Product Details

• Actors: Tom Ardavany, Emily Arlook, Rachel Arlook, Richard Arlook, Tia Carrere
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Fox Home Entertainme
• VHS Release Date: August 3, 1999
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305499608
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,790 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars women are in love their entire lives with a man who doesn't exist [ the chances are not good ], September 20, 2008

By 

Snow White (Orange County) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 20 Dates (DVD)

I adore everything about this film. I think it's pretty obvious that this film is not the 'documentary' it pretends to be, although I really wish it was. I personally don't believe it's likely to fall in true love with someone, knowing you are on camera; but hey, it is Hollywood.

Myles Berkowitz is a divorced, self-centered director/actor who makes a lot of bad decisions and can't keep his big mouth shut. He's decided to go on just 20 dates to chronicle trying to find love in Los Angeles, and attempt to find real people falling in true love.

Myles is incredibly annoying, and everything he does tells me he isn't looking for love(from his rude physical comments to disrespect for just about everyone), but that's why I adore it so much. Myles is every single one of us who thinks we are something we're not, or maybe it's just that we're just not ready for love, or we don't even know what love is. Purposely picking up on unsuspecting women in grocery stores, or even while they are at work; this guy is every man who tries to lay on a slick line that makes you cringe, until they finally leave you alone; and yet still, this man thinks he's looking for love.

My favorite parts of this film are with Robert McKee and Myles; discussing the brilliance of Casablanca to the very poignant facts about woman versus men and what we really want. They are great moments that bring a smile to my face with their sheer honesty and insightfulness.

I really wish this film would have ended at the first ending, instead of the ever so happy one, but it is a heartwarming, somewhat enlightening film I honestly enjoy.

But really Myles, try a little harder? I'd love to have just a little more faith in men.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This movie is far better than anyone gives it credit for!, October 17, 1999

By 

T. A. Mason (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 20 Dates [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Staged or not, (I did not get the impression that it was) I think this movie is hysterical. Above that I think it really addresses some of the real issues between men and women. The film also shows how hard it is to make a movie in hollywood and still stay true to your art or concept. The movie also has the interesting side effect of being somewhat romantic. I feel that Berkowitz has worked hard to make his first movie a hit, and in my opinion has had success.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You Have to Love the Guy, July 22, 2000

By 

"dusty0580" (White Suburban Hell) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 20 Dates [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Myles is a creedy dude. Narcistic beyond all belief, he seems to want to achieve all the things that elude him most. The problem is that his various attempts at achieving the goals are misguided. He seems to be always be saying: "I deserve this, so why can't I get it?" His cameras and his life style invite comparision to Patrick Bateman from AMERICAN PSYCHO. Then again, he is sort of an every man. His intentions are honorable, but his execution is flawed.

Then again, this is the "Myles" character that is being documented on film. I think that this is just an off-spring of Myles Berkowitz, the filmmaker. The "Myles" character is really just a composite sketch of all Berkowitz's worst personality flaws. This movie is a way for him to disect himself. That is probably why he has all of his friends and his agent in the movie. They list off all of his worst characteristics. Surely, they must have mentioned some good ones. Berkowitz just decided not to include them. Berkowtiz is similar to Woody Allen. The "Woody" character that you see in all of his movies is not Woody Allen. He is just a public personae to air the real Allen's dirty laundry. Film making is a cathartic release.

With that being said, I like this movie a lot. There are some things that are obviously staged. I think that it is a pretty good bet that the producer of the film is a fictional creation. The ending of the film, which is its one weak spot, is also staged. The rest of it simply seems to real to be staged. Look at the footage of Berkowitz's ex-wife. Or ths reaction of the women when they find out they are being filmed. It's eithier phenomonal acting, or it's honest to God "Candid Camera" stuff. I think what I like most about it is the uncomprimising honest. He goes to AA meetings to meet women. He uses sleazy pick up lines ("Do you want porno movies?" he asks Elisabeth.) He even films himself freaking out on his crew. And I love that the fact that he blew his one shot at fame because he couldn't star or direct. Berkowitz knows he looks like a jerk, but he doesn't care. It is all for the sake of the movie.

The real achievement of this movie is that you root for "Myles," regardless of his flaws. He only wants what we all want. You can't blame the guy for trying.