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This weekend I finally had time to watch some of the movies I’ve been putting off. The first of which was And Then Came Lola. A talented, but distracted photographer, Lola, on the verge of success in both love and work, could lose it all if she doesn’t make it to a crucial meeting on time. But, as usual, Lola is late. With her job and girlfriend on the line, she has three chances to make it right. In a desperate race through the streets and back rooms of San Francisco, time grows short-will Lola make it? Will she come at all? With a pop sensibility that mixes live action, animation and still photography, And Then Came Lola explores love’s age old question in a fresh new way, “If you try, try again, will you finally get it right?” Written by M. Siler and E. Seidler

The film takes all the cute parts from the cult favorite Run Lola Run and mashes them together with typical lesbian cliches’. I watched And Then Came Lola with my girlfriend by my side. It was only her second lesbian film compared to my library full of them. It was fun to experience it all through her eyes. She didn’t get it at first. I had to explain the nature of the film to her and how it compared to Run Lola Run. I had to introduce her to Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono. Her lack of knowledge in these areas was innocently amusing. When I then told her that Jill and Cathy are a real life couple she snickered a bit.

With all my heart I want to like “lesbian films.” I don’t want to laugh at the acting or become board with the plot after 5 minutes. And Then Came Lola would not be the film that would cure me of this affliction, even with the story being told 3 times 3 different ways. Cathy DeBuono’s character seemed awkward and forced. No matter what I see Jill Bennett in she always seems like that uber cool lesbian that is too good for whatever she’s doing. Maybe I’m just bitter? I will say that Ashleigh Sumner did a great job and I would watch her in another film any day. Her acting was real and spot on despite the stereotypical role she was playing.

At the end of the film I asked my unbiased girlfriend for a quote on how she felt about it. Her reply was, “For never seeing a lesbian movie except for the night before, it was a good introduction to this type of film. Quick witted and it kept me guessing as to what was actually occurring in the movie. I would recommend watching for any novice lesbian that needs a good laugh.” She was being nice.

I give the film 2 out of 4 gold stars. I wanted to give it more, but it was simply too typical and lesbian generic. Is a film still a lesbian film if it doesn’t include a 100 lesbian cliches’? And Then Came Lola comes to Wolfe video on May 19th. Feel free to pick up a copy for yourself and prove me wrong.

2 out of 4 Gold Stars