For the last decade British comedy has emulated the success of “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” with diminishing returns. When “Imagine Me &You” actually begins with a wedding ceremony, it seems like the most natural thing in the world … and yet a good indicator of this movie’s lack of inspiration.
The wedding in question will join Rachel (Piper Perabo) and Heck (Matthew Goode), longtime pals who have never seriously considered anyone else for marriage. They’re comfortable together, like a pair of old shoes.
Unfortunately, Rachel suddenly becomes aware of alternative footwear, like a nice high-heeled boot, for instance. She takes one look at Luce (Lena Headey), the florist handling the wedding flowers, and falls madly in love.
The timing is awkward, of course. This is the movie’s main concern, not the fact that Rachel and Luce happen to be of the same sex (or that Rachel has evidently gone through life without having had a homosexual feeling before – although that happened in “Brokeback Mountain,” too, come to think of it).
Rachel begins to find excuses to see Luce, while hubby Heck, who may be the nicest, most understanding guy on the planet, vaguely wonders why his new marriage is cooling.
Writer-director Ol Parker, a veteran of British TV, gets a few genuinely funny scenes in the mix. One odd one has Rachel and Heck trying to rekindle their passion with a little sex in a park at night, only to be interrupted by other lovers on the prowl.
| Forgettable: “Four Weddings”-style Brit comedy with a bride (Piper Perabo) falling for the florist (Lena Headey) at her wedding. Scattered laughs delivered by deft performers – notably Matthew Goode, who’s ready to inherit Hugh Grant’s charm mantle – can’t make this memorable.
Rated: R rating is for subject matter Now showing: Meridian, Metro |
The performers buoy it up for a while. Piper Perabo hasn’t found her niche yet (she’s the obligatory American performer doing an English accent here), but she’s ingratiating. The usually fine Lena Headey (“Aberdeen,” “The Brothers Grimm”), on the other hand, lacks her customary fire.
This film is another promising notch for the actor who’s likely to become the next Hugh Grant, i.e. Matthew Goode. Here and in Woody Allen’s “Match Point,” Goode displays the effortless charm and deft delivery that should carry him through many a comedy to come. He’s matched by Darren Boyd, who looks like an English Jeff Daniels, in the stock role of wisecracking sexist bachelor buddy. Boyd nails the part.
As Rachel’s parents, Celia Imrie and Anthony Head have some nice moments. The movie overall has some nice moments. But it would be easy to fall asleep in all the nice moments this movie has to offer; it’s as soothing and forgettable as a TV commercial for tea.
Matthew Goode and Piper Perabo star in “Imagine Me &You.”
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