Romance movies, at their core, are escapist fare. They tend to set up a tragic beginning, only to save the day with love and self-discovery at the end. The only drama is when the past, usually in the form of a former love, casts doubt on things. They are formulaic. Enter “Lesbian Space Princess,” a romantic animated film that refuses to take the easy way to get to where it’s going.
The film revolves around Saira, a space princess on the verge of manifesting a weapon only space princesses have access to. She is in love. She is happy. And it’s all about to fall apart. When she is unceremoniously dumped, everything around her starts to crumble, and she begins to question everything in her life. It doesn’t help that, unable to manifest the magical weapon, she’s seen as a failure and a loser. When she is sent a message from her ex, begging Saira to save her after she’s been captured by an alien race, Saira must overcome every doubt that fills her to become a hero she can’t imagine being.
Despite being romantic, this is a farcical romance, to say the least. The humor is broad, the jokes come often, and it’s a pretty breezy film. The acting is good, and the animation has a unique look that gives the film character. The movie didn’t really work for me because the messaging is very heavy-handed and never lets up. It’s the point of the film, so your mileage will completely vary. It just felt like too many of the jokes were lazy and lacked any depth.
Despite not fully buying into the film, the music is fantastic, and the movie’s message is great.
It’s a fun movie, and a lot will love it. I would wager it will gain a cult following as more and more people get a chance to discover it.
The film is out now.
TL;DR: A heavy-handed animated romantic comedy with its heart in the right place.
3 out of 5
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29781139
