Imagine Me & You
Imagine Me & You wants you to believe in butterflies, kitten whiskers and the possibility you can fall in love at first sight. But even with all the mushy sentiment, the film keeps you laughing as well.
Story
On what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life, Rachel (Piper Perabo) experiences a moment of doubt. Taking the walk down the aisle to marry her best friend and supposed love of her life, Heck (Matthew Goode), she locks eyes with her florist, Luce (Lena Headey), and sparks fly. It's a life changing moment for Rachel, but not in the conventional way. She immediately begins to wonder if Heck is the person she is supposed to spend the rest of her life with. After dinner, dancing, and a few laughs, Rachel begins to believe in love at first sight, butterflies and all. Deciding between love and friendship will prove to be the toughest thing she will ever have to do.
Acting
As the only non-Brit in the movie, Perabo (Coyote Ugly) shows some definite skills, deftly handling the accent, while eye candy Goode, (Match Point), displays an innocence that makes you root for him. Even while playing a man who lies to people for a living, you can't help but fall in love with him. The actor should go on to do big things in the industry. And despite the overt romantic tones, Imagine Me & You also adds comic relief, especially in the form of Heck's best friend Coop, played by Darren Boyd. This womanizer has the best lines in the movie, especially as he is trying to woe Luce into switching teams, despite the fact that he has no chance. Luce, played by Headey (The Brothers Grimm) has a very open heart which is endears her to everyone. The actress radiates on screen, particularly in her flower shop as she helps troubled lovers find the perfect "last chance" flower.
Direction
Writer/director Ol Parker does a nice job with Imagine Me & You with his debut film. Minus a few clichés here and there, the film is refreshing as well as side-splitting, less about sex and more about love. Parker picks his landscapes carefully, painting a lovely backdrop to frame his movie. Also, in handling such a sentimental theme but keeping the humor, Parker could be following in the steps of Four Weddings and a Funeral auteur Mike Newell, especially in using the mostly British cast. An American one might not have done it justice. Even if the ending is a little too happily ever-after, you'll still be humming the classic ‘60s tune, "Imagine Me and You" by The Turtles, through the ending credits.
Bottom Line
Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.