Better Than Chocolate (1998)

Many lesbian movies are long on charm and short on production values; Better Than Chocolate has a solid dose of both and steamy sex scenes to boot. Our heroine Maggie (Karyn Dwyer), a clerk at a lesbian bookstore, meets footloose butch Kim (Christina Cox) and, after Kim's van is towed away, they move in together. Unfortunately for their romantic bliss, Maggie's mother, Lila (Wendy Crewson), and teenage brother move in that very evening thanks to Lila's impending divorce. But what really complicates matters is that Maggie can't bring herself to come out to her mother; even when she tries, Lila steamrolls through the conversation, like she knows what's coming and doesn't want to hear it. Interwoven with this is the struggle of Judy (Peter Outerbridge), a male-to-female transsexual who's in love with the bookstore's owner, Frances (Ann-Marie MacDonald), who's freaking out because customs officers are holding a list of books at the border that they claim are obscene. The overlapping plots are deftly juggled, the personal and political are compellingly interwoven, and, most satisfying of all, the characters have problems that aren't going to be easily resolved. A handful of candy-colored lip-synching musical numbers give the movie some flash and the sex scenes give the movie some heat, but it's the elements of sorrow and ambiguity that really make the joy in Better Than Chocolate something to savor. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

One of the Best Lesbian Movies

Better than Chocolate is surely one of the best lesbian films ever made. The movie shows the many facets of the lesbian world, both good and bad. The lesbian love story begins early on and the thread of this romance continues throughout the movie. The lesbian characters are comfortable with both their sexual identity and their sexuality, unlike the vast majority of movies where the characters spend most of the movie struggling with these factors. The sex scenes are realistic and extremely erotic, among the best I've seen in a lesbian movie. Best of all, all the major characters live "happily ever after" in their own unique way.

The acting is excellent. My favorite character was Kim (portrayed by Christina Cox). She is an independent free spirit who is totally at ease with her sexual identity. In addition, the character is quiet, mildly brooding, as well as sultry and sexual. However, all the characters have their uniqueness and it is as if each one was destined to play that particular role... even the minor ones.
One of the things that separates this movie from so many others is the music. Every major scene seems to have a musical score that enhances the beauty of that moment.
If you're like me, after watching a movie a few times you want to know more about the making of the movie and the actors involved. In her commentary, film director Anne Wheeler did something unique. Instead of giving a monologue, Anne shows an abbreviated version of the film while adding tidbits about the actors, the shooting of a particular scene, as well as comments about the making of the movie itself. I was totally shocked to find that this film was made on an extremely low budget and shot in a mere 21 days. According to the commentary most scenes were done in only one or two takes. The film's content, the acting, the music and lighting are of such high quality the big budget film directors could take direction from Ms. Wheeler.
Better than Chocolate is sure to become a classic, like Desert Hearts and Tipping the Velvet. If you're looking for a lighthearted erotic view of lesbian life, this is the movie to see.
Better Than Chocolate January 8, 2009

Interesting Enough

A good enough movie for a part of entertainment that is lacking (lesbian love stories)... January 6, 2009

It's okay

Not one of my favorite Lesbian movies, but I ordered it because everyone said I should own a copy. It was a typical so-so movie...cute chick mets another cute chick, they fall in love, both have issues that tear them apart, they get back together.

he movie tends to deal with prejudice in its forms...and the message is...prejudice is BAD. And we hear it over and over and over again.

My favorite character was the transgendered mtf. S/he made the film interesting, otherwise it was a so-so film. July 27, 2008

Better than Chocolate

A good honest film about young love, well worth sitting down to watch. You could even enjoy it with your partner, what ever relationship your in. March 16, 2008

Way better than chocolate

Better than chocolate is the type of movie that after you are done watching it, you know that there are bad circumstances out there, but in the end it doesn't matter because - if you have love, nothing else matters. I must have watched this movie 30 times in one week when I first got it.
They couldn't have picked a better person than (christina Cox) to play the part of Kim. Extremely good acting, tasteful, very believable, and while you are watching it - it makes you feel like you are there.
It is a great love story about finding yourself, coming out, and acceptance and they are able to takes serious issues and makes them a little more light-hearted. Very real/feel-good movie, and I would recommend this movie to everyone. February 27, 2008

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