Lola Versus

Delightful "relationship" movie
"Lola Versus" (87 min.) is the second feature film for real-life partners Daryl Wein (co-writer and director) and Zoe Lister Jones (co-writer and co-star), after the promising 2009 feature "Breaking Upwards". I caught "Lola Versus" just recently at the Esquire, the Cincinnati indie-movies theatre.

"Lola Versus" brings the story of Lola (played by Greta Gerwig), who is in a seemingly perfect relationship with boyfriend Like (played by Joel Kinnaman), as it is portrayed in the first 5 min. of the movie. In fact Luke proposes to Lola, who happily says yes. But alas, with only weeks before the wedding date, Luke breaks up with Lola. In the rest of the movie we see Lola struggling to cope with this devastating news, counting on her close friends to help her, including best girl pal Alice (played by Lister Jones) and best guy pal Henry (played by Hamish Linklater). It would ruin your viewing experience if I spelled out how it all unfolds, you'll just have to see it for...

Actress Greta Gerwig makes this film worthwhile
My first experience watching Greta Gerwig was in a small movie from 2010 called "Greenberg." By my count she now has 6 films that have or will come out in 2012 including this one. Here she plays a 29 year old part time waitress trying to get her Ph.D. by explaining great literary pieces. Many will compare this "relationship" film to "Sex in the City" or Lena Dunham's "Tiny Furniture/Girls" and like those films/TV series, New York City is a central character.

The film opens with Lola about to get married to Luke (Joel Kinnaman, "Safe House"), a hunky dude she lives with. He gets cold feet a few weeks before the wedding, which is catastrophic for Lola. Propped up by her former hippie parents (Debra Winger and Bill Pullman) and a couple clichéd friends (co-writer Zoe Lister Jones and Hamish Linklater), the story follows Lola's attempt to regain her footing. She's confused and convinced that no one wants her, so begins a series of one night stands that includes her...

Greta's Got Talent
This was an enjoyable film, showcasing Greta Gerwig's talent and offering up a story that seemed convoluted at times. There is little question of Ms. Gerwig's talent. She appears to be the quintessential Woody proscribed heroine. This was so much more than earlier appearance in 'Greenberg.'

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