or heterosexual love... but plain old fashion love. It makes you remember what is was like to fall in love with that special person that gives you a reason to live. It is refreshing to find a movie like that. Now my question is why is this an R rated movie? Is it because 2 girls kissed? I mean i have seen movies with sexual acts that made me question the PG-13 ratings and this movie is rated R. The hypocrisy of democracy... So sad.....
Meet Cute
posted on 03 Mar 2009Imagine Me & You is a rather harmless romantic comedy with a great great cast. The setup has been covered to death but Piper Perabo and Lena Headey lock eyes during Piper's march down the wedding aisle and everything else in the movie plays out. I especially liked Matthew Goode's performance. The third wheel in a romantic comedy is always the most difficult but he pulls it off pretty well. Since all of this is in the trailer I'm not sharing a spoiler but when he breaks up with Piper he wants her to be happy, just happy with him you can sense his heart breaking. To paraphrase from the book "Love Monkey" sometimes the dealer looks at you and says, "You lost. Try your luck at a different table".One thing, Imagine Me & You really isn't funny enough to be a comedy or serious enough to be a drama. It is a light fluffy slice of life about one woman's search for love. The problem with being true to yourself is the damage your search causes to the people you love.I very much enjoyed this movie and hope you see it.BTW The babe factor is extremely high with Piper and Lena but there is less objectionable material (other than content) than you would find on a PAX TV show. How can you have two drop dead chicks in a romance and not have a single bit of nudity? Hey maybe this was a tragedy?
Disappointingly poor romantic drama/comedy that is never as interesting or fresh as the lesbian aspect suggests
posted on 09 Feb 2009It is the day of Rachel's wedding to long-time partner Heck when she first catches sight of Luce across the room. They exchange a few jokes over the punch bowl and Rachel thanks her for doing the flowers and helping with arrangements. A few weeks later Rachel goes to see her at work and invites her over to dinner, feeling a certain chemistry with her new friend. Given that she is being set up with his friend, Luce reveals to Heck that she is actually gay – something that Heck eventually reveals to Rachel a few days later. Struggling with the unusual feelings that this information produces in her, Rachel is unsure of what to do as the chemistry she feels may be something more and the confusion she feels has a knock-on effect on her marriage.I'll be honest and say that the only reason I'd heard of this film was watching The Cave. You see, as distinctly average as that was, I find Perabo easy on the eye and, reading other's comments on The Cave, spotted that she and Headey had made a romantic film together – this one. So I managed to find it for the titillation potential as much as anything else – I am a man, and I don't think I should pretend my motivations were anything more worthy. However please do not get the impression that I somehow expected a p0rn fix from it, or that that was all I was looking for from the film. Indeed very quickly I settled into the fact that this film was a romantic drama/comedy and that really I shouldn't care about the sexuality of the characters involved, although it was clear that the lesbian plot could provide a) interesting fresh material, b) a draw for a male audience not normally attracted to romantic films, c) both, d) neither. Sadly the reality is that we have a film that is quite uninspiring and lacking in anything of real interest or value.As a pure romantic drama/comedy, it is loaded with obvious clichés and simple devices and simply doesn't produce a convincing relationship between Luce and Rachel. The awkward chemistry feels more like faux-lesbian teasing than anything else and then we get a headlong rush into passion following by "love will find a way" stuff that just falls flat without a good base. It never drew me in to the characters and, without much to laugh at, the film just felt like it was aiming at being superficial and brisk while using the sexy, young lesbian/bi characters to make things feel new and different, when really they are far from it.Perabo and Headey have the looks for sure and there is the suggestion of pain, longing and confusion in them if only they had been given the material to work with. There is nothing for them though below their basic motivations/feelings and their sexy shells and sadly they are part of me not really caring. Goode has an even more thankless job though as his Heck gets hurt but not offered anywhere to express that – instead the film gives him a pat "happy" ending that is offensively simple and lazy. Head, Boyd and others fill in round the edges but nobody has much to work with in terms of substance or character or comedy.Imagine Me & You has the fantastic hook of being a romantic comedy-drama around two sexy young women who are sexually drawn to one another. Sadly it all feels like a standard, clichéd romantic comedy that could easily have been a man/woman pairing and the only thing that really makes it stand out is the "novelty" of it being about two attractive women – a factor that never gets beyond the level of being a gimmick.
Not a bad love story.
posted on 09 Feb 2009I liked this movie, despite the fact that it was formulaic and somewhat predictable, but then again, most romantic comedies are formulaic and predictable.My only real complaint about the movie is that I would like to have seen a better development of Rachel's feelings for Luce. I was not totally convinced that she was falling in love with the florist. I felt that a lot of what was designed to show the audience that Rachel was having these feelings, felt more like Rachel being curious, instead of someone who's falling in love. Yes, there were more obvious moments of Rachel's developing feelings, like her trying to avoid contact with Luce or when they were watching H's presentation on space. I just would like to have seen more development in this area.I should say that you should not expect this to be some groundbreaking lesbian or gay film because it isn't. It is a love story, and as such we don't see the, seemingly, heterosexual Rachel agonize over the fact that she is falling in love with another woman. The fact that Luce is a woman doesn't even seem to be a consideration for Rachel. Instead, Rachel agonizes over the fact that the great guy she is married to, isn't the person she's in love with. So, if you can forgive this film for not being a great homosexual benchmark, then you will enjoy it.
A Polished Film Worth Watching
posted on 16 Jan 2009Something there is that the British understand about drawing room comedies that results in taking subjects that may prove a bit shaky in others' hands, but in the British manner it all seems so right. Writer/director Ol Parker's IMAGINE YOU & ME is not a novel idea - love triangles that begin at the wedding of a couple - but this one has a bit of a twist in that the disruptive triangle results form the 'love at first sight' between the florist in charge of the wedding and the bride! Rachel (Piper Perabo - a very fine American actress in this English cast) plays the bride to Matthew Goode's Heck and the florist Luce is wonderfully the role of Lena Headey. The unplanned glance between the two women happens on the way to the altar and subsequently both women feel such profound and warm infatuation with each other that they seek one another's company, completely open-eyed. The manner in which this happens involves Heck, Heck's best man Cooper (Darren Boyd), and Rachel's parents Celia Imrie and Anthony Head - as well as Rachel's wise little sister H (Boo Jackson). The triumph of sense over sensibility is predictable but the manner in which the writing and the superb acting enhance a fairly obvious ending is what makes this movie such a delight.The actors are all attractive and endearing and carry the story and the social lessons well. It may be lightweight, but it is a complete pleasure to watch. Grady Harp
Loved it! Best romantic comedy ever!
posted on 19 Dec 2008I just went to a screening of this film at a local theater. I was ecstatic when I learned it would be available in my area. I've already secured tickets to two of the other showings. I loved it! Absolutely fabulous!I mean I came out of the theater thrilled (and dabbing my eyes) because it was way better than my expectations. I think it's one of the best romantic comedies that I've seen in a long time. I'm so glad that it was made in the UK because the US would have drowned out so much of the sincerity. The film was great, really great. I connected with every character and loved each one. I was there and felt the pain, happiness, and love. I just loved it! Piper and Lena have terrific chemistry which is undeniable. I laughed, I cried... it moved me! Five stars! A beautiful story that leaves you waiting and wondering when your soul mate will appear.
Fluffy, Predictable Romantic Comedy With a Twist That's Already Tired
posted on 17 Dec 2008"Imagine Me & You" is a fluffy British take on "Kissing Jessica Stein" that makes even less sense in understanding lesbians.This thinly stretches out into a predictable romantic comedy what so many serious films lately have shown so much more poignantly, people struggling to understand their confusion with their sexuality, and the impact that has on the people with whom they are intimate. While trying to be nice to everyone, it comes close to supporting the nonsense theory about gays "converting" straights, as it sure seems easy, though lately even the series "The L Word" seems to be demonstrating that as well. Unfortunately abandoned was even the exploration of how gay and straight women could be "Will and Grace"-like best friends. There are some sit com-y amusing scenes of straights trying to prove their PC-ness with gays. I enjoyed the switch that the florist is a gay woman not a gay man for a change, and the running plaints on love from the customers was amusing and has sit com future potential. We don't learn much about her otherwise. But then I had trouble all through the film of even telling the two lead actresses apart - couldn't they have at least died one of their's hair? This was the first Matthew Goode film where I didn't think he was the one who was going to come out, though the film's rush effort to treat him nicely was very forced. It was nice to see actors from various British shows like "Waking the Dead" and "Manchild" get to have fun with different characters.The pop music selections are surprisingly old, from the title Turtles song to Dusty Springfield's "Look of Love."The film might have been more effective as an old-fashioned straight triangle.
Beautiful Love Story (Possible Spoilers-Sorry)
posted on 05 Dec 2008I've rented this movie twice now and will no doubt purchase it eventually. I'm a fan of Matthew Goode (for all his young age) and would love to see him in something with more grit, but his performances are always so enjoyable it didn't matter. The writing was perfect for the script- lots of very funny one-liners.On to the bad: The ONLY gripe I had was that Heck didn't really cry on the roof. His face scrunched up like he was crying, but no tears...My guess is that it would have taken away from the warm fuzzies you got when the girls finally got together. It was clear that he was very invested in the relationship, so I chalked up the no tears thing as more of a resignation on Heck's part.I noticed that Thandie Newton was thanked at the end of the credits. Was she the girl on the plane at the end? Certainly did not look like herself at all (although I've never seen her look anything less than a goddess).That the couple was a homosexual one was a total non-issue as far as the story is concerned (and for me), and I felt that they deliberately stayed away from exploring that issue too much. Keeping the audience warm and fuzzy is quite a balancing act while making a movie about a cheating wife and lesbianism, I'm sure.If you like feel good love stories then see this one. I have to really like a movie to purchase it, and this one is on my to-buy list.
Mesodorphic Women & Brooks Brother's Men
posted on 15 Nov 2008Most of this film is so boring that the drama amounted to a revolving display: free, white, sophisticated, wealthy, venal; wealthy, free, venal, sophisticated, white, etc.; in an endless boring loop. Other than that there is some formal groping with the commonplaces of relationships. Nothing as real as insecurity, either emotional or social, is allowed to interfere with the American-style empty Yuppie role-modelling. In spirit, apart from the British accents, this film is a take-off on vapid American trash.One of the women is an admitted lesbian and before the film is done she picks up the leading lady, a self-absorbed creature with perpetually knit eyebrows and a pout as wide and unsubtle as a grouper's.Throughout the film, the physiques of the women are unself-consciously explored by the camera, including focused shots of the vagina even though clothed. But the men, in contrast to the women, have the lean but un-muscular body types of the Brooks Brothers' suit era. I maintain that this difference--and not--as the film suggests--"the life force" explains the lesbian outcome. If the men were built like Arnold Schwarzenegger then the conventions of cheesy film would have precluded anything otherthan total satisfaction with the male as a lover.When she (the leading lady) confesses the lesbian love affair to her sensitive husband, he encourages her to follow her heart, advising her that what she is feeling is the "life-force". With that the romance takes wings. The parents on both sides are honored to be present at this coming together into a lesbian union. During the suspense as to whether the temporarily alienated lesbians will get together again, she (grouper mouth) is literally up on the roof of the family Mercedes screaming for the lover who is somewhere in the traffic. Nothing vulgar about this, the parents beneath are unruffled in their dignity. One thing heterosexual which does take place in the film is the late-in-life bonding between her parents. This is a result of an overheard moment revealing sensitivity on his part. Sensitivity rediscovered. It was this which had hardened her heart against him. More Feminist cant.An eight-year-old girl shows the dejected husband some understanding and offers to marry him in ten years. In the context of this film, this seemed like a sensible offer.All things taken together, this is a film with little meaning or interest except as a sort of romantic stroke book for lesbian ladies. The only vivid momentin my opinion was a scene in which the soon-to-be-rejected husband was having difficulty in connecting with his father-in-law with whom he wanted to discuss his marital problems. Suddenly it devolves that the father-in-law is intentionally avoiding him, blurting out they coulddiscuss sports or hunting and have a very good time, but "when the subject is my daughter all I can think of is you have your hand up her dress." Nothing great, but a break in the tedium. And then the drama of the lesbian affair, which was strictly formula, and offends no one--unless the viewer. I wish they would offer "spoilers" on these films for those of us who are not so fascinated by lesbian love affairs that we require nothing else.
I loved it!
posted on 07 Nov 2008I saw this film today at the Toronto International Film Festival and I really liked it. I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected plot (it didn't match my expectations based on the mini summary I read prior to seeing the film)....I won't elaborate since it will spoil the film for others. The only reason I give a 9 rating instead of 10 is that there were a few unrealistic and sometimes too predictable scenes, but this really didn't detract from the overall movie experience. The cinematography is really wonderful and the use of color and locations is really quite wonderful as well. I really enjoyed the panoramic views of the city of London. Anyway, compliments to new director on the scene, Ol Parker. I hope we see more from you in the near future!
Must see this movie!
posted on 06 Oct 2008This was one the best romantic comedy movies that I've seen in along time. Filled with many unexpected laughs, dry humor and will even bring a tear to your eye. This movie kept my attention the whole time. There wasn't a dull moment in the whole movie. All of the actors fit their rolls perfectly, all of them charming and charismatic. This movie seemed to portray real life... unlike the usually Hollywood romantic, unrealistic movies. I saw this as a sneak preview, and I will definitely go back and pay to see it again. This was the first movie that I've been to that everyone in the theater clapped after it had ended. Definitely a must see!
2 thumbs up
posted on 30 Sep 2008i loved the movie so much , prolly watched more than 40 times because a story similar like this one happened with me , its only that , that girl used to be this guy's gf n engaged , but then exactly wat happened in this movie happened to me , it was an amazing thing .. anyways , but , even though i loved the movie A lot , its only that one thing wasn't real good , the scenes where the RACh and LUCE kiss , they all look fake , the are only like kissing each other by lips, there is no passion like when your mouth will open and your tongue will dance in her mouth and u know , the passion , but if you see how she kisses HECK its with tongue action n passion like the time when they are in the bushes , it looked more real and true .. so the movie would have been excellent if only the kisses scene were more true , they did looked fake . buttt !! very nice movie though , and the 2 girls are exactly my style , sweet , tender , soft , and would do anyth crazy for the one they love ! keep up the good work girls !!
Not happily married!
posted on 22 Sep 2008Rachel, who is preparing for her wedding to Heck as the story opens, shows she is not completely sold on the man she is about to say "I do". The flowers at the church and the reception have been lovingly arranged by Luce, who one guesses has an eye on the bride herself. It is easy to see the attraction, both are beautiful women. To make matters worse, Rachel has no clue as to what her life with Heck will be like.Luce, is disarmingly honest. When Heck try to fix her up with their best man, Coop, she informs him she is a lesbian, something that takes him by surprise. Being an open minded person, Heck doesn't see the danger in the new friendship his wife develops for the florist. As it turns out, Rachel starts having doubts about her own sexuality. She sees in Luce someone who is more attuned with her than her own husband. Rachel realizes the mistake she has made; she too, is not dishonest about it and decides to let her husband knows how she really feels about a newly discovered trait she did not know about."Imagine You and Me", written and directed by Ol Parker is inoffensive enough not to raise eyebrows as it is never in your face and tries to play as a romantic entertainment. A fine cast was assembled for the film. Lena Headey and Piper Perabo do a credible job as the women they were asked to portray. Matthew Goode proves he is a solid comedian who is an asset in anything in which he appears. The excellent Anthony Head and Celia Imrie are seen as Rachel's parents. Darren Boyd and Sue Johnston are also good.
clichéd male fantasy
posted on 18 Sep 2008Predictable romantic comedy formula riddled with cliché. Good performances throughout and a few good lines. However, the whole picture is too manipulative and full of gimmicks to sustain any real interest. The level of humour here is that of a weak American sitcom and the characterisations equally as broad. I must say I found myself rolling my eyes far more than I found myself smiling. The photography of London was pretty but I felt like I was watching an ad for British Airways. Overall, a yawner. Best saved for late night rental or a (very) long plane journey. Of recent fare, far better choice is Woody Allen's "Match Point."
Weak but has charm
posted on 18 Aug 2009I really wanted to enjoy this film more than I actually did. I find Lena Heady's film choices and acting to be somewhat brave and experimental so set out to enjoy this. However, I found it to be somewhat predictable and I didn't feel that we got to know the characters long enough before the dramatic plot happened. I think the feelings with the two main female characters manifests rather all too quickly and I found it slightly difficult to believe in. Parts of this film are well written and Celia Imrie and Sue Johnson are brilliant. There is a charm to this film but I find it is lacking in something, it had the potential to be a lot more profound than it actually was. I don't think the fault lies in the actors or the acting, moreover the script and the structure of the film. However, it was still enjoyable in parts, I just wish it had played better.