Filled with the high emotional stakes of youth that feel no less dire, Girls Like Girls paints a colorful emotional landscape in an unforgettable feature.
Girls Like Girls is the only movie based on a song and music video that knocks the transition to the silver screen out of the park. There’s plenty to love about this coming-of-age story about young love between two teenage girls. The costume design, sets, music, and acting all deliver a mostly peak immersive experience, drawing out emotional highs and lows from the audience. If you have never heard the song or seen the music video, this is sure to have you backtrack to the film’s inception. Filled with the high emotional stakes of youth that feel no less dire, Girls Like Girls paints a colorful emotional landscape in an unforgettable feature.
Hayley Kiyoko directs and pens the screenplay alongside Stephanie Scott and Chloe Okuno (Watcher, V/H/S/94). The story follows Coley, played by Maya da Costa (Under the Bridge, The Healing Powers of Dude), a 17 year old girl as she deals with a father, Curtis, played by Zach Braff (Scrubs, Cheaper By the Dozen), who’s a stranger and a new friend, Sonya, played by Myra Molloy (He’s All That, Halfworlds), who’s more than. Girls Like Girls depicts their individual fears and keeps the question of “will they, won’t they” taut throughout.
Girls Like Girls Shines in the Non-Verbal
There is not much wrong with the dialogue. However, the sneak peeks mixed with long stares are where the movie thrives, pulling in audiences. That awkward yet sweet buildup as the two circle each other as friends, unsure of whether to explore the potential of more, builds anticipation and joy in the audience. It’s easy to see your first fledgling loves reflected in their relationship. Girls Like Girls presents that love and uncertainty with an unabashed realism that makes you feel that you’re watching a documentary of someone’s young life.
The Leads and Director Deserve More Work
The direction itself often feels like it’s through the eyes of Coley, especially as she loses herself in her feelings for Sonya. It’s never voyeuristic. Instead, Haley Kiyoko uses the camera to capture the feelings of Coley. It’s unsurprising because while this is Kiyoko’s first feature, she directs her music videos. If you cannot visually capture the emotional resonance within a song, it becomes a dissonance, leaving viewers uninterested. Under Haley Kiyoko’s direction, Girls Like Girls becomes an inescapable romance that never feels disingenuous.
Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy are amazing as friends who feel more. They sell every scene. Maya plays Coley as someone of few words, but her expressions say it all. Myra makes you believe in her struggle to accept herself and how hard it is for both of them. Coley is trying to get over a traumatic loss that lingers in every scene, especially when she is with her father. And Zach Braff is great, though underutilized. But his desperation to connect with his daughter is palpable. And Myra sells her character’s pressure to be perfect.
Perfect Pride Month Fare and Beyond
Although some may argue stories around LGBTQIA either coming out or fighting to accept themselves are tiresome, given how many straight stories focus on young love again and again, there’s more than enough room for romance tales outside of the default lenses. Many queer kids still struggle with self-acceptance, and it’s wonderful to have a film demonstrating they are not alone in their fears or their loves. In fact, we need more stories in different medium, ages and demographics.
Girls Like Girls looks to connect on a human level with its audience. If you’ve ever experienced young love, you know what this feels like. And, if you’ve ever struggled with accepting your LGBTQIA identity, fearing how family and friends would feel, you understand what this feels like. Girls Like Girls has great music, amazing performances, and is a must-see and must-have.
