“Girls Like Girls” is presented as Hayley Kiyoko’s feature directorial debut, adapted from material connected to her 2015 pop song of the same name. Multiple outlets describe the story as a coming-of-age romance centered on two teenage girls who develop feelings for each other over the course of a summer break. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter tie the film’s origins to Kiyoko’s earlier work, noting that the 2015 track brought a mainstream viral message of lesbian desire and that the movie draws from that artistic foundation. Mashable similarly frames the film as an adaptation of Kiyoko’s novel and related music-video/song universe.
Reviews characterize the film’s tone as focused on adolescent longing and first-love intensity, including both joyful moments and emotional setbacks associated with navigating new relationships. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Zach Braff appears in the film. Overall, coverage depicts the debut as a confident turn into feature filmmaking, while keeping attention on themes of queer yearning and the pressures of teenage self-discovery.
