My Date with Drew
MY DATE WITH DREW: A ROMANTIC GEM
Brian Herzlinger’s My Date with Drew is a serenade to the actress Drew Barrymore. It is a documentary about Brian and how he wants to go out on a date with her. He doesn’t want a relationship or even a kiss. He just wants one date where he can meet the woman of his dreams. It is honest, funny, and sweet. It tells you to follow your dreams no matter what.
Brian (a Zach Galligan look alike) has had a crush on Drew since he was ten and she was eleven. He lives in Los Angeles where he works in the entertainment industry. So he decides to set out on a 30 day journey to get Drew to go out on a date with him. Why 30 days? Because that is how long he can keep the video camera that he purchased from Circuit City before he has to return it. Brian plays six degrees of separation with his friends and co-directors Jon Gunn and Brett Winn to get in touch with her. They talk to this person who talks to this person who might know somebody who knows her. They even come into contact with one of Drew’s cousins, who doesn’t even know her. They make a trailer for their documentary and send it to Flower Films, her production company. He even attends the Charlie’s Angels 2 premiere in hopes of getting to talk to her. He is doing all this while just trying to make it through the 30 days on a limited amount of cash.
The story of My Date with Drew is relatable. We all have a celebrity that we have dreamt of going out on a date with (mine was Ralph Macchio). Brian is silly, nerdy, passionate, a lovable geek. He makes the film. His awkwardness is endearing and I found myself rooting for him to achieve his goal. My pulse raced in anticipation and I felt his nervousness when he got into the after party for Charlie’s Angels 2. He goes to extreme lengths to find somebody that will get him in touch with her (see zit popping scene with her facialist Sonya Dakar. Ewwww). The film is straightforward and inspirational. It shows persistence at its best. And with an 80s soundtrack to match, I felt like I was watching a Rocky movie, wanting Brian to knock out Apollo Creed. And even though the low budget of the film is apparent, it doesn’t detract from the movie.
I don’t think anything could have made this film better. The crew and cast may have been novices in terms of filmmaking, but they come through with flying colors. I felt the friendship between Brian and his co-directors and everybody rallying behind him to accomplish this seemingly unachievable goal. The low budget and lack of professionals only added to the style and tone.
This is one of the sweetest movies I have seen in a long time. It will touch you. In the movie Brian quotes Drew as saying, “If you don’t take risks you’ll have a wasted soul.” Nothing could describe the movie any better.
Report Card:
Story-A
Acting-N/A
Visuals-B
Originality/Innovation-A
Enjoyability Grade–A
Overall Grade-A
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