YOU’RE SO CUPID

US, 2010, 95 minutes. Colour.
Brian Krause, Lauren Holly.
Directed by John Lyde.

You’re So Cupid begins in a very twee manner. A young woman is talking about falling in love for life and then suddenly crashes her car in a rainstorm. She describes how a young man appears, a Prince Charming and she uses the language of fairy tale. She marries him. They have twins and she describes what happens as the twins are growing up, their alertness to relationships in other people, loving Valentine’s Day and distributing Valentine presents around the streets.

When the girls are in high school, they bond very closely. However, a touch of realism appears as their mother walks out on their father. He seems to be preoccupied with his work, answering his mobile phone, being late for meetings. She is very upset with him. Each of the girls goes with each of the parents.

The girls are very good at matchmaking, especially for the forthcoming dance. However, the cousin of one of the boys whom Lily, one of the twins, is attracted to, becomes the ‘dreamboat’ for the two girls who decide that they will invite him to go to the dance, each telling the other they are in love, but not revealing with whom. Needless to say, antagonisms occur, with some mean girls behaviour on the part of each of the twins.

In the background is the preparation for a performance of Romeo and Juliet, a lot of language about young love and passion, the young man that Lily likes auditioning for Romeo, her wanting to play Juliet.

The film shows aspects of life at school but focuses very much on the two girls, their work for helping others as well as their relationship with each other and with their parents. Once the difficulties are resolved, they try to bring their parents together again, using the usual device of writing a letter to the other – and the whole plan of course comes apart. They then get them to be chaperones at the dance – with the possibility of their reuniting. However, with some advice, needless to say the parents do.

Later in the film there is a plot twist which might elicit the response of ‘yikes’ from some of the adult audiences. It is revealed that the father really is Cupid. When he fell in love with Audrey, he became Daniel, a mere mortal, losing his divine powers. This plot twist has to be seen to be believed. Of course, the two girls have some of his Cupid powers and are able to effect some magic.

It would seem that this film is designed very much for a niche market: for younger teenagers who could identify with the girls and their situations. One might imagine that the best context for seeing this film would be a teenage sleepover at the home of one of the girls who invites all her friends to what the film with her. There would be a lot of talk about the issues – but as the girls got older, the film might seem even more juvenile while audiences might find it a bit trite. Its heart is in the right place.