Plot: What’s it about?
Tom McHugh (Ethan Hawke) is in love with a beautiful woman, but she has no idea he even exists. The girl is Geena Matthews (Teri Polo), a gorgeous creature who has dazzled Tom in every respect, but he is simply too scared to approach her. When his older brother Craig (Brian McNamara) returns home however, all that changes and Craig is determined to make sure his little brother finds romance. After doing some investigation work (i.e. looking through her trash), Craig finds out her name and then the real process begins, as he prepares Tom for what could be the most memorable night of his life. Craig lends his brother his credit card and some slick clothes, then even gets him a haircut like his own. But that’s not the end of Craig’s generous ways however, as he then spots him some flowers and a limo ride, to really make sure the night is a success. He even calls Geena and gets her to agree to the date, though Craig advises his young brother to pretend to be him, so as to seem older and more worldly. All this kindness seems kind of strange to Tom, but he is so thrilled to be able to see Geena, he soon forgets his concerns. But when some shady acquaintances of Craig’s show up on Tom’s date and assume he is his brother, the night becomes very memorable, though not in the ways Tom had hoped…
Although Mystery Date was released in 1991, it has all the elements of those off the wall 1980s teen comedies, to be sure. If you’re the kind of person who needs coherent storylines however, Mystery Date won’t be on your to watch list, as it shuttles from wild plot twist to wild plot twist, with no intentions to be a typical, rational romantic teen comedy. I won’t claim this to be a good movie in the usual sense, but I really enjoyed the offbeat, frenetic texture found here and in the end, Mystery Date entertains. The story isn’t believable in the slightest, with all manner of outlandish events and twists, all designed to create a manic, wacky atmosphere. So if constant lunacy and suspension of disbelief won’t fly with you, this isn’t your movie. But if you can turn off your critical side, suspend disbelief, and just have fun with it, Mystery Date is a wild ride. Ethan Hawke leads a solid cast that also include Teri Polo, Brian McNamara, B.D. Wong, James Hong, and Fisher Stevens, all of whom work well within the movie’s framework. I recommend Mystery Date as a rental to those on the fence, but for fans of the movie, this low priced disc is more than worthwhile, even though MGM hasn’t done much in terms of supplements.
In a role that seems to have been written for Corey Haim, Ethan Hawke is the glue that holds together the madcap Mystery Date. Hawke isn’t asked to much here, but as the film unfolds, his character is put deeper and deeper into trouble. As such, there is a progression of doom and he handles it well, with solid comic presence. Of course, his work here is over the top and silly in most scenes, but as that is what the material calls for, we can’t be all that critical here. I mean, we all know Hawke has evolved into a masterful thespian with immense dramatic range, but its still fun to see him in a light, harmless comedic picture. He had already started to establish himself even by this, his fifth feature film performance, but his earlier works had been mostly dramatic and as such, he was able to test his comedic skills here. I’m not sure his effort here is all that impressive, but it is solid and Hawke adds a lot to the picture. Other films with Hawke include Gattaca, Training Day, White Fang, Snow Falling on Cedars, Waking Life, and Reality Bites. The cast also includes Teri Polo (Meet the Parents, Domestic Disturbance), Brian McNamara (Arachnophobia, Caddyshack II), and B.D. Wong (Jurassic Park, Executive Decision).
Video: How does it look?
Mystery Date is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition also included on the disc’s flip side. I wasn’t all that overwhelmed by the treatment here, but aside from some light print wear, this is a solid presentation. The print has some marks and nicks, but they’re never that serious and grain is present, but again, it never proves to be a distraction, so no real concerns there. The rest of the visual elements fall right into place, with bright colors, natural flesh tones, and well balanced contrast. Given the catalog status of Mystery Date, I think MGM has done some good work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release uses a Dolby 2.0 surround track which handles the audio without too much trouble. This isn’t the movie to impress you friends and show off you system, but it gets the job done which is what counts. The surrounds have some kick to them, but usually the music is dominating the rear channels. Some effects like car chases and such are present and when they emerge they sound good. The dialogue seems to drive the film though and the vocals sound crisp and clean, with no problems at all. This disc also includes Spanish and French language options, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
