I can’t say the song-to-book-to-movie pipeline is a robust one, but that’s the type of production we have in this coming-of-age feature.
Hayley Kiyoko first made the song “Girls Like Girls” in 2015, before writing a novel inspired by the tune in 2023. The next step on her path was filmmaking, as she directed this adaptation of her book. The film centers on the character Coley (Maya da Costa), a teenager who’s moved from San Diego to rural Oregon just before her senior year.
She doesn’t view the move as a good one, though, as she’s now having to live with her estranged dad (Zach Braff) after her mother’s passing. Things start to brighten, though, when she develops a connection with another girl, Sonya (Myra Molloy), and their bond brings them closer. However, difficulties emerge as they navigate their feelings.
Kiyoko is clearly a person of many talents, as the singer, songwriter and author made the step to director quite seamlessly. Her feature film debut is a rather impressive one, full of heart and passion. That’s somewhat expected, considering this has long been a project she’s worked on in other forms, but it still takes effort and skill to bring it successfully to screen.
That’s what Kiyoko has done here, with a movie full of genuine, raw emotion captured through a character journey steeped in ups and downs. Coley’s arc, which includes romance, self-acceptance, setbacks and familial trauma all make for a compelling protagonist to follow.
The honesty and vulnerability on display with her in the movie really helps this picture shine. For a teen romance/coming of age drama, it’s inspired, especially as it’s also tackling adolescent characters coming to terms with both their sexuality and the impact it has on their greater personal lives. It adds depth to the film, and it’s all written quite nicely.
The nerves at play when a person is in those late teenage years and trying to determine if the kindling of a relationship is there, or their attraction to a person they have feelings for grows, is all presented with a remarkable level of authenticity and great attention to detail. A striking amount of care is taken in exploring the lead characters’ relationship, intimacy and roadblocks.
With that stated, the film also has the detriment of having a rather by-the-books plot. While the flick does plenty of things that sets itself apart from others in the genre, it’s also still true that the story of a young romance in the summer over a three act frame with the usual speed bumps is present.
It extends from the story to the filmmaking a bit as well, such as fairly straightforward montages. Speaking of which, these also tend to make it a bit tricky to figure out how much time is passing in the movie. It all does take place over an entire summer between junior and senior years, but it’s a bit hard to know how long certain periods of time are.
With that said, what was mentioned earlier in the review remains factual, making this film still largely work. The main characters, Coley and Sonya, are both complex, well developed young women, and both actresses are quite good. Da Costa especially excels in portraying the roller coaster of emotions her character feels. Plus, the movie includes a really solid performance from Zach Braff in a side role as Coley’s father.
Though it runs with a familiar playbook, “Girls Like Girls” is much more than just a standard teen romance flick. There’s an immense deal of heart at play with the characters and their internal workings, and Kiyoko did a commendable job in making what the leads are going through cinematic. This one has a lot going for it, and is certainly worth a watch. 4.25 out of 5.
Photo courtesy Focus Features.
