Life Partners

Putting a spin on best friend relationships, director and co-writer Susanna Fogel (ABC Family's "Chasing Life") has crafted a surprisingly funny and heartwarming gem with "Life Partners."

Starring Leighton Meester ("Gossip Girl") and Gillian Jacobs ("Community"), the story follows the friends as they navigate the single world -- from perspectives both gay and straight. Sasha (Meester) is a casual tomboy who has yet to find anyone she wants to settle down with. She works as a receptionist at an architecture firm while spending her free time avoiding her dream of being a singer-songwriter. Paige (Jacobs), on the other hand, is a successful lawyer with her own house and an overbearing mother. The two young women have become each other's primary emotional support, frequently having TV nights and staying over each other's houses. But when they both decide to give Internet dating a try, things start to change.

Sasha has an awful date with a narcissist named Trace (Kate McKinnon) while Paige goes out with a dermatologist named Tim (Adam Brody) who has a penchant for quoting movies and wearing t-shirts with "clever" sayings on them. But despite this, Paige likes Tim and the two start dating. This leaves Sasha slightly on the sidelines, even though Paige does her best to include her as usual. The film follows the friends as they navigate these new changes and both come to terms with their own personal shortcomings.

While it might not see like there's anything new here, Fogel and co-writer Joni Lefkowitz ("Chasing Life") have given us characters with charm and flaws all rolled together in an amusing package. The dialogue is perceptive and smart, and it steers clear of many of Hollywood's LGBT clich�s. This story doesn't focus on the differences between the two girls' dating lives because of their sexual orientations, it focuses on their relationship. This goes a long way in showing how -- gay or straight -- there really isn't much of a difference in how people handle the dating world and the people closest to them.

Meester continues to grow as an actress having shed her snobby "Gossip Girl" character in films such as "Country Strong" and, most recently, "The Judge." She has a real comic flair and falls comfortably into the role of a lesbian without overdoing the stereotypes. This is a girl we know that feels lived in and natural.

Jacobs is also a find here, moving past her "Community" character and various voice-over work to bring us a character that is delightfully flawed. Both actresses seem very comfortable together, and this is one of the biggest strengths of the piece.

Adam Brody is terrific as the boy that steps into the fray and causes the change that will alter the nature of Paige and Sasha's relationship.

All in all, "Life Partners" is one of the nicest surprises of the year. It's not going to win any awards, but with its pitch-perfect performances, hilarious dialogue and fun characters, this is a film that will win audiences over regardless of whom they sleep with.

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Video On Demand November 6, 2014