I didn't like Brokeback Mountain, but not for the reason you may think. I was glad to see well-known actors take such daring roles and for a major motion picture to broach a subject that is often still seen as taboo. I also appreciated that the homosexual nature of the leading characters' romance was not treated as a gimmick or freak show. But I also didn't get the sense that their same-genderedness was as big a deal as popular media made it out to be. Strip away that unique quality, and what's left is a rather mundane romance, with the only sin being infidelity — a too common plot device.
So I was pleasantly surprised when a Showbits reader recommended to me a film that proved to be everything I hoped Brokeback Mountain would be: Imagine Me & You. This 2005 British film's cast has two names I recognized: Anthony Head, better known as Giles from TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and Lena Headey, who, despite an extensive filmography, I'd never heard of before she was cast as the buff titular lead in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Since that show had not debuted at the time I came across Imagine Me & You, I was eager to see what to expect from this actress.
The movie opens by introducing the audience to a Rachel, a young woman walking down the aisle to marry her long-time friend and boyfriend. En route to the altar, she catches the eye of Luce, the wedding florist she'd previously never met. They immediately click and continue bumping into each other, both at the reception and beyond — until their attraction can no longer be described as sisterly.
The contrast between the two characters is perfect. Rachel is a dainty Barbie girl who lacks confidence when she isn't partnered with a strong individual, whereas Luce is independent, experienced, and comfortable with her sexuality. Yet the unexpected chemistry between the two confuses them both, with the situation further complicated by Rachel's recent nuptials. Neither woman preys on the other, yet their magnetism and unsuspecting relatives keep putting them together. Their company makes for an awkward situation, as unlike the men of Brokeback Mountain, who seem to care primarily about themselves, Rachel and Luce are saddled with concern for their loved ones. Whose happiness is most important, and what compromises are acceptable? It's a far more honest conundrum than any faced by two cowboys. As with the very concept of "love at first sight", the ending is a bit clichéd (and reminiscent of a scene from Titanic), but it's also humorous and sweet.
Imagine Me & You and Brokeback Mountain are technically in different genres — romantic comedy and romantic drama, respectively — but with their original theatrical releases only three months apart, it's a shame this thoroughly more enjoyable film hasn't gotten more attention. I'd thought Brokeback would demonstrate how easy it was to add a modern twist to a classic plot and end up with something entertaining. It took Imagine Me & You to successfully deliver that formula, which I think would pleasantly surprise other viewers, too.
