Speed Dating

Speed Dating is about a young man called James Van Der Bexton (Hugh O'Conor) who is the heir to millions and is trying to get over being dumped by the "love of his life" . In an attempt to get over this rejection he turns to speed dating and quickly becomes a serial speed dater with disastrous consequences.

Rejected and despondent at his lack of success at speed dating he quickly becomes transfixed by a mysterious woman who frequents the bar he drinks in. To find out more about this mystery woman he decides to stalk her all in the name of research. But then the girl goes missing and events spiral out of control from there….

First time director Tony Herbert has crafted a really funny film that I would 100% recommend.

Rawhead Rex brought me here. I stumbled upon this whilst doing a little research on Rawhead Rex, which is quite possibly one of the greatest horror films ever made. Upon my reading I discovered that Hugh O'Conner, the lead protagonist in Speed Dating along with a minor character played by Cora Venus Lunny, portrayed brother and sister in Rawhead, George Pavlou's undeniably underated 1986 masterpiece of horror photoplay. Ergo, I felt it would behoove me to sit with this for an hour and ten minutes. My assessment...if you've seen literally every young adult romantic comedy from the mid to late 90's, then you've seen this, except this was 10 years too late. In sumation, I have a participation trophy I'd like to wrap up and send to Tony Herbert if anyone has his shipping address. Side Note: if I hear one more breathy, off brand Lisa Loeb (sp?)...which incidentally name brand Lisa Loeb (sp?)makes me want to cram a gun barrel in my ear LOEB....folsky, whiny, 90's sounding, post pubescent but just barely, acoustic with WAY too much reverb garbage song, I'm going to sh#t....I'm actually going to sh#t. And you know what? I'll just sit in my filth. I say this because that sensation....feeling, hearing and inhaling my day old Burger King and Fat Tire anal vomit.....I would rather experience that over listening to those plucked out, airy, di#k head ditties. Good day!

Speed dating had a unique plot, taking a modern twist on an old theme, love and dating. The writing was witty, intelligent, and laugh out loud funny. The acting, cinematography, and the soundtrack were superb, all meshing together in this well edited and well paced film.

The characters were hilarious and well thought out by writer, director, & actor Tony Herbert. There was a pleasing mix of modern outlier archetypes, way out at both ends of our social bell curve, that also managed to relate to personal experiences for those who have dated to any degree exhaustion, and haven't we all?

There was also a stark personal introspection in the protagonists' journey that I enjoyed. For me that is the mark of art, something that asks me to look at myself and others from a different angle. True works of art beg to be viewed again because they captivate. I would definitely watch this film again!

Speed dating is an original and quirky film that was made on a tiny budget when compared with other films currently on show in Irish cinemas. However despite this, the film offers great performances from the cast, particularly from Don Wycherley as the over zealous Detective Long and the pot-fueled psychiatrist played by David Hayman but it is O'Conor who steals the show and never fails to win our sympathy. Emma Choy is also great as the nurse with the heart of gold.

Speed Dating is a romantic comedy that is very funny and clever throughout and has one of the best soundtracks heard for a long time. Support independent Irish film making and go see it.

Saw it Friday night and really enjoyed it. Great reaction from the audience particularly to Don Wycherley as the inept Detective. To take it so seriously is to miss the point, its a comedy and very funny one at that.

O'Connor is excellent as the rejected Van Der Bexton and some of the speed dating scenes are hilarious. Speed dating is a romantic comedy and while O'Connor lunges from one crazy situation to the next, the events are simply a backdrop to the essence of the film which is Van Der Bexton's quest for love.

Also I just checked out the website and it won the best feature film at the Malibu Film festival and the audience award at the European Independent Film Festival in Paris, so that's pretty cool!!!