Mystery Date - Eine geheimnisvolle Verabredung

I caught "Mystery Date" on TV one night. It portrays nerdy Tom McHugh (Ethan Hawke) learning from older brother Craig (Brian McNamara) how to ask a girl out on a date. But when it comes time for the date, a series of things go wrong, and before you know it, the whole thing looks like Dave Barry's novel "Big Trouble".

I should identify that "Mystery Date" isn't a bad movie. It's just that the ending seemed a little improbable. Otherwise, most of the movie's acceptable. Victor Wong had a fairly goofy line, and it was interesting seeing Teri Polo in the years before she became the woman in "Meet the Parents".

This movie brings to life all the "first date" fears you could have and makes them come true for poor Tom. Sort of "After Hours" meets "Risky Business." The plot is a bit unbelievable, but it isn't predictable and is a lot of fun. If you are the type to say "now why would he do that?" and insist on plots that are believable, you probably won't like this movie. At one point our hero is driving around with a dead body in the trunk and treats it with the same urgency as a rip in his pants he doesn't want his date to see! Still, it's a fun romp that's easy to watch. A good date movie.

The shy teenager Tom McHugh (Ethan Hawke) worships his sexy neighbor Geena Matthews (Teri Polo) that lives on the other side of the street, but he does not dare to talk to her. When his parents travel with their dog for a competition and his self-confident big brother Craig McHugh (Brian McNamara) unexpectedly arrives from California for a visit with a classic 1959 Cadillac, Graig decides to call Geena and schedule a date with Tom. He lends his clothes and his credit card to Tom, who cuts his hair like Craig, buy flowers while Tom calls a limousine service. However, the driver has an accident and Tom decides "to borrow" the fancy car to impress the girl. When Tom is mistakenly taken as being Craig and finds a body in the trunk, his dream-night with Geena becomes a nightmare.

"Mystery Date" is one of the funniest adventures of the 90's and completely underrated in IMDb. The enjoyable story is delightful, with Ethan Hawke and Teri Polo showing a magnificent chemistry in the beginning of their successful careers. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Que Garota, Que Noite" ("What a Girl, What a Night")

I watched "Mystery Date" as a kid and liked a lot, although I couldn't remember almost anything except that Fisher Stevens was very funny playing a annoying delivery flower guy who keeps bothering Ethan Hawke's character in many scenes. But I watched this recently and it turns out that all the fun disappeared and the story is incredibly similar to many other films of the 1980's and 1990's. Except for the amazing soundtrack that includes hits from INXS and Seal the movie doesn't offers much quality or funny things.

The clichéd story of a shy guy named Tom (Ethan Hawke) and his first and troubled date with his beautiful neighbor Geena (Teri Polo). Trying to impress the girl he picks the impressive car of his brother Craig (Brian McNamara) with whom Tom is going to be confused and involved in crazy situations with corrupt cops, the Chinese mafia and the flower guy played by Stevens.

I love stories that happens in only one day. Films like "Superbad", "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and "After Hours" are incredibly funny and it gives you the sensation of living or enjoying the lives of the characters of these movies, the situations are very well presented and you enjoy easily. "Mystery Date" tried to be a teenage and dangerous version of "After Hours" (or at least is that what I think for I can remember a few things of Scorsese's film) and all the adventure aspect of 1991 movie took out some of the fun, it was very exaggerated in some points, things very difficult to laugh at it. As an adventure it goes well, as an comedy it's not so funny. Hawke's very nice as the lead guy and Teri Polo is quite suitable for the role of the girl next door, but the movie is only interesting because of the few scenes of Fisher Stevens, while trying to get a tip from Tom after delivering the flowers. Watchable indeed. 6/10

Hey there IMDb viewers, Seriously - I took a chance on this film when it came to TV and I honestly have to say that, if you can watch it for what it is - i.e. pure entertainment - your gonna have a blast! It stars a young Ethan Hawke (Training Day) and a very attractive, younger Teri Polo (Meet The Parents). When Tom McHugh's (Hawke) older brother Craig (McNamara) sets Tom up with Gina (Polo) for a blind date everything for the beginning part, starts off well... until Tom finds himself chased throughout the night by cops, a psychotic flower deliver man (Stevens) and a mob Boss by the name of James Lew (Wong) - it seems everyone wants a piece of Tom... or is it Craig and why?... Watch and find out! A great date movie and one to watch when your in one of those "I want to watch something, but i'm not sure what" type of scenarios. Cheers.