User reviews

This movie has all the makings of a really good movie. It had really good film quality, passionate individuals, a fast moving plot -- and a really good (obvious) goal. But even given all that, I just couldn't connect with the lead character/filmmaker. He's clearly a passionate guy, but something about him seemed like there was a manic aggressive undercurrent to his personality. The result was a turn-off to the film - and I watched with some excruciating pain as he tried to get to Drew Barrymore.

This movie is not without its merits - it is well done and there are some smart lines and ideas - like the 6 degrees of separation between any two people in the world. That stuff is cool, but unfortunately that didn't make up for the dislike of the main character. Skip this movie unless you're a devout Drew Barrymore fan.

The movie starts off dry and with a "Supersize Me" feel to it. However, if you can sit through the first fifteen minutes, it'll get better. I started this movie with my wife thinking that she would enjoy it more than I, although I had a pretty good time watching it. I am a prior-service US Marine and am currently a Deputy Sheriff and I can still identify with Brian even through all of the goofy not-so-suave antics displayed. I applaud him for making the movie and the wherewithal to follow through with his mission. The mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work unless it's open. Give the flick a chance.

PS Hey, Brian where's your mydatewithdrew.com website? I couldn't find it.

Even casting aside memories of the infamous summer of 2005, (during which the Internet Movie Database's Film General message board was overrun for months by the director's friends relentlessly hawking this documentary - and getting extremely unpleasant when challenged about their behaviour, trolling the board - in a monumentally misguided attempt at viral marketing that ensured everyone who encountered them waited for it to arrive on television rather than pay to see it) this film is impossible to like.

Much of that stems from the unlikable Brian Herzlinger, a man with no personality to speak of. He's a poor enough actor to betray the fact that at times he's clearly reading scripted material or improvising imaginary see-I-got-you-back phone conversations with an ex girlfriend who cheated on him. And that's not even his most pathetic moment.

Every attempt is made to enliven the concept but because it simply doesn't lend itself to a feature length film these attempts are doomed to failure, even if they weren't so hopelessly amateurish and inappropriate. They frequently employ six degrees of separation graphics as if they expect the audience to care that some guy's friend is a friend of some other guy's agent who knows someone who once worked with Barrymore. This kind of information is often presented in dramatic freeze frames as if to underline how important it is.

Presumably resulting from a dearth of imagination and creativity we're left with seemingly never-ending footage of Herzlinger approaching teenage girls outside malls and telling them what the film's about. "Oh, cool" they respond unenthusiastically - and this footage made the final cut! Next we see him unsuccessfully stopping people in the street and asking them to take part in "A survey about Drew Barrymore." It continues like this until the final scene, which I won't spoil. Things get mildly interesting (and decidedly awkward) for a few minutes and then - thankfully - it's over.

I received a screener from the video store that I work at and I decided to give it a look. I didn't know what to expect because the premise is really odd. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The movie is good. Some scenes are inappropriate, and make the movie less about the date with Drew and more about Brian Herzlinger's personal life, but this is forgivable because the rest of the film, the Drew-centered parts that is, are really fun. Without ruining anything, some of the things he does to try to meet Drew Barrymore are pretty funny, and pretty creative. Another beef would be that it is filmed in MiniDV, but you could argue it's part of the appeal of the movie. The strongest aspect of the film, in my opinion, is the editing. Although the production value is extremely low ($1100 from a game show) the editing is amazing.

After I saw it, I came to IMDb to find out more about the filmmakers (the editor, particularly, whom I thought was really good). What I found was amazing... People were fighting over the message boards. Now that's just sad. I never usually post, I just visit for info, but I felt that this movie needed a fair review, from someone who's actually seen it. Some bits are too long, some bits aren't as funny, but overall it is an enjoyable experience.

I was completely taken in by the charm and optimism of My Date With Drew, although the movie's critics hold generally far more cynical views about it. Many find this work creepy and unnerving because its star-director, Brian Herzlinger, manages to pull off some rather interesting stunts ...

But this movie is innocuous, really, and nothing either dangerous or sordid happens, here. At the heart of Herzlinger's work is a man who engages himself on a quest for emotional and material success, and I found it inspiring, quite frankly, to witness his journey.

One might admire or dislike Herzlinger, finding him either funny or creepy, but there's no denying that the man has chutzpah! Give credit where credit is due, for he's accomplished what few independents have in that he's gotten his movie made and distributed (and gotten us writing about it, as a result of that). Not too shabby, by any means.

Greetings again from the darkness. "Light-hearted, Feel good Documentary"??? Seems like a contradiction as most docs are presented in a stark, often bleak manner. Filmmaker, film geek, seemingly nice goofy guy, Brian Herzlinger chronicles the 30 (plus) days of his quest to get a date with his dream girl, Drew Barrymore. Yes, his crush began upon first viewing of "E.T" when he was six and carried through to her fan club, all her movies and TV appearances and into adulthood (chronologically speaking) with a borderline stalker approach.

The one thing documentaries must battle is a dragging storyline. "My Date" starts very good, drags in the middle and ends VERY strongly. Brian's mood makes or breaks the scenes. When his childlike enthusiasm is present, this film is a pleasure to watch ... even fascinating at times. When Brian appears to be playing to the camera in what must be scripted moments, the film dries up and really drags. For the most part, his (and his buddies) exuberance for the project is beyond question. The practice date with the Drew lookalike is a great idea that kinda fell flat, but the scenes with his parents more than offset the lulls.

The whole Circuit City video camera scheme is genius and the corresponding photo montage is classic. I also very much enjoyed the premiere footage and audio, but nothing compares to the last 10 minutes where charm, energy and spirit are truly on display.

Although I am not a "Grease 2" fan, I will recommend this film to my friends as it is an hour and a half well spent.

"Brian Herzlinger is an inspiration to anyone who..." wanted desperately to be famous. Seeing this film at HBO Comedy Fest, I did not understand how these guys did not get served with a lawsuit. Probably knowing a thing or two about law, they jumped through as many loopholes as they could to use Drew Barrymore's image.

Another issue I had with it was the fact that this film not only uses Barrymore but makes her an object to be desired. Is Barrymore a thing to be coveted? Does it not matter to this schlub that she actually has a boyfriend?

If anyone needed a gimmick it was them. And they used it. But judgig that, after the fests, it only lasted a weekend in already limited release, the gimmick does not work on audiences.

I myself love Drew, so I wanted to see it after I just heard the title! Great movie! I really loved it. You must see this if you love Drew too! This is a documentary but its a very fun and exciting. It has won several awards from film festivals around the globe. A very inspiring film that was made with ONLY 1,100! We even get a bonus mini documentary at the end of the DVD! I will without a doubt watch anything that these wonderful people put out! I found myself getting lost in the movie. Like it was me that was on screen with my dreams and fears. I found myself cheering with anticipation, wanting, waiting to see the result.Good times all around.

This little low budget affair starts out rather slow and ambles towards a momentum where the viewer finally has the chance to say, "Yes, this guy has a goal, I feel for him and his determination." At first, I was ready to give up on the documentary. My first impression of Herzlinger was that of an obnoxious fan-boy. But then you get to see bits of his personal life and you realize that he's obviously not demented - he's a romantic, an idealist and he's got moxie. This project stemmed from something that may have been a long-time crush, but it turned into an example of quick thinking derring-do and obviously very supportive friendships in his life. This is encouraging - average guy with a wacky notion that is borderline obsessive and he manages to create a video that's really kinda feel good. I felt good. I rooted for him during this process, as I watched this unemployed, unshaven guy who couldn't even hold a fork right, and saw him become quite focused and respectable in the process. Like he said, it's about an unknown person trying to reach an unattainable person. It's also, without maybe intending to be that way, a commentary on how much celebrity is valued in our society and how weird it is to know what someone looks like, their favorite flower, their name and birth date, yet never to have met them or even have friends in common.

Brian Herzlinger's quest for a date with childhood crush Drew Barrymore is, appropriately enough, a great date movie. It's funny, inspiring and very sweet. The fact that this was shot on a miniscule budget is part of its charm, but it doesn't play as cheaply made. In fact, it's more polished and fast-paced than many other modern documentaries. And Herzlinger is a winning presence. He knows how outrageous his mission is, but he attacks it with an admirable can-do zeal. This movie will have special resonance with movie geeks, especially those who grew up around the same time as Herzlinger. But dreamers from all walks of life are certain to enjoy it. You'll understand why it's won audience-favorite awards at film festivals. Highly recommended.

Take a date movie and mix it with a movie about making a movie. Dose it with a notion of homemade opportunism.

Does it matter if it engages? If the guy matters? Probably not.

The standard date movie has three acts: The fantasy is established, the fantasy is dashed, the romance is achieved. Often a guy with problems and a perfect girl, sometimes the other way around.

That's what we have here, almost as if it were scripted. It is almost too perfect. Surely, Drew's production company added and sorted things after they got involved.

If you like metamovies, you'll get a bang out of this. If you get embarrassed by ultradorky dumb people, so dumb they should hide, if bad production values bother you, stay away.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

First, i'd like to say I found this movie pretty entertaining. I think a lot of posters on these boards didn't get the concept that, yeah this guy is a struggling actor, director, whatever he is, but what better way to get some exposure than to make a film about yourself and your dreams than this. I thought it was a very clever tool to get some exposure. That said, this could be done by anybody with an Apple Powerbook, a video camera, and some connections. My only question was, why didn't he bring the camera back on day 30, and immediately go to another Circuit City and get another camera? And why is there a minimum of 10 lines of text on here? I don't get that at all.

3 June 2006. This every man low-budget movie is an inspiring documentary of one man's attempt to secure a date with Drew Barrymore. Recorded on a bare budget, this quest is personal and intimate, dramatic, emotional, and inspiring. It is rich with authenticity, strategy, and realism that all of us can relate to. The pacing of the editing, the whole voyage is captivating as the up and down trek is attempted down blind alleys, guesses, wishes, ideas that offer the audience a behind the scenes look at networking and the Hollywood connection as the real personality behind the curtain of the movie industry. The real story is the down to earth and entertaining events that unfold and the realness of most of the people on screen even those that appear to be out of reach. This is funny, sometimes tense-filled, thriller that has all the intensity of wish-fullfillment held by us all. Highly recommended. Nine out of Ten Stars.

I just got back from seeing the film. I loved it so much more than I thought I would. But I knew I would love it. It's a beautiful film. Moving, funny, inspirational, fun, just great! It was met with applause at the end and a theater full of very happy people!! You will NOT be sorry you saw this movie. It's one for the "favorites" list. It will be the first documentary I have EVER added! :) I feel like a recruiter for this movie now. I've added banners to my blogs and now here I am writing this review which I never do. That's how good this movie is and how much it makes you root for this guy. How much it makes you like him! Well, it's not that it makes you like him. He is just likable. :P Really, go see it!!!!

Brian Herzlinger is a normal Joe trying to 'get a date with Drew Barrymore' in 30 days in this cloying 'Documentary'. Whether this is a stalker's attempt to desperately get a date with a actress he adores, or a clever ploy to jump start some sort of career for Herzlinger (I'm thinking more the latter), the fact remains that whichever it is, te film is manipulative at best and slightly alarming at worst. And if it WERE the former, rather then the latter, all the likability of Brian flies out the window as no matter how charismatic a stalker may be, the fact remains that they ARE in fact stalking someone. And if this movie inspires even one REAL stalker (and as I said before this film is a sham and a PR ploy), but if the film inspires a REAL stalker that would be quite a shame indeed. I can't recommend this film on entertainment ground, I can't recommend it on documentary grounds, and I certainly can't recommend it on ethical grounds.

My Grade: D

My Date with Drew isn't just a movie about a guy trying to get a date with a celebrity crush, it's a film about taking chances and reaching for seemingly unattainable goals. You can't help but grin as the goofy protagonist goes about his quest. This is a heartwarming and uplifting documentary.

This movie was awful. I have to agree with the person who said most of these reviews were written by people connected with the movie. My friends and I decided to watch this movie today because,like an idiot, I fell for the glorious comments about this movie being great and different. The only dream Brian has is of himself not Drew. She's just a vehicle for him to yap about himself on the big screen. It's not funny, it's not sweet, it's not witty, it's not inspirational. But it is really boring. I just registered for IMDb today right after I saw this nonsense so others won't be led astray like me. This site, I always felt, was for "real people" who ARE NOT connected with the movie in ANY way. This whole things smells like when Sony created the fake critic David Manning to promote their movies. But unlike that case, I won't get a $5 refund. And if this movie won any awards as one reviewer states, then I have a "documentary" of me sleeping I'd like to submit to the judges. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it's magic. Interestingly, it too is about dreams.

And if these reviews are truly sincere, well, then I will politely disagree with them. But honestly (hmmm...honesty, there's a loose concept),I think I'm one of the few people on this site that's actually seen the movie. It REEKS.

What a daring project. It was very real through out. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. My children ages 9 and 15 were totally engaged in the story and the outcome. We will be recommending it to everyone we know. Brian is goofy and sexy all at the same time. He readily establishes rapport with the viewer and virtually everyone he comes in contact with during the film. His partners and crew did a terrific job of filming. I never noticed it at the box office but believe it will sell well as a video and hopefully launch this group of film makers into new and greater projects. I hope to see a lot more of Brian's work both as an actor and a film maker and expect he will finally have a decent income. I'm certain his Mother will be pleased with that and somehow I don't think it will change him one bit. See the movie and get inspired to follow your dreams.

I have just watched twenty minutes of "My Date with Drew" and I was initially irritated with the DVD released by "First Look" distributor, which wrongly indicates the availability of "closed caption" (cc) on the cover of the R1 DVD, which is not captioned, has only subtitles in Spanish. The shameful self-promotion of the author using the name and a poster of Drew Barrymore on the cover to attract naive viewers that expect to see a romantic comedy with Drew Barrymore is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen on DVD. However, the intention of the author was achieved and his "documentary" was distributed, inclusive I was misled and bought it. After twenty minutes, I really gave up watching it since I really could not believe it could improve. I love independent movie, but not this type of cheap opportunism. I used the forward button and I was surprised with the generosity of the magnificent Drew Barrymore, participating in this farce. My vote is one (awful).

Title (Brazil): "Meu Encontro Com Drew Barrymore" ("My Date With Drew Barrymore")