Franklin's gooey, implausible script is too ridiculous to support unexpected bouts of sincerity, and the darkness is seldom as profound as it should be.
My First Mister (2001)
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Reviews Counted:6
Fresh:3
Rotten:3
Average Rating:5.7/10
Consensus: Though well-acted, My First Mister succumbs to contrived sentimentality in its last half.
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: A rebellious teenage girl (Leilee Sobieski) who dresses in Gothic garb and wears harsh metal jewelry in the piercings that cover her face, finds a friend in a conservative middle-aged man (Albert... A rebellious teenage girl (Leilee Sobieski) who dresses in Gothic garb and wears harsh metal jewelry in the piercings that cover her face, finds a friend in a conservative middle-aged man (Albert Brooks) working in a men's clothing store. While the pair initially seem like total opposites, they soon learn that have a lot in common and can really relate to each other. Using a first-person narrative that is reminiscent of Wynona Ryder's unhappy teenagers in HEATHERS and GIRL INTERRUPTED, this film gives its full, uninterrupted attention to the cryptic mutterings of its protagonist, Jennifer (Sobieski). She has a vivid imagination and the ability to see the worst in everything. Her English teacher is evil and has fangs, her classmates are buxom bimbos who have recently undergone nose jobs, and her weird mother (when not talking about the benefits of women eating blood in the form of brisket for dinner) has friends that are fatter than elephants. Jennifer's visions are illustrated by distorted camera angles that make comedy of her exaggerations. But when Jennifer meets Randall (Brooks), a boring and equally pessimistic guy, her perspective changes. She wants him to accept her. And when he reaches out to her, she accepts him. MY FIRST MISTER therefore becomes a sweet story about friendship, self-motivation, and changing your life for the better. [More]
Starring: Leelee Sobieski, Albert Brooks, Desmond Harrington, John Goodman
Starring: Leelee Sobieski, Albert Brooks, Desmond Harrington, John Goodman, Carol Kane, Michael McKean, Mary Kay Place
Director: Christine Lahti
Director: Christine Lahti
Screenwriter: Jill Franklyn
Producer: Carol Baum, Sukee Chew, Jane Goldenring, Anne Kurtzman, Mitchell Solomon
Composer: Steve Porcaro
Studio: Paramount Classics
Reviews for My First Mister
Of all the odd couples who inhabit film, surely among the most endearing are Jennifer and Randall.
Offers the curious experience of being able to believe in a screen full of first-rate actors yet not believe in anything that's happening to the people they're playing.
These two characters are so particular and sympathetic that the whole movie could simply observe them.
It is amazing ... what creative and conscientious actors can do with tired material.
Terribly caricatured around the edges, and far too much of the comedy stems from making light of stereotypical personality traits.
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