LOL (2012)

Director:

Lisa Azuelos

Writers:

Lisa Azuelos (screenplay) &
Kamir Aïnouz (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 March 2012 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

You can change your status, but not your heart.

Plot:

As a new year at school begins, Lola's heart is broken by her boyfriend, though soon she's surprised by her best friend, promising musician Kyle, who reveals his feelings for her.

Plot Keywords:

High School | High School Romance | Best Friend | Kissing | Grandmother Granddaughter Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jean-Luc Bilodeau	...	Jeremy
Douglas Booth	...	Kyle
Vivian Le Borgne	...	Lily's Mother
Bridget Brown	...	Lily
Jim Carrane	...	Biology Teacher (as Jimmy Carrane)
Woody Carter	...	Male Student
Miley Cyrus	...	Lola
Felix Dayan	...	French Father
Sam Derence	...	Ashley's Father
Nora Dunn	...	Emily's Mother
Lina Esco	...	Janice
Trevor Fahnstrom	...	Ethan
George Finn	...	Chad
Rebecca Finnegan	...	Therapist
Alix Freihage	...	Young Wife
Lynnette Gaza	...	Principal (as Lynette Gaza)
Gina Gershon	...	Kathy
Ashley Greene	...	Ashley
Jay Hernandez	...	James
Loretta Higgins	...	Kyle's Mother
Ashley Hinshaw	...	Emily
Thomas Jane	...	Allen
Vichaan Kue	...	David
Madelyn Lasky	...	Joan of Arc
Demi Moore	...	Anne
Austin Nichols	...	Mr. Ross
Emma Nolan	...	Emma
Dennis North	...	Kyle's Father
Delphine Pontvieux	...	Joan of Arc's Mother
Leisa Pulido	...	Janice's Mother
Barbara Robertson	...	French Teacher
Adam G. Sevani	...	Wen (as Adam Sevani)
Russell Steinberg	...	Coach
Fisher Stevens	...	Roman
Marlo Thomas	...	Gran
Michelle Burke	...	Lauren (as Michelle Burke Thomas)
Brady Tutton	...	Jackson
Tanz Watson	...	Lloyd
Armon York Williams	...	Uniformed Cop (as Armon York)
Tedra Millan	...	Locker Room Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ismail Abdul-Aziz	...	Club Bouncer (uncredited)
Arnold Agee	...	Student Late to Class (uncredited)
Mike Ancrile	...	Sandwich Shop Patron (uncredited)
Apollo Bacala	...	Diner Patron / BG (uncredited)
Elias Bahri	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Christina M. Bender	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Andrew Biesen	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mark Bonto	...	Max (uncredited)
Ewan Bourne	...	Soccer Player (uncredited)
Randal Bruce	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Ron Causey	...	Angry Cell Phone Guy (uncredited)
Jeremy Cook	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Ryan Diamond	...	Extra (uncredited)
Abbie Dunn	...	Student (uncredited)
Gilbert Galon	...	CTA Passenger (uncredited)
Pennie-Marie Hawkins	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
Jairus Devon Hill	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Mathew Jadan	...	Teenage Student (uncredited)
Ericka Johnson	...	HS Teacher (uncredited)
Joe Kras	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
Don Kress	...	Businessman (uncredited)
Fox Langenkamp	...	Mike (uncredited)
Chameria Law	...	Student (uncredited)
Dervis Lici	...	Restaurant Cook (uncredited)
Bryan Matti	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Joshua McCarthy	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Chris Petoyan	...	Student (uncredited)
Dwayne Roszkowski	...	Grumpy Teacher (uncredited)
Joey Segars	...	Student (uncredited)
Barbara Szeman	...	Guest #1 (uncredited)
Eric Tuchelske	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Amanda Wright	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)

Directed by
Lisa Azuelos

Writing credits
Lisa Azuelos		(screenplay) &
Kamir Aïnouz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lisa Azuelos	....	executive producer
Nicole Brown	....	co-producer
Tish Cyrus	....	producer
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Kelli Konop	....	co-producer
Taylor Latham	....	co-producer
Romain Le Grand	....	executive producer
Esteban Martin	....	producer
Jim Powers	....	co-producer
Jérôme Seydoux	....	executive producer
Michael Shamberg	....	producer
Stacey Sher	....	producer

Original Music by
Rob Simonsen

Cinematography by
Kieran McGuigan

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein

Casting by
Mickie Paskal
David Rapaport
Jennifer Rudnicke

Production Design by
Happy Massee

Art Direction by
Marc Benacerraf

Set Decoration by
Summer Eubanks

Costume Design by
Hope Hanafin

Makeup Department
Michal Bigger	....	personal makeup artist: Demi Moore
Nunzio Carbone	....	hair stylist: Paris
Lauri Cuppetilli	....	makeup artist
Sabine Fevre	....	makeup artist: Paris
Christin Hanson	....	additional makeup artist
Louise Holoday	....	makeup artist
Lisa Jelic	....	makeup artist: Chicago
Jayne Laube	....	makeup artist
Sarah Mays	....	makeup department head
Amanda Miller	....	specialty wig maker
Stacey Panepinto	....	personal makeup artist: Marlo Thomas
Remy Pilot	....	key hair stylist: Paris
Elena Roulenko	....	key hair stylist
Lora Scrignoli	....	department head hairstylist
Ryan Trygstad	....	personal hair stylist: Demi Moore

Production Management
Philippe Bailleux	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Georges Barrier-Carron	....	unit manager: Paris
Alexandre Cabanne	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Cyril Chopin	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Thomas Colban	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
John Corser	....	unit production manager
Amelia Craig	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Thomas Delarue	....	assistant unit manager: Paris
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Anouk Puyalte	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Jean-Baptiste Rogez	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris
Dorothée Santucci	....	assistant unit manager trainee: Paris

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jolian Blevins	....	second assistant director
Sarah DeBoer	....	additional second assistant director
Sébastien Deux	....	first assistant director: Paris
Anne Legal	....	second assistant director: Paris
Yann Sobezynski	....	first assistant director
Cedric Vara	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Derek Berk	....	set dresser
David H. Bollman	....	set painter
Heathyr J. Clift	....	set dec co-ordinator
Chris Doherty	....	set constructor
Ulrich Duval	....	property master: Paris
Daniel Fisher	....	property master
Liz Georgoff	....	property assistant
Amy Graham	....	assistant property master
Lora Grujic	....	art department production assistant
Christopher Hosey	....	graphic designer
Malcolm X. Johnson	....	set dresser
Sharon Jonah	....	set painter
Casey Kaufman	....	set decoration buyer
Richard Krish	....	leadman
Robert Ludemann	....	graphic designer: props
Joan MacFarlane	....	assistant set decorator
Gregg Perez	....	gangboss
Lucy Schiefer	....	buyer
Lucy Schiefer	....	set decoration buyer
Michael A. Watt	....	set buyer
Edward Young	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Eric Anthony	....	sound utility: Chicago
Michael Babcock	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Babcock	....	supervising sound editor
Kelly Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Jenny Elsinger	....	additional cable person
Lionel Garbarini	....	boom operator: Paris
Vincent Goujon	....	sound mixer: Paris
Mike Hampton	....	sound utility
Ian Herzon	....	sound effects editor
Rick Hromadka	....	sound editor
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	boom operator
Aynee Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Billy Theriot	....	adr mixer
Paul Tirone	....	adr recordist
Joseph Tsai	....	foley editor
Thomas Varga	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Nicholas Leone	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Dean Tyrrell	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)
Robert Tyrrell	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Russell Tyrrell	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Worth Bjorn Walters	....	visual effects compositor

Stunts
Kathy Jarvis	....	stunt coordinator
Marty Murray	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Nathaniel Aron	....	director of photography: second unit, Paris
Souki Belghiti	....	assistant camera
Elsa Bennett	....	first assistant camera: Paris
David Berman	....	camera technician: Red
George Bianchini	....	camera operator
George Bianchini	....	steadicam operator
Franck Bouchoucha	....	key grip: Paris
Kevin 'Vinnie' Campbell	....	best boy electric
Art Cipollone	....	key digital video assist operator
Maxime Cointe	....	first assistant camera: Paris
Jaime Dawkins	....	technocrane operator
Camille de Chenay	....	video assistant
Camille Dechenay	....	camera trainee: Paris
Pierre Dejon	....	second assistant camera: Paris
Chris Doherty	....	rigging electrician
Roland Dondin	....	gaffer: Paris
Michael Dzialowski	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Joe Elrom	....	digital imaging technician
Ryan Faulkner	....	grip
David Feeney-Mosier	....	additional first assistant camera
David Feeney-Mosier	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Marvin Haven	....	dolly grip
Bruce Hazen	....	electrician
Ross Jones	....	key grip
Kevin Laot	....	second assistant camera
Patrick Murray	....	gaffer
Evan Nelson	....	dolly grip
Ted Nimz	....	electrician
Kevin Olson	....	grip: Chicago
Sara Plano	....	digital utility
Jimi Radcliff	....	digital utility
Christopher Reams	....	grip
James Selph	....	best boy grip
Gilles Sollier	....	best boy: Paris
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Steve Speers	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Jonathan Terpstra	....	electrician
Seth Thomas	....	technocrane technician
Eric Thurot	....	generator operator: Paris
Frédéric Thurot	....	electrician: Paris
Timothy Troy	....	electrician: Chicago
Wade Tyree	....	lighting technician
Thom Valko	....	additional second assistant camera
Renato Vicini	....	electrician: Paris
Brett Walters	....	first assistant camera
John Waterman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, Chicago
David Williamson	....	best boy electric: Chicago
Mark N. Woods	....	technocrane operator

Casting Department
Josh Breit	....	casting associate
Jess Gisin	....	extras casting
Cecile Lubeau	....	extras casting assistant: Paris
Thomas Lubeau	....	extras casting: Paris
Melissa Pryor	....	casting associate
Kathy Remski	....	extras casting
Erin Stewart	....	extras casting
Jamie Stires	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Loretta Harper	....	key set costumer
Emilie Hug	....	wardrobe: Paris
Rebecca Marthouret	....	wardrobe: Paris
Emma Potter	....	assistant to costume designer
Stephen K. Randolph	....	costume supervisor
Kelly Anne Ross	....	costumer
Haley Smith	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	senior digital film colorist
Courtney Conwell	....	post-production assistant
Carl S.G. Moore	....	digital intermediate producer
Jill Piwowar	....	first assistant editor
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor
David Townsend	....	post-production coordinator
Darin Wooldridge	....	home video mastering colorist
Josh McLerran	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Duncan Blickenstaff	....	assistant to composer
Brianne-Adette Bogle	....	music coordinator
Kerry P. Brown	....	music engineer
Jonathan Clay	....	featured vocalist
Kevin Dippold	....	music mixer
Dean Menta	....	music editor
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Johnzo West	....	live music coach

Transportation Department
Jason Cullen	....	driver
Robert Rice Sr.	....	transportation captain
Robert'Bob'Rice Sr.	....	transportation captain
Kim Smallwood	....	dispatcher
Kim Smallwood	....	transportation office coordinator
Randy Southerland	....	transportation captain
Tim J. Walters	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jodi Gabrielle Beals	....	production assistant
Kirk Berryman	....	production assistant
Kerry P. Brown	....	director: Actors Rock School
Eric Carlson	....	executive chef
Kristin Cauldwell	....	payroll accountant
Andrew Cesana	....	script supervisor
Hailey Cho	....	miscellaneous crew
Cindy Chu	....	assistant to producer
Lauren Ciell	....	assistant accountant
Kale Davidoff	....	production assistant
Georgia M.R. Dawson	....	assistant production coordinator
Ideene Dehdashti	....	production assistant
Nicholas Deroo	....	location manager
Russell DeVriendt	....	key assistant location manager
Brooke Ensign	....	unit publicist
Coco Francini	....	assistant to Michael Shamberg
Amber Fritz	....	script supervisor (additional script supervisor)
Allison Furgal	....	production coordinator
Ryan Genther	....	stand-in: Jean-Luc Bilodeau
Rebecca Goldsmith	....	stand in for Demi Moore
Zoë Gordon	....	assistant to producers
Pamela B. Green	....	co-creative director: main titles internal graphics and VFX
Jessica Heemskerk	....	production assistant
Thanh Hoang	....	set team
David J. Kennedy	....	office production assistant
Andre King	....	production assistant (as Andre E King)
Stephanie Le Jamtel	....	assistant script supervisor: Paris
Cedric N. Lee	....	location assistant
Julie Lupo	....	script supervisor
Julie Lupo	....	script supervisor: second unit
Julien Madon	....	french production unit
Peter Martorano	....	production supervisor
Duncan Maxwell	....	production assistant: Chicago
Tim McClure	....	location scout
Dane Mclean	....	production assistant
Adam McNinch	....	production assistant
Lisa Momberger	....	assistant: Ms. Moore
Katherine Lee Murphy	....	stand in: Demi Moore
Stefan Nikolov	....	location manager: Chicago
Leena P. Ogle	....	first assistant accountant
Katelyn Patterson	....	production assistant
Greg Pitoniak	....	location assistant
Sahir Rashid	....	additional set production assistant
Claire Skowronek	....	production assistant
Joe Steele	....	product placement
Alyssa Telford	....	location assistant: Chicago
Bobby Thompson	....	production assistant
Alex Tompkins	....	additional production assistant
Jennifer Tunberg	....	production assistant
Heather Tyler	....	post production accountant
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	creative director main titles and intenal graphics and vfx
Desiree Varni	....	key production accountant
Lydia Whitlock	....	assistant to co-producer
John C. Wise	....	key set production assistant
Brian Wooten	....	production assistant
Marc T.S. Zakalik	....	travel coordinator
Tanya F. Zora	....	intern

Production Companies

• Double Feature Films
• Lol Productions
• Mandate Pictures
• PIC Agency

Distributors

• Golden Village Pictures (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Film (2012) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Acme Film (2012) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• AcmeFilm (2012) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Budapest Film (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2012) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2012) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Ster-Kinekor Pictures (2012) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Volga Film (2012) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Leeding Media (2012) (China) (all media)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Perfect World (Beijing) Pictures Co. (2012) (China) (all media)
• Star Entertainment (2011-2012) (India) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2013) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2013) (Argentina) (video) (Blu-ray)
• TriPictures (2013) (Spain) (all media)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Tyrrell FX & Rentals

Other Companies

• Fletcher Camera Detroit  camera equipment provided by
• Fletcher Camera Detroit  dailies
• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering (chicago)
• Atmosphere Casting of Chicago  extras casting: Chicago
• Carlson Catering Company  catering
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Digital Vortechs  Avid HD editing equipment provided by
• Fletcher Chicago  COSMoS digital lab services
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Line 3500 Studio Rentals  transportation equipment
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Michigan Crafty and Motion Picture Catering  craft services
• Mid America Cine Support  camera dollies
• Mid America Cine Support  expendables
• Mid America Cine Support  grip and lighting equipment
• Movie Movers  transportation
• PIC Agency  titles
• Post Haste Sound  commentary recording engineering
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving teen sexuality and drug and alcohol use, and for language

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Datasat | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #46730) | India:A | Singapore:NC-16 | Ireland:15A | Sweden:Btl | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Italy:T | Mexico:B15 | Argentina:13 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Double Feature Films

Trivia:

Lisa Azuelos both wrote and directed the first incarnation, LOL (Laughing Out Loud) ® (2008), the French film starring Sophie Marceau, after realizing that movies based on teen life in her home country of France were almost entirely missing. She would often see her daughter go to the theatre to watch either an American teen movie or a horror film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The movie is set in Chicago (but actually filmed in Detroit) and the RenCen is clearly shown outside of Kyle's apartment. In the next scene there are shots of Chicago.

Quotes:

Lola:It's so good to love someone so much that it hurts. I don't know how people survive this. Honestly, I don't.

Movie Connections:

References Starsky & Hutch (2004)

Soundtrack:

Alright

A Nutshell Review: LOL

The first Hollywood film to premiere in India this year, which is quite apt since I suppose audiences in India can appreciate remakes upon remakes hitting their screens every now and then, since different movie regions in India have cross-made their films especially if they are financially successful. This version of LOL is a second generation remake, with the original film made with French actress Sophie Marceau playing the role of Miley Cyrus' titular role of Lola, before switching to play Demi Moore's role of mom in writer-director Lisa Azuelos' 2006 version, who then decided to direct the same film all over again, this time with Hollywood money.

I suppose it's tough getting bored when doing the same project, albeit with a different cast bringing different sensibilities to the table, and of course, being set in different countries allowed for an exploration of the modern / current day teenage trials and tribulations, and see how they would have differed from the very first film. For starters, this is an out and out teenage chick flick, set in high school where topics are rather constricted, ranging from bad grades to boys, to hot teachers and cliques, circle of trust and betrayals, and so on. High schools make for very fertile ground as a story setting, but you really can't get away from the formula, even if technology from webcams to IM chat sessions enter to spice things up a little

Miley Cyrus had a scene involving smoking of drugs here cut out, because a real life shenanigan blew way out of control with the teenage idol hell bent and desperate to leave behind her Disney child-friendly persona of Hanna Montana. Be it having provocative personal pictures making their way online, to recreational drug use or otherwise, the filmmakers probably thought it best to leave behind the negative publicity, and cut that out of the film. Which didn't do the flow any favours at times, with other less than stellar editing efforts such as a following scene that contradicted what was said before.

In any case Cyrus plays Lola, a teenager who opens the film being dumped by her boyfriend Chad (George Finn), and we'd just about know that she'll fall head over heels with her best male buddy Kyle (Douglas Booth) especially after gushing ad nausem about him and confessing so in her secret diary. But the road to true romance is always a bumpy ride, so you can bet your last dollar it has to deal with misunderstandings which led to temporal breakups and the like, not to mention falling school grades all over the shop make school life quite the bane to a relationship. Kyle too has issues with his dad's frowning upon his musical CCA, but since this is a chick flick, who really cares about the male characters anyhow, except when they fail to pout and look hot.

Subplots in the film that pad it up include a focus on Lola's best friend Emily (Ashley Hinshaw), who has the hots for her math teacher (Austin Nichols) with dream boat looks, and is the female equivalent of a Stifler or that obligatory rude, shock jock in any teenage sex comedy, and of course, Mom Anne, which the film splits 50-50 with her own relationship, being unable to move on from the husband (Thomas Jane) she divorced, and being at the crossroads to begin one with a rather persistent cop James (Jay Hernandez). Plus the dynamics between mother-daughter getting the highlights and focus as well, between Anne and Lola where sometimes they drive each other nuts, only to always inherently realize blood runs thicker than water.

LOL, after so many iterations, came off as flat and offered little surprises to fans of such films, who lap it up only because of a different cast. It's the usual chick flick dealing with rudimentary issues for its formula, which in real life may not even be issues at all. It's mildly amusing with nary a class act from anyone in their delivery, and perhaps it's that generation gap that's fast driving a wedge between myself and issues brought up in the film which may seem like a big deal for one growing up. Surely it's a coming of age tale, but I'm not getting it, nor am I the right demographic targeted to begin with.