And Then Came Lola 2009 Movie Review

『Love as a Series of Choices: Learning Sincerity and Responsibility in Repeating Days』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: And Then Came Lola (2009)
🌍 Country: 🇺🇸 United States
🎞️ Genre: Romantic Comedy / LGBTQ+ / Indie
🗓️ Production & Release: Indie Production, 2009, Single Feature
📢 Directors: Ellen Seidler, Megan Siler
🖋️ Screenwriters: Ellen Seidler, Megan Siler
📺 Platform: DVD, Digital Streaming (varies by platform)

👩‍💼 Cast: Ashleigh Sumner – Lola
Jill Bennett – Casey
Cathy DeBuono – Danielle

🧩 Deep Story Exploration (Spoilers)

⏳ Time Loops and the Weight of Relationships

'And Then Came Lola' is a lesbian romantic comedy-drama set in San Francisco, inspired by the German cult classic film ‘Run Lola Run, 1998’. The film adopts the original’s unique structure to repeatedly show how Lola, running late for a critical appointment, struggles to save both her relationship and professional responsibilities across three different outcomes.

🚧 'Lesbian Lola Run'

The most distinctive feature of this film is its frantic and repetitive structure.

• Three Attempts (Tripartite Structure): As a photographer, Lola must deliver printed photos on time for her new girlfriend Casey’s critical business meeting. Her tardiness is not only a professional risk but also an emotional one, as it could allow the charming Danielle to win Casey over. The film portrays Lola’s mission across three repeated attempts, where different choices and coincidences lead to varying outcomes.

• Diverse Cinematic Techniques: Alongside live-action, the film mixes animation inserts, still photography, and comical therapy couch cutaways to reflect Lola’s chaotic and urgent circumstances. This postmodern, “anything-goes” style injects a unique and lively energy into the movie.

• Music and Pace: A relentless punk/pop-based soundtrack combined with fast editing maintains the film’s frantic and tense pace, giving the audience a sense of 'Sugar Rush'-like exhilaration.

🚨 Fear of Commitment and Relationships

Instead of the high stakes of 'money and life' in the original, 《And Then Came Lola》 centers the risks within the private sphere of 'commitment'.

• Lola’s Instability: Lola, a talented photographer, is depicted with commitment phobia and distraction in both romance and work. Her constant lateness and flustered behavior symbolize a deeper fear of fully committing to her new girlfriend, Casey.

• Redemption in Relationships: The three attempts go beyond simply completing the photo delivery task; they chronicle Lola’s psychological journey as she realizes how much Casey means to her and gradually overcomes her instability. Ultimately, the film drives toward a conclusion where Lola chooses to secure her love and commit to the relationship with a 'You’re the One' resolution.

🌈 Lesbian Representation and Its Limitations

The film is significant in that it is produced by the lesbian community and features lesbian actors (Ashleigh Sumner, Jill Bennett, Cathy DeBuono) targeting primarily a lesbian audience.

• 'Lesbotopia' San Francisco: The setting portrays almost every character as lesbian, creating an unrealistic 'lesbian utopia'. While this can be interpreted as a form of compensation for mainstream films that marginalize lesbian characters, some critics argue that such extreme exclusion hinders realistic and integrated representation.

• Genre Limitations: By replacing the thriller elements of the original with a romance-driven 'photo delivery' problem, the stakes are comparatively lower. The film chooses to remain a lighthearted and sexy romantic comedy, which may leave some viewers feeling it is 'too light.'

👭 Lesbian Romantic Comedy

《And Then Came Lola》 is a work with distinctive formal aesthetics and lively energy. While it may lack complex narrative depth, it cheerfully portrays a woman’s fear of commitment and her pursuit of love. In the context of lesbian romantic comedy, it stands out as an inventive and energetic attempt, offering certain audiences a 'guilt-free pleasure' experience.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★★