"Imagine Me & You" could be considered the happier version of Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain." Switch the gay cowboys to a florist and a newlywed, change the green mountain landscape to rainy London and toss in a happy ending and that's "Imagine." It's "chick flick" feel renders it nowhere near as award-worthy as "Brokeback," but it's still a good movie.
"Imagine" begins with the wedding of Rachel and Heck (Piper Perabo and Matthew Goode, respectively). Luce (Lena Headey) is the overly involved florist making sure every petal is in place.
As she's walking down the aisle, Rachel catches a glimpse of Luce and their relationship begins.
Rachel invites Luce to dinner in hopes to set her up with Heck's friend Coop (Darren Boyd), but the dinner is perhaps just a chance to see Luce again. Luce lets Heck know that she is actually gay but Rachel doesn't catch on.
The two girls are being pulled together by some imaginary force. Rachel can't get Luce off her mind and it doesn't help that they keep running into one another. Rachel is feeling something that she just can't deal with and her despair ends up flowing over into her relationship with Heck.
The end of the story involves facing the truth of who she loves -- Luce or Heck -- and how she can deal with the consequences.
As a movie that leans heavily on comedy and drama, there are times when the tension, sexual or other, is so thick a comedic line is needed. Usually, the movie delivers.
The beauty of the movie shines through with the cinemetography. Distant reaction shots are taken render faces barely visible, but body language transmits the the mood.
With a backdrop like London it's hard to not see beauty with a smidge of elegance in this film.
Perabo is perfect as Rachel. She does well with a character tormented by something she shouldn't want.
Headey, being both the object of desire and desirous herself, has to deal with her feelings of wanting and guilt. There is something about her that makes you feel and understand why Rachel would be drawn to Luce.
Boyd's main role for his scenes is comedic relief. He's amazing as the playboy only looking to shag someone, monogamy not expected. He spends half of his time trying to seduce Luce, even though he knows she's a lesbian.
Goode starts off as a funny man, playing off Boyd. Once his character starts realizing he's wrapped up in a problem, his demeanor changes and makes the audience truly feel for him.
Though lighthearted, director Ol Parker's debut is a worthwhile movie that leaves you feeling happy.
"Imagine Me & You" opens Friday, Feb. 10 at the Landmark's Oriental Theater.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
