The trailer premiere of Lola Versus happened at the same time I was becoming obsessed with the show, The Killing. I was in the middle of season one and super into finding out who killed Rosie Larsen. Then I watched the Lola Versus trailer, and WHOA! There’s Detective Holder! Or Joel Kinnaman. Anyway, I instantly added to my mental list of movies I must watch. And not just because of Joel Kinnaman, I do like Greta Gerwig, and the film looked like an interesting departure from the typical rom-com. In a way, it was, but I can’t say that anything is particularly special about the film.
Lola Versus starts with Lola (Greta Gerwig) turning 29 years old. She’s on the “dreaded” cusp of 30. But lucky for her, her long-time boyfriend, Luke (Joel Kinnaman), proposes, and Lola has a wonderful whirlwind of months of wedding planning. But it all ends when three weeks before the wedding, Luke breaks up with her. Devastated, Lola doesn’t know how to move on, but with the help of her parents (played by Debra Winger and Bill Pullman) and her best friends (played by Hamish Linklater and Zoe Lister Jones), she begins to try.
Clocking in at only 87 minutes long, Lola Versus definitely feels long. Peppered with very funny jokes (mostly thanks to Zoe Lister Jones), Lola’s heartbreak is something that feels familiar and we know all too well. That familiarity made the film feel a tiny bit slow or boring at times. Also, I didn’t feel as invested into the characters as I would have liked to be. I liked them – and cared about them to an extent – but I could’ve left the film halfway and not think twice about them. However, I do think that Greta Gerwig has a charming on-screen presence. I would say she’s a tolerable version of Lena Dunham (or at least Dunham’s Girls character). As for my dear Joel Kinnaman? He played the confused male well, despite it not really being a noteworthy performance.
The highlights of the film were definitely Lola’s parents. I thought the dialogue and overall chemistry between Gerwig, Winger and Pullman were great. Their characters had a sweet family dynamic. Gerwig’s scenes with Lister Jones were the funniest of the movie. I’m a tough critic of humor, so the fact that I burst out laughing quite of few times means something.
Despite not finding something absolutely special with Lola Versus, it was enjoyable and had its moments. If anything, it’s worth checking out when it hits Redbox.
Rating: 5.5/10 ★★★★★☆ {What does this rating mean? Visit our Review Ratings Explained page}
Lola Versus is now playing in select theaters.
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