Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Oddly, I don’t remember dating any documentarians lately. Oh, wait, this is about Drew Barrymore. Gotcha. Actually, I’ve heard a lot of good things about this one. Sounds like it’s fun.
So hey. A little while back I went to a screening on the Ithaca College campus called "My Date With Drew" which chronicles one man's 30 day long quest to get a date with Drew Barrymore. The filmmakers, IC alum, were in attendence and did a Q and A afterwards. Now I myself am currently a transfer student from USC who decided he wanted to see something besides LA for a while. One thing I noticed is the genuine nature to the people here at Ithaca. I'm not saying LA doesn't have genuine people, but the majority of people I have met here have been genuine and likeable. I only mention this because the film relies heavily on the likeability of it's lead. And this is where the film succeeds.
The film was directed by a trio of IC grads, Jon Gunn, Brett Winn, and star Brian Herzlinger. Herzlinger is the protagonist of this modern day fable. It is a documentary so it could have become incredibly contrived and boring, but Herzlinger and company craft a very very genuine film instead. It is an adorable little film. I don't use such adjectives often, but it is adorable. Charmed my pants off. Not gonna lie, he could have had me by the end and I usually like girls. I was actually surprised how much I ended up rooting for him to get the date. It seems like a superficial quest to get a date with a famous lady who is in a relationship to begin with, but damn if I didn't want him to meet her. Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of Drew's either. She seems genuine and nice, but sometimes she is a bit much for me. Donnie Darko is the perfect example of my thoughts on Barrymore. She helped make the movie, it took her star power to get that beauty off the ground, yet I never really bought her role in the film. That being said, it didn't really bother me that much. After this film, I must say, I appreciate her a little more.
The film is just inspiring. Plain and simple. I mean, a movie that's budget was 1100 bucks. The camera was purchased at Circuit City with the intent to return it before the thirty days was up on the return policy. As a filmmaker this is the sort of thing that gets me going. They went out and did it. They made a film that had a very big chance to fail completely. If it weren't for the friendship of the filmmakers and the likeability of Herzlinger I would not have dug this movie at all.
The packed house at IC ate the film up completely. Granted this was an enthusiastic audience, but if it plays half as well in a regular theater there is a good chance this little DV film can make a slice of Americana smile as much as I did while watching.
So, I have sent in a number of reviews before, usually sticking to ones I feel might not get a fair shake of the dice, and I realized this website reaches a very large number of people and a film like this could really use the support of people like this. The people who are passionate about films, the ones who frequent this site are the perfect audience for a movie about a little guy trying for a dream.
Very funny, very genuine, very charming. And adorable. I heartily recommend this little gem to all those who feel like they could use a smile or two.
Then again, why trust me? I am, after all, nothing but a common, lowly, good for nothing...
Goondock Saint
oh and my good god all-mighty. any film, quote me on this, any fucking film that features ANYONE quoting the "Well this is my dream, my wish, and didn't happen. So, I'm taking it back." dramatic pause "I'm taking em all back." scene from "The Goonies" will win me over. I kid thee not. Paul WS Anderson if you want me to see your piece of shit movies, quote "The Goonies" I will bring my cupcake attitude to your visual gift card.
did i mention the lead of "My Date With Drew" quotes that scene TO the one, the only, Corey Feldman. i don't care what you want to say about Feldman. joke all you want about his past, his present, surreal world, whatever. i love him. i truly do. he has given me so much joy in "The Goonies" "Stand by Me" "The Lost Boys" "The Burbs" and many many more. he has made me smile, and that's more than i can say about most people.
Thanks, man.
"Moriarty" out.
