thesar-2
Picture it: Mid-2000s. The idea of a documentary involving stalking, er, trying for a date with the person of your dreams was, in fact, original back then. Especially when that person is a fairly big Hollywood star and you're a nobody.Fast forward to today, it's no big deal. It's happened several times this year, alone, thanks to some honorable military personnel and YouTube.But for argument's sake, we'll stick with what they conceive as an almost internet-barren 2003 (that's when it was allegedly shot.) It's been awhile since then, but I don't remember having too much difficulty navigating the web 8 years ago.I digress. This had 2…TWO…things going for it at that time: originality and the actual date itself. C'mon, that's not a spoiler; it's the freaking title! Okay, here's the problem. Beyond the fake money scheme they added for "tension," and I hated this self-absorbed, selfish and arrogant pr|ck. Sorry, let me back up.We have Brian who's had a crush on actress Barrymore since he was a sperm cell and his mission is to get a date with her. He becomes obsessed with this. The date, that is. Does he really care about Drew? No, she's just an object to him. His mission is strictly the date…WHETHER OR NOT SHE WOULD WANT IT.So, he convinces his closes friends to illegally scam the now-defunct Circuit City for a video camera (they purposely purchase said camera in order to use it for 30 days and then deceitfully return it within the 30-day return policy) and follow him everywhere. Never (or barely) does he thank these guys who dropped everything to chase him as if they were his own disciples. It's always: JUST ABOUT HIM AND HIS Obsession. The more the movie crept along, the more I hated him.Anyways, he's won some game show with the amazing first place prize of $1,100 and he plans to use that plus the fraudulent Circuit City video camera to make it 30 days without a care about a place to live (RENT anyone?), transportation (cars need gas…EVEN in 2003) or heck, I don't know, FOOD. This hairy dude – believe me, he loves to show the world, he has a lot of body hair – doesn't look like he (or his ignorant followers) are missing any meals and yet, they never accounted for this simple flaw.He's also mooching off his parents an entire $100 so he can continue his foolish and selfish quest of landing the meaningless date? If you've seen this, or even half of it, he unbelievably complains he can't get their money fast enough. And yet, he still has most of the HUGE game-show money left. That doesn't matter to him – that's for his obsessive behavior in regards to the date. What matters to him is: taking is parent's money. (News flash, #1: Both Western Union/Money Gram existed in 2003, so if he really needed to use his victimized parents for money, he could've gone that route VS having to get a check in the mail and cashing it RIGHT before both the post office and the bank closes. Was this guy's schedule so full, he always had to wait until the last minute to take someone else's hard-earned money? And #2 $100 ain't gonna do sh|t in regards to food, transportation or living arrangements. ESPECIALLY in L.A.)Oh, and poor Drew. She's about to promote her terrible Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle movie – and this is Brian's way in to stalk her some more by criminally breaking into the movie premiere without a bit of remorse.During all this, said creep Brian, accepts a job he knows he'll hate, he doesn't want and he's quick to criticize the job he hasn't even started yet. Ahh, before you judge, he's just upset it will get in the way of his stalking. It's been awhile since this was shot, but if his employer sees this…please fire this idiot. If not for insubordination, just plain stupidity.It boils down to: Drew FINALLY finds out about his scheming and accepts the offer for a date despite her being in a committed relationship.Saying this movie isn't about stalking, is like saying The Punisher isn't about revenge. But, beyond the obvious stalking this guy is so obsessed with having a date with Drew, he shows zero repentance for all laws he's breaking, the friends he's using and most definitely, for Drew herself. She's no longer a human to him, she's just a goal.Mercifully, the two finally have the said date, in which, he pretty much dominates. Let me tell you: if I was star-struck by someone, I would want to hear them speak. But, this egotistical brat must think he's hilarious – BELIEVE ME, HE'S NOT A BIT FUNNY – since he controlled the entire conversation with his boring banter. He even says things he knows she'll agree with him on.I'll admit, the original concept at the time, and I'm talking long before the stolen camera began recording, and the actual date itself were good, but the rest of the 85 minutes weren't worth 5 minutes of your time.Here's a better documentary: (making of Boondock Saints) Overnight. The movie's "even-worse-than-Brian" writer/director Troy Duffy. At least in that documentary, you know the guy's an @ss up front and you root for him to fail throughout. With My Date with Drew, you're actually supposed to cheer on his criminal activity, his selfishness and his stalking. He was, in all reality, a real-life Borat.Well, I didn't cheer or remotely agree. I couldn't get onboard. Kudos to Drew for being flattered, albeit, illogically calm and being willing to participate – even though, I'm certain her security men were close. Very close.Like most awkward first dates (and Drew's had a least 50 of them) you'll want this to be over the moment it starts.
dddmi7-1
Brian Herzlinger is my new personal hero! If you don't see the purity and genius behind this project you have issues. Everyone in the world has at least one person they are in awe of. For Brian, it was Drew Barrymore. So one day he got the idea to go ahead and make a documentary about his ideal person. Whether you have issues with credibility or how much help the production crew received in making this film, you have to agree this took a lot of courage on his part. At worst he could have been arrested at the outset as a stalker, with the current level of security around celebrities in Hollywood. If you don't believe this took vision, skill, and commitment you should try it yourself. Rent a video camera from circuit city and set out to pursue any sort of film. With a handful of friends and the drive to get it done Brian succeeded where millions of others would have failed. I salute Brian and his entire crew for giving those of us who simply sit in theaters such a wonderful gift. The first time I watched Brian relate his call from Nancy to Jon I felt pure joy. I haven't felt that in a long time. I can't recall the last time I felt that way watching a movie. This film is about hope, goals, dreaming. What could possibly be wrong with that? Do yourself a favor, if you haven't seen My Date with Drew, rent it. If you've already seen it once, I suggest you now buy a copy. Keep your copy in a safe place, and make sure your children, grandchildren, and their children see it. Preserve it for the future.
lastliberal
This was really a funny film and a salute to those who persist in their dreams. They can come true if you just keep at it.Brian Herzlinger, an aspiring filmmaker, and his pals Jon Gunn and Brett Winn put together this documentary using $1100 bucks he won on a game show. Its a good first effort, and was an enjoyable film, especially the actual date. We got to see a side of Drew Barrymore that we would not normally see, and it was worth the effort.Remember that great line from Notting Hill: "After all... I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." I am so reminded of that when I see Drew Barrymore in her natural state in this film. What a girl!
TheEnglishman
I'm not a great fan of reality TV but here is a film that shows you how it should be done. I have no idea whether this is a genuine documentary or an original film script, and frankly I don't care. This film is positive, warm, witty, and fun. Camera work and sound quality are convincingly amateur, and the telephone conversations especially are a bit unclear. There's something about Brian that makes him likable - he's naive, harmless, up-beat. Anyone who likes this should look out some of the TV documentaries made by Louis Theroux - they have a similar style. Theroux tends to tackle more risky subjects, but he has a similar open honesty and humor in his approach.
