First Date (2021)
Directed By: Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp
Starring: Tyson Brown, Shelby Duclos, Jesse Janzen, Nicole Berry
Plot Summary: Shy high schooler Mike finally summons the courage to ask out his badass neighbor Kelsey, only to realize he’s missing a key element for a successful date – the car. Panicked and low on cash, he’s conned into buying a beat up ‘65 Chrysler. Mike’s plan to win over Kelsey soon turns into a surreal misadventure when they are inexplicably targeted by a pair of cops, a criminal gang, and a vengeful cat lady. A night fueled by desire, bullets, and burning rubber makes any other first date seem like a walk in the park. In this perfectly executed throwback thrill ride, directing duo Manuel Crosby and Darren Knapp deftly weave together elements of dark comedy, teen romance, shoot ’em up action and classic coming-of-age story, creating a truly entertaining ride that never misses a beat. This refreshing mix of tones, coupled with a break-out performance from Tyson Brown as Mike, make FIRST DATE a truly outstanding first feature.
First Date seems to have critics splits. You know what? That’s fair. I would say this movie is a mixed bag with its share of issues, but ultimately an entertaining outing. First, what I enjoyed about this film. Even the most jaded critic has to admit that this movie has a kind of sincerity and charm. Its crystal clear from reading the press kit under the director’s statement that First Date was born out of the dyed in the wool love of the action hybrids of the ‘90s-00’s. This is something that you can see with obvious tip of the cap to directors like Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott. I would say that the first act of seems to work better than the latter acts. I think the biggest issue comes down to tonal shifts. First Date is a coming-of-age-comedy that later violently intersects with the bullet ballet of a John Woo film. To refer back to the director’s statement, one quote is telling:
Something that could mix comedy, suspense, romance and violence while feeling like a natural blend. Kinda like mixing all the different sodas at the soda fountain. You’re not supposed to do it but damn, it’s a sugar rush.
This genre mash up is something that isn’t impossible to pull off. Hell, Edgar Wright has made an entire brilliant career off his genre-hybrid outings. The thing is, this seems simple to pull off. However, its very tricky, especially for newer filmmakers. The problem is a script that feels underdeveloped at times. Crosby and Knapp seem to lose focus on their main characters amidst the ever-increased insanity. Sure, its fun as hell to watch all the flaming wreckage and candy-carnage but, sadly this comes at great expense what character development. Clearly, Crosby and Knapp are aiming for a balance of big bombastic action and richly drawn protagonists. They don’t quite get this soda mixture correct. The end result is something that isn’t terrible tasting but still seems off.
The movie is still endearing as hell. It does have a quirky quality that made me think of a much lighter version of After Hours (1985). Though maybe his performance is a bit too understated, I can see promise in newcomer Tyson Brown. Brown doesn’t get to fully flex his range here for reasons I mentioned above. It’s easy to see a future star in the making in the young actor given the right breaks. The same goes for Shelby Duclos who has a natural charm and ease that could also take her far in this business. Jesse Janzen gives a properly off-balanced performance as the lead baddie. It’s almost just at the brink of hammy but Janzen pulls back at the zero hero. He’s ultimately really fun to watch and seems to know what kind of movie he’s in. On the opposite end is Ryan Quinn Adams who makes a real ham dinner out of his character Vince. Still, like Janzen I couldn’t help but let his performance completely wash over me, cheese and all. And, maybe it’s a stretch but I think these performances help further fost this strange quality that Crosby and Knapp were aiming for. First Date also features a good supporting cast including: Nicole Berry, Samuel Ademola, Graham Green and Shari Schweigler.
First Date struggles with tone and at times underdeveloped plotting. Still, I was never bored. Indeed, I was fully on board for this wild ride, bumps and all.
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.
