Customer Reviews

Blind Dating

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The title and cover of this DVD suggest a film that is more fluff than substance. But don't be fooled by these clues. BLIND DATING is a well-written (Christopher Theo), well-directed (James Keach - brother of Stacy Keach and husband of Jane Seymour) story about the coping of the visually impaired, the quirks of Italian and Indian families, brotherhood, and the gamut of finding the right partner in a world of essential blind dating! One of the reasons the movie works so well is the ability of actor Chris Pine to make us believe he is blind and convey the positive manner in which people with impairments may 'view' those around them.

Danny (Chris Pine) was born prematurely and as a result is blind, and as he grows toward age 21 he feels he is unattractive to women. His family is warm, loving and Italian and supportive - especially his brother Larry (Eddie Kaye Thomas) who runs a Limo service and is constantly trying to find Danny his first physical encounter, be that with hookers, girls from the office or neighborhood, or just referrals - each of whom is a disaster when it comes to dealing with a date who is blind! Danny discovers an operation that implants a camera-like contraption in his brain that will allow him the possibility to see again, even if the images are simply black and white and indistinct. In the office of ophthalmologist Dr. Perkins (Stephen Tobolowsky) is a young girl Leeza (Anjali Ray) who is Indian and whose parents have arranged a wedding with a man she does not love. And yes, in time Danny and Leeza are attracted to each other in what appears to be a doomed relationship - for family reasons. Danny has his operation and is able to see some images, but the implant fails and Danny once again is without sight - but far from being without hope, as both his and Leeza's families undergo changes of heart.

There is a sense of love that emanates from the screen, due in part to the script, the direction, and to the acting. Chris Pine is exceptionally fine in a challenging role, finding the balance between courage, comedy, and tenderness that makes his character believable and lovable, and never once making a move that breaks his image as a sightless person. The entire cast is fine, including a hilarious Jane Seymour as Dr. Evans, Chris' therapist with a penchant for disrobing in front of her sightless patient! But the aspect of the film that sets it apart from many is the presentation of everyday type prejudices that can be every bit as hampering as a physical impairment! This is a warmhearted, very human comedy with many messages. Grady Harp, April 08

If you are looking for a feel good movie then this is it. I could not stop myself from laughing and crying thru most of the movie. It is not an Oscar winner but it will win your heart. The acting is upbeat and the characters are all very entertaining and humorous. In a world where love is forgotten, "Blind Dating" captures the feeling that true love still exists. Especially for those who have lost site of it.

I enjoyed this romantic comedy directed by James Keach (The Long Riders) and starring Chris Pine (Smokin' Aces) and Eddie Kaye Thomas ( American Pie ). It's difficult to come across a film that not only makes you really laugh but also touches your heart on the journey. I could understand how hard it would be telling a story about a blind person and the odd humorous circumstances they may find themselves in trying to go on blind date (No pun intended) and being politically corrected as to distract one from the story. Well they did it perfectly here with this little gem. If you like Wedding Crashers and Sleepless in Seattle, you will love this story!

By the look of the DVD cover, or the poster, you would think this was a take-off on American Pie or something, especially with Eddie Kaye Thomas in it. It's not campy or tasteless, but actually a nice story.

Danny was blind from birth, and he has a lot going for him. Great personality, great looks, but he doesn't have a woman to share it with. With the help of his brother Larry, he goes on a few (slightly overacted) dates. But, he really likes the receptionist at his doctor's office, Leeza. Danny is being tested to participate in an experimental brain operation so he can see again. But, not that many have been performed. Even though he's comfortable in his own skin, he is tired of women feeling sorry for him because he is blind. So, he is thinking of getting that operation.

Meanwhile, Leeza has a secret. Though Danny doesn't know she is Indian, and doesn't really care, she has an arranged marriage coming up, but she's confused about her feelings for her future husband. Can she break that promise to her family to be with Danny? Will she tell him that she is going to marry someone else?

It was a touching movie with some tear-jerker parts. There was also some obvious bad acting and writing as well, but not enough to stop me from watching it. I think what kept me watching was the character of Danny. I really liked him and felt that he was genuine, and I was rooting for him to "get the girl," as well.

Cute movie, good for a rental.

I saw the new Star Trek a couple weeks ago and it was awesome. I believe Chris Pine will become famous now because of it. So i went and checked out his few other movies. Princess Diaries 2 and Just My Luck were ok but im not into the Disney type. Then I bought Blind Dating and was glad i did. It is a very cute movie that has heart. Its funny, cute, and sad. I found myself laughing at parts and then tearing up later. Danny (Chris Pine) is a 22yr old blind man that goes on many blind dates to find a nice girl. Its also about how he deals with being blind. Eddie Kaye Thomas plays his brother, and Jane Seymour plays his psychiatrist. Both are believeable and great for their parts. Chris Pine is the best part of this movie and very talented in this role. I'm glad I got this movie because its a nice little movie that I will watch again and again.

You know, you don't have to be blind to enjoy this film. If you ever were on a date where you looked at the person and wondered "If I gave you a hundred dollars would you go away forever?" You would enjoy this film.

I loved this movie! My son and I watched it as a rental downstream on my blu ray player. We both really enjoyed this movie. Chris Pine did an awesome job playing a blind man. This obviously isn't a Golden Globe nominee movie, but rather a great sit down and have family fun movie. I loved the plot, the comedy hit just right, even the little "odd" or "quirky" parts fit in perfect. My son even commented afterwards that he wished there were more movies out like this one. It's nice to sit down and watch a fun loving and hassle free movie every once in awhile, and this is that movie!

This movie is from before Chris Pine burned out and became just another pretty face in the crowd of vain and self-absorbed Hollywood hunks spending hours at the gym trying to look like how Calvin Klein or Tommy Hilfiger said they should. In this movie, because he wasnt famous yet, he actually had to do some acting instead of relying on a shirt-less scene.

Pine and Anjali Jay have great chemistry and I loved how they inserted the inter-cultural tension there; an element which made this movie be more than just another "boy meets girl" story-line. Somehow the fact that someone so un-apple-pie and un-American as Anjali Jay has become Danny's love-interest was very intriguing.

This is a movie that works. Somehow, and I don't know why, the film got around my guard, overcame my cynicism, and left me sitting there with a grin on my face. And that's ultimately what makes a great movie right?

So, if you're a hard-bitten intellectual and you're into serious films and don't like to get taken for a sucker by watching such a movie, this isn't your film. Even I feel like that myself most of the time. But if occasionally you come down with an attack of warm-heartedness, then this movie is likely to blindside you.

When Netflix recommended Blind Dating, I watched the trailer and was mildly unimpressed. Blind, cute 22-year-old virgin Danny (the future James T. Kirk in Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition), Chris Pine) goes on a succession of awful dates in an attempt to set him up. It looked like a mashup of American Pie - Unrated (Widescreen Collector's Edition). But after watching the whole film, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a sunny little film about following your own path (and your heart).

At its core, the film is the story of a loving Italian-American family (the rowdy clan reminded me strongly of the Vecchio family in Due South: The Ultimate Collection - Three Complete Seasons) whose youngest son was a three-month preemie who was born blind. This never stopped Danny from experiencing the world on his terms; he loves to pull daredevil stunts and is good at sports. He also doesn't use a cane or guide dog to get around. Chris Pine does a good job of navigating as a blind man; you can sense by the way he interacts with his surroundings whether a place is new for him or not, and thankfully he doesn't stop and feel everyone's face on the first meeting.

When an eye doctor offers Danny the chance to participate in an experimental surgery that may give him some vision, his close-knit family is thrown into turmoil. The risky surgery involves implanting a device into Danny's brain that will receive signals from a specially-wired pair of glasses (think early Virtual Reality goggles). If it works, he might be able to see grainy pictures in black and white. In all fairness, I felt that At First Sight with Val Kilmer handled this a bit better; Kilmer gave a real sense of disorientation at seeing for the first time, whereas Pine doesn't get much screen time devoted to the actual surgery and its impact.

At the doctor's office, Danny meets Leeza (Anjali Jay), a young Indian woman who dreams of going to medical school. Leeza's family owns an Indian restaurant, and she's engaged to the gorgeous (but shallow) Arvind and his greedy parents. Leeza and Danny's first meeting is rather hostile, but the two are gradually drawn to one another even as Danny's brother Larry sets him up on that series of fateful dates. There is some sex humor to be sure (involving hookers and a surprising primer on condoms), but it only plays a small role in the overall scheme of the film. Jane Seymour puts in a sexy (and rather unexpected) turn as a kinky psychiatrist (I can only hope that I look that good at her age!).

This is a cute little love story with a few culture clashes along the way, but overall I really enjoyed Blind Dating. Extras include numerous deleted scenes, a brief "making of" trailer, and an English for the Visually Impaired audio track, with an offscreen narrator describing the onscreen action in the third person (however, the movie's audio track is muted, making it hard to hear the actual dialogue when presented in this format).

If you enjoyed At First Sight and Bend It Like Beckham (Widescreen Edition), you'll probably enjoy Blind Dating. Just don't base the film on its trailer.

This movie was beautifully written, the actors were all amazing, and it is one of the best romance movies that you probably haven't seen. Chris Pine played the part incredibly well and just made you fall in love with his character.