Along Came Wanda

Found this gem by accident, gave it a watch, I have to say I loved it. Very well done technically as well as the story line and the acting. Took me on an emotional journey and was just a great movie. I am impressed!

Along Came Wanda (2021) was written and directed by Jan Miller Corran. It stars Constance Brenneman as Mary Beth Higgins and Cathy DeBuono as Wanda.

A common plot of lesbian movies is a woman who leaves her husband and looks for a new life. That's the theme of this movie. Mary Beth has been married for 20 years, and the movie begins with her leaving her husband in search of something better. The something better arrives in the form of Wanda. Wanda is a free spirit who delivers packages, and runs a soup truck out of her RV.

She and Mary Beth set out in the RV for adventure. (Well, sort of.) Along the way they see beautiful California scenery and get to meet interesting new age spiritual guides and psychics. The rest is pretty predictable.

Brenneman and DeBuono are good actors, but the whole movie ended up with the theme "Just Be." Not too much adventure there. What astounds me is that the movie has a preposterous 8.9 IMDb rating. (Citizen Kane has an 8.3.) Granted, there are fewer than 100 raters. Even so, every rater gave the movie an 8, 9, or 10. How many friends and relatives does director Miller have? My suggestion--avoid this film and seek out Walk With Me--same theme, much better movie.

We saw this film virtually from ImageOut, the excellent Rochester LGBT Film Festival. For the record, I rated it 6.

Many thanks to this terrific cast for delivering a funny, thoughtful and satisfying story. Wanda is a hoot. Mary Beth is a fragile beauty who gets stronger every step of the way. I loved the super sexy Laura. And Davina was awesome. I even loved the van. See it. You will be glad you did.

I watched this on Valentine's Day with my wife...my cynical, hard to please wife when it comes to lesbian movies, as she wants them to be more mainstream. Me? I just enjoy any kind of representation so I'll admit when something is poorly done, but still love the effort. This movie, however, is good. I loved it and my wife thought it was "cute", meaning she enjoyed it, too.

As a fan of Cathy DeBuono I thought it was the best I've ever seen her. Yes, she is very funny as Wanda, but, had some brief scenes showing the depth of her character'a "backstory" peaking through. I think that's something she's never been afforded in some of her past performances and maybe the sign of a good director, too?

It's no wonder she's won so many Best Actress awards at the film festivals for this role this past year. And, Constance Brenaman is perfect for her part, too. She plays off DeBuono, and others very well and you can see in her face that Wanda is just the breath of fresh air she needs and has needed for a long time.

All of the other characters and actors are great, too. I especially loved Davina, whose role in Wanda's life is much bigger than we're first led to believe. What a great character in this movie!

Overall, this movie just made me feel good. It's another good one like "Snapshots", which made me a Jan Miller Corran fan. (Which is another movie that I love!) See it. Funny, and poignant. 10/10.

This movie is a great reminder to LIVE life...not the one you someone directed you to exist in...but the one. Your heart & soul desire that fulfills you to all you deserve of this one life we are given. Soo many people are just existing in this place of "contentment" that they have been conditioned and have forgotten what life is truly all about and the gift we are blessed with every day, that all we have is now and each of us is on our own journey to experience all we desire and embrace each moment. Just as much as we need to embrace those whom we are blessed to share this journey with that come into our lives and all they have to give to us, teach us or show us...whether for a moment or a lifetime.

The authentic nature of each character portrayed truly brought you in to the film, especially that of Wanda, played by Cathy DeBuono.