Common Sense Note
Parents should know that Rachel has to grapple with her attraction to a woman and her love and fidelity towards her husband. She handles it in a mature way, as does her husband when he discovers her attraction to Luce. There is some kissing between Luce and Rachel, but nothing graphic or explicit. There's also some cursing and drinking, but the film handles its adult themes with grace and compassion for everyone involved.
Families can talk about whether they believe love is slow and comfortable or sharp and electric. What's the difference between the two feelings? Are they, as the film portrays, mutually exclusive?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Heather Boerner
Thank heaven for British romantic comedies. Less crude than their American counterparts and more witty and charming, they show the joy in falling in love. IMAGINE ME AND YOU is a worthy addition to this pantheon.
Rachel (the ever-effervescent Piper Perabo) is about to marry her long-time boyfriend Heck (Matthew Goode). She's dressed and ready to go, her dottering and depressed father (played by the divine Anthony Head) and acerbic mother (Celia Imrie) are prepared and all are giddy. That is, until beautiful florist Luce (Lena Headey) charms Rachel's young sister and bewitches Rachel.
Through a series of comic scenes on par with Four Weddings and a Funeral, Rachel learns that Luce is a lesbian and the two women grapple with an attraction that neither of them really wants to consummate. "You don't mess with other couples," asserts Luce. "You don't cause that pain, ever. You walk away, and hook up with someone who's available instead."
What's refreshing about Imagine You and Me is that every character is interesting and loveable -- even the womanizing Cooper (Daren Boyd). Unlike other lesbian romantic comedies with a married woman in its premise, the husband here is more than a plot device. Instead, Heck is a real character that everyone -- the audience, Rachel, and Luce included -- cares about. And in so doing, they must face a real dilemma: Can they "walk away," as Luce suggests? Can Rachel stay in a friendly but passionless marriage out of fidelity to her husband? Should she?
What the film discovers is that that kind of a lie makes everyone miserable. "It's not you leaving that's going to kill me," Heck says, destroyed and angry. "It's you loving someone more." In this way, Imagine You and Me avoids the unrealistic plot devices and gimmicks of other romantic comedies and creates a realistic world in which we'd all like to live -- full of compassion, comedy, flirting, and charm.
If you like this film, consider Love, Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Sliding Doors.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentRob and Cooper are both womanizers, constantly trying to "shag" whomever's around. Women talk about birth control and diaphragms, which may raise questions from curious teens. Rachel rents lesbian porn and some porn sounds are audible. Rachel and Heck kiss in the bushes and meet a gay male couple who met there, as well. The implication is that they were all planning to have sex there, separately. Luce and Rachel make out in the back of the flower shop, but don't have sex, and no clothes are removed. |
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LanguageSome cursing, including "damn," "hell," "ass," "f--k." Coop also uses the term "vagitarian" to describe lesbians and calls Luce a "dumb slut." |
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Social BehaviorThough Rachel does find herself attracted to someone else at her wedding and does kiss her, Rachel, Luce, and Heck all handle it in a very responsible, respectful manner. They do their best not to hurt one another. The film also shows how lying about who you're attracted to makes everyone miserable. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCooper talks about consuming "endless amounts of drugs." Heck gets drunk after quitting his job. There is some moderate drinking, as well. |
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