Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet queer teen romance includes language, sex, pot use.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
What's the Story?
In THE INCREDIBLY TRUE STORY OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE, rebellious 17-year-old Randy (Laurel Holloman) lives with her lesbian aunt and balances high school with working at the family gas station. When wealthy, popular girl Evie (Nicole Ari Parker) arrives with car trouble, the two strike up an unexpected friendship that leads to a sweet and exciting romance, and a touch of personal chaos.
Is It Any Good?
From love notes in lockers to swapping poetry and sharing music, this is a teen romance that both follows the formula but breaks the mold. The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love may overpromise a little on the title—"incredibly" and "adventure" in particular suggest a more dynamic film than the one that emerges—but the heartfelt drama that exists in its place is light, charming, and full of humor, as well as important representations of queer relationships and unconventional families that were few and far between in 1990s cinema. Holloman (now iconic for her role in The L-Word) and Parker both give strong performances in the lead roles that feel genuine and familiar, regardless of your experience with high school sexuality. There's an innocence that shines through as they take their first tentative steps, let loose in a late-night blowout, and take off with Thelma and Louise-style idealism into what'a a little more dingy streetlights than spectacular sunset. It's an LGBTQ+ movie that's aged well, even if some stereotypes are present, and remains an important and enjoyable coming-of-age tale that tells a specific story while reminding us of the universality of young love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way Randy and Evie's same-sex relationship was portrayed in The Incredibly True Story of Two Girls in Love. How were other queer characters—from Randy's aunt to her best friend Frank—represented? Why is it important to see characters of different sexualities on-screen, particularly in lead roles?
How was family portrayed in the movie? Evie was from a single-parent family, where she lived with her mother and her dad had remarried. Randy lived with her aunt and her aunt's current and ex-girlfriends. What similarities and differences were there between their home lives? What did the movie say about the concept of family?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it feel appropriate for the type of film it was? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the film portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How was teen drinking, smoking, and drug use portrayed? Were they glamorized? Did the characters need to do these things to look cool? What were the consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 16, 1995
- On DVD or streaming : May 4, 2004
- Cast : Laurel Holloman , Nicole Ari Parker , Maggie Moore
- Director : Maria Maggenti
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Lesbian Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Lesbian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Fine Line Features
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong sex scene involving teen girls, and for language and some drug use
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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