In 2015, pop artist Hayley Kiyoko released the song that would become her biggest hit: “Girls Like Girls.” The song is from the perspective of a girl who is developing feelings for another girl who is romantically involved with a boy. It was incredibly successful, and the music video quickly became a viral internet sensation. In 2023, Kiyoko released a young adult novel of the same title that expanded upon the story from the song and music video. Now, over a decade after the song first hit the public’s ears, it has finally been adapted for the cinema.
Despite being Kiyoko’s first feature-length film, Girls Like Girls is not her first time sitting in the director’s chair. In addition to co-directing the original music video, she has directed several other of her music videos, such as “Feelings” and “Sleepover.” In turn, Girls Like Girls is at its strongest when it feels like a music video, and at its weakest when it has to develop its characters and plot.
The basic idea — to be a romance film made by a lesbian, for lesbians — is successful. Lovers of the original music video will not be disappointed, as this film captures the spirit of the song and its lyrics, allowing fans to live in those vibes and emotions throughout.
Unfortunately, while the relatively simple narrative premise is enough to fill a five-minute music video, the film struggles to develop the story beyond said premise. The characters are poorly constructed – specifically the love interest, Sonya (Myra Molloy), whose motivations don’t always make sense, and whose explanations for her actions seem half-baked. The protagonist, Coley (Maya da Costa), is slightly better-formed, but still very one-dimensional, even by the standards of the genre.
The moments of physical intimacy between Coley and Sonya are the high points, as they tap into the directorial skills Kiyoko has honed over her years of directing music videos. This film has an immense respect and care for the physical and emotional intimacy between the two girls and everything that it represents, so much of which likely comes from Kiyoko’s own experiences as a lesbian. The two leads also have solid chemistry with one another, and it’s not hard to become invested in their romance.
Where the film falters, then, is in the screenplay. While a bit of sappy or cheesy language is not unwelcome, and is in fact expected, in a teen romance film of this kind, some of the exchanges in Girls Like Girls feel clunky to the point of undercutting the emotions of the scene. It creates some tonal issues, as the film often seems to be going for earnestness but instead ends up with awkwardness. Kiyoko also struggles with the direction of these scenes that don’t rely so much on visual storytelling, and the performances suffer as a result, causing moments that are meant to feel light and effortless to falter.
With that being said, the importance of creating teen romance films for lesbians must be acknowledged, and even if this movie has its faults, it’s still special that the generation of queer young women who grew up listening to Kiyoko’s music and finding themselves in her lyrics can do that all over again with this film. It’s a perfect Pride Month watch, as it celebrates the characters’ identities without reducing them to just their sexualities. It explores what it means to be a lesbian growing up in a heteronormative world in the unique way that someone with lived experience can capture.
Overall, Hayley Kiyoko fans and fans of the romance genre will find a lot to enjoy here, with many heartfelt moments that embrace what Kiyoko’s music has meant to queer people throughout her career. It’s significant to see a song that has helped so many people to find joy and pride in their own identities evolve through so many art forms and mediums, and to still be making an impact on people even after all these years, as well as to see an artist’s dream project finally become fully realized.
Review Courtesy of Claire May Lewis
Feature Image Credit to Focus Features