LESBIAN ROMANCE RULES - Imagine Me & You

Films have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas?  What about Lesbian Romance films, do they follows a strict formula and a set of rules?

"Who knows why - past life, physiometry - but for some reason you just kind of click." ~ Rachel.

Imagine Me & You is a Rom Com about a woman who falls in love with someone else on her wedding day.  Can a Lesbian Romance follow the Rom Com rules?

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

Imagine Me & You (2005)

On the way down the aisle at her wedding Rachel sees the Luce who did the flowers for the event for the first time and has a moment that may change both of their lives forever.

RULE #1 - A Coming Out Story

Rachel's story is a coming out story.  However, unlike the formula it is balanced between the two characters.  Although they look and dress similar quite often Rachel wears feminine clothes more than Luce does.  Edie notes this by telling Luce, "She's not just heterosexual, she's Barbie-heterosexual."

RULE #2 - There May Be T&A

No nudity, Rachel as a few scenes in nightwear.  Less nudity than most Lesbian Romances.  No sex, just kissing.

RULE #3 - Unsatisfied

Rachel's wedding speech talks about how Heck were mates then lovers, "but maybe that's a better kind of fairytale" and she doesn't think she believes in love at first sight.  However, when she falls for Luce her relationship with Heck suffered.  She over-compensates by trying to have sex with Heck in the woods, but it doesn't work.

RULE #4 - Enter the Lesbian

Luce appears at the beginning of the film.  Although she's out it doesn't come up until nearly two thirds of the way through the film.  Luce wears boyish clothes, is able to teach Rachel how to yell at sporting events.

RULE #5 - Just Good Friends

"You know when you've just met someone, but straight away you know that they're going to be your friend," says Rachel having decided that they are instant friends, but when she finds out that Luce is a lesbian her feeling change.

RULE #6 - Rejection By Friends and Family

When Heck leaves Rachel, Rachel's mother reacts badly to the revelation that Rachel is in love with a woman.  Rachel's father is happy either way.

RULE #7 - Will They, Won't They/On Again, Off Again

Rachel tells Luce that the unrequited sexual tension between them has to stop because she is married.  They then fall into each other's arms, only to be interrupted by Heck.  They then agree to stop seeing each other.

RULE #8 - Redemption/Acceptance

Rachel yells from the top of a car that she, "can do this" and they get together.  Both Rachel's father and Luce's mother already accept them, and Rachel's mother (briefly) accepts that she needs change as a person for other reasons and seems happy to see her daughter in love.

RULE #9 - Happily Ever After?

They run to each other's arms and kiss.  "Happy Together" plays and they end up together on a park bench.

RULE #10 - No Sequels

No sequels, but Piper Perabo had previously been in the Lesbian Romance Lost and Delirious.

Results

• Rules that are followed in this film:  3; 5; 7; 8; 9; 10.
• Rules that are partially followed in this film:  1; 2; 4; 6.

~ DUG.

This film was also tested under the Rom Com rules.
Remember to do the survey to determine the fourth genre to be tested.