User reviews

This movie is very cool if you like alternative, angst ridden teenagers trying to do good. The title is awfully deceptive because there is nothing illegitimate about the "older guy - younger girl" relationship at all - here's a short synopsis: Alternative goth chick meets conservative store manager. Neither of them have a life outside of work so they slowly learn to hang out together. The rest kind of falls into place as they see how "the other half" lives, and make each other better people. Great movie to watch with your parents (no drugs or sex) and sweet for an pick-me-up kind of movie. The soundtrack is cool too - it has the great older tunes like Sinatra and such - along with some Marilyn Manson and then some reggae as well.

Jennifer Benson (Leelee Sobieski) is a seventeen years old misfit punk teenager that uses piercing, tattoos, wears only black clothes and dyed hair, self-inflicts injures and has fixation for death. She misses a father and a normal mother, since Mrs. Benson (Carol Kane) has trouble in the communication with her, and feels absolutely rejected. While looking for a job, she meets the forty-nine years old Randall Harris (Albert Brooks), a lonely man who owns a shopping store, and he hires her. They are opposites but with loneliness and lack of friends in common. They become close friends, and their interaction changes their behavior for good while secrets and feelings are disclosed.

This is the second work of the excellent underrated actress Christine Lahti as director that I see (the other one is the short "Lieberman in Love"), and also a surprisingly great movie. The original and the Brazilian titles are simply awful and vulgar, and do not mirror this sensitive story of loneliness and friendship. Leelee Sobieski has another great performance in the role of a disturbed and rebellious teenager, needy of love and care, who changes her behavior when she meets her soul-mate friend in a middle-age man. I am not fan of Albert Brooks, but he is great performing Randall Harris, the man who touches Jennifer in the heart. In the end, a toast to all special "F" words: to friends, family, fate, forgiveness and forever. Wonderful and touching! My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Meu Primeiro Homem" ("My First Man")

A feel good weeper comedy/light-drama, "My First Mister" tells of the coming of age of a teenaged pin cushion goth female (Sobrieski) who's into self mutilation and talking to dead people and her platonic love affair with a middle aged conservative and phobic man (Brooks). In this flick about strange bedfellows and a Spring/Autumn relationship, Lahti turns the lens on the female character illuminating many of the insecurities which beset and befuddle teen females and proves once again on celluloid that love conquers all. As the film wears on it plateaus and becomes somewhat muddled by unnecessary quirky characters and an side plot about Brook's past in an apparent attempt to jerk the last tear and keep feel good moments coming. Nonetheless, rising star Sobrieski proves to be a capable and durable centerpiece for a film worth watching front to back.

If you asked me why I saw this particular film I'd like to tell you that I've seen all of Christine Lahti's films. Truth be told, it's because I'm middle aged white guy with a bad sense of humor and I live vicariously through Albert Brooks. Look at these character contrasts: young girl-old man, freak-straight, red-gray, latte-sanka, rap-jazz, pierced/tattooed-not either. And now the similarities- two lonely relationally challenged, uncommunicative, sarcastic.that feels better. We meet a poet-eulogist Jennifer portrayed by an almost unrecognizable LeLe Sobieski. Self described as "not a girl, but opposite a boy," Jennifer's self-mutilation clearly punctuates her pain. Her art is self-focused until she finds a purpose larger than herself. A Chaplin-esque Randall Harris (Albert Brooks) is introduced dressing a female mannequin. Jennifer's looking at him backward thru binoculars bothers him. This gives her perspective and the opportunity to fantasize. As their relationship develops his intentions seem noble - or repressed - and hers exploratory - and expressed. Controversial? Only in subtext since the age difference will raise questions and eyebrows. And there's the absent father issues. Comedic elements include distorted visuals, costumes, makeup and dialogue. The relationship is treated with such sensitivity - well as much as can be expected when dealing with an alienated teen and it speaks to the emptiness we feel when we're walking around among aliens. "Who do you talk to? Who are your friends?" asks Randall but like most accusatory questions, he could well direct it his own way. At the end of the film, you'll find a toast to go into your repertoire. Watch for it. This quirky film is a must see for all who need a refreshing look at relationships and personal growth. And who among us doesn't?

CyCy

When deliberating why one story will resonate within oneself over another, you have to be honest about your own perspective on the things that are truly important in life, and those things that are tossed out with the garbage.

While the relationship between J and R is hinted at being more than merely platonic, it is only implied. The far greater impact lies in the strength of two disparate individuals finding self-worth and importance in the existence of another who finds them attractive to be with.

An older man will always find flattering the attention of an attractive (much) younger female, even if he cannot relate to her point of view on life. It helps that J is written in as witty and intelligent vs. say, something from out of "Clueless".

It is somewhat less believable that a Gothic teenager would find an overweight, past middle-aged man attractive - except that the reason J finds R attractive has less to do with appearance and everything to do with the level of trust and respect he shows her after some initial verbal sparring, that really is quite believable. He affords her something that she simply is not expecting. You can imagine this happening.

Being accepted as you are and for who you are is the basis for all honest and lasting relationships. On this point the movie scores a bullseye.

LeeLee Sobieski is a real talent. Yes, she does look like Helen Hunt, but that is where the similarity ends.

Albert Brooks has always had a manner of delivering his lines as though he is making an appeal to his listener's better sense. He is a much under-appreciated comedic talent.

A high recommendation for "My First Mister".

I watched the movie on Sundance Cable T.V. network and throughly enjoyed it.

I have never been an Albert Brooks fan in the past, but every movie he has written, directed or acted in has ranked very high with the critics. You can count me as a new fan.

Anyway, the movie has a descent uplifting story to be told.

After watching the movie, I asked myself if would be likely for something like this story to actually happen.

Watch it, that is if you have the opportunity.

I think the first hour of this film is the most enjoyable thing I've seen in a long time. Great plot, characters and acting. Sobieski and Brooks make their characters real people, not stereotypes.

The last 45 minutes are a little melodramatic for my tastes, but by that time I was so invested in the characters, I stuck with the film. The ending is a little ambiguous, which seems much more plausible than a typical "Hollywood ending".

Okay so I can't exactly tell you why, but I'm a big fan of Christine Lahti. My First Mister only deepened my admiration. I think she's cut from a mold a few steps outside of Hollywood yet not quite to Lifetime. The result is always kinda quirky, kinda predictable, but overall enjoyable. Carol Kane is great here, as always, and you have an amazing cast of supporting character actors surrounding our heroes, Leelee and Albert. Both do a great job, especially Albert, I'm convinced he's a genius, despite appearing in not quite funny movies on occasion. Get this movie when you need a not so complex breath of fresh air, I think you'll be pleased. ( And yes if you want the complex breath of fresh air get Ghost World).

I got this DVD only because of the two leads who are two of my favorites. I expected another crappy film like Ghost World which on my scale was a -5.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a really good effort and an enjoyable, meaningful movie. Kudos to the actors and especially Christine Lahti who showed that she is just as good behind the camera as in front of it.

She successfully created a cross-generational movie. See this whatever your age!

Lately I've seen a number of "good" movies (IMDB 7+, Rotten Tomatoes 70%+) yet this one, seen on a Monday afternoon on cable beats most of them. I never heard of it until I happened on it accidently. I like Leelee Sobieski so I thought I'd give it a chance. I like quirky, funny, sentimental movies... so this one fit right in. The chemistry between R and J was excellent... better than many so-called love stories I've seen (and I only go to see movies rated 3 out of 4 or above ... still I see over 60 new movies each year). The end may have been a bit much but overall a very enjoyable introspective into the epitome of we all hope friendship should be. 7 out of 10.

My First Mister is about a gothic and angry teenage girl named "J"(Leelee Sobieski). She doesn't have any friends, hates her family, you might as well put it that she hates her life. One day while she is looking for a job, she stumbles upon "R"(Albert Brooks) a 49 year old man with a beer belly. "R" turns out to give "J" a job at his store and the two of them turn out to be friends and what is next is a wonderful friendship that could last a lifetime and change both "R" and "J" and the way they feel about life. I really enjoyed My First Mister, it was clever, funny and very interesting. It kind of reminded me of Ghost World. I would give My First Mister 9/10

Jennifer Wilson (Leelee Sobieski) is a goth misfit and a loner at school. Her mother (Carol Kane) is divorced and remarried to Bob (Michael McKean). She doesn't get along with her father Benjamin (John Goodman). Technically, she's still a virgin and never had a boyfriend. She wants to make enough money to move out. She asks Randall Harris (Albert Brooks) for a job at his menwear store and he gives her the job as long as she gets rid of the hardware.

I really like these two characters. They are both appealing and wonderfully lonely people. It's funny at times. It does get into trouble when first time director Christine Lahti tries to be edgy. The imaginary sequences are not good enough and it screams trying too hard. I would rather she direct this more straight. It works best simply with Brooks and Sobieski. The rest is more or less distracting.

May to December can be the cruelest months if they're about a relationship between a young woman and an older man. `American Beauty' and more recently `Ghost World' carried the usual criticism of this socially questionable alliance, from downright damage in the former to uncertainty about how it could ever work in the latter.

In `My First Mister,' starring Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski, the union works so beautifully in the first half of the film I thought even I could try it. Director Christine Lahti, who won an Oscar for best short film, "Lieberman in Love," concentrates on the flowering friendship between a Goth girl who needs a friend and a job and a 49 year-old haberdasher who has jettisoned everyone in order to live out his life painlessly for everyone.

Jill Franklyn, who wrote the "Yada Yada" episode of "Seinfeld," pens perfect lines for the understated Brooks, such as when he first sees Sobieski: "Scram. Shoo. Why don't you go get your eyeballs pierced?" and another time when he says, "I want the smallest tattoo you have. Can you give me a dot, or a period?"

Director Lahti shows her originality by letting us painfully and slowly watch a purple-haired Sobieski pull out her nose and face rings. This film is the best I have ever seen to give respect to a much-maligned paring in movies. The 17-year-old punker helps him awaken to life's interesting couplings like cavorting mannequins, and he shows her love unalloyed. When the time comes for sex, as it always does in Hollywood, no one cares, even the audience, because the point is the friendship.

In the second half of the film Lahti lets go of her originality to indulge the genre with the usual fatal twist, easy reconciliation of family, and renewal for Sobieski found in a most unbelievable coincidence. Yet I can't forget that first half, where 2 human beings, unencumbered by any expectation other than their own need for connection, follow none of the formulas but love on its own terms.

The first half is very beautiful. A mall goth and middle aged man form a bond. This was going to be a classic. The second half. Ugh. Some are related. Some have this or that condition. No stone is left unturned. The writer overthinks it and kills his premise. They should watch Japanese films where they make films like this in their sleep. Those go in melodramatic directions too. But we miss the gentle minimalism. To its credit in 2001 no one knew a thing. They were figuring it out.

I was not ready for such a powerful, intelligent, and intricately detailed film. I had just assumed this would be another Hollywood schlock-fest featuring the dry humor of Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski attempting to reconnect with a teenie-bopper audience. I was wrong. This was such a strong film that dedicated itself to developing strong characters, to giving us honest emotions, and providing us a story that is not unfamiliar in the "real" world that it nearly left my jaw hanging on the ground. From the opening moments in which we are focused directly on the life of Jennifer (aka "J") to the unrecognizable change to following Randall (aka "R") My First Mister will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you realize that friendship is stronger than the clothes you wear or the amount of piercings on you face. Through the use of Brooks' "every man" persona and Sobieski's attention to detail with her character, this film gives us a rare glimpse into Lahti's near-perfect film.

What initially pulled me into this film was the untraditional Hollywood story that scribe Jill Franklyn unfolds before us. I assumed, prior to watching the film that this was going to be a sexual film mocking the taboos of age in our society. From the completely baffling byline, one could only assume that we were about to experience an early version of Thirteen, but Lahti and Franklyn do something rather unexpected. The idea of sex is placed in front of us early in the film and prior to the climax, but it isn't the central focus. By building this film around the premise of friendship instead of sex, Lahti creates a unique and poignant film about other cultural taboos in our society. She eliminates the idea of sex and gives us two strong-willed characters that, perhaps in another life, may have had a sexual relationship, but now are just seeking companionship and comfort. What brings a smile to my face with this story is the way that it is developed. Lahti nearly teases us with the idea of a sexual story several times, but instead builds a solid foundation around friendship. She makes us, the audience, feel as if we are meeting two friends for the first time. By eliminating sex, she pulls us deeper within the characters allowing us to see the true "love" that is obviously between these visual opposites. I use the word "visual" because we do not believe their connection at first because of the clothes that they wear. A Goth girl befriends Mr. Rogers? Society would tell us that this could never happen, but the Lahti persuades us by giving us two of the strongest characters to play against each other in modern cinematic history.

I realize that others would argue that there have been stronger matching in Hollywood long before Brooks and Sobieski, which I would agree of classic Hollywood, but recently (basically 80s to present) it is hard to find two actors that seem to compliment each other like a great cheese and aged red wine. Sobieski dove, head first, into her character giving "J" mannerisms and characteristics that seemed pure and researched. I felt as if Sobieski was one of those misunderstood Goths that I had class with in school. From the poetry, the eye movements when speaking, and the overall self-abusive negativity that she has against herself as well as those around her. She patiently waits for the right person to enter her insane life and finds that with Brooks. For those seeking his typical sarcasm and wry attitude, My First Mister may disappoint. Albert Brooks contains himself in this film. He does so to the point that midway through the feature I forgot that it was funnyman Brooks. He amazingly transforms himself into an older version, in a khaki color, of "J". The two play so well off each other that as an audience member you have the chance to enjoy both the acting as well as a very strongly developed story about family and friendship.

I have talked about the story, I have talked about the characters, but none of this would have been possible if it were not for the brilliant direction behind the camera and the talented eye of minimal director Christine Lahti. At first I was unsure of how well she would be able to handle such a deeply emotional topic, if she would cliché the characters and fill their mouths with remedial dialogue that would be painful to both the eyes and ears, but instead she remained calm, cool, and completely collective throughout the entire film. It was obvious that she had done her homework prior to each scene and before each take. She had the control of her actors, which developed into some great on-screen chemistry, as well as she knew how to tactfully take us to the next emotional level. Sure, it wasn't perfect (the ending seemed a bit tattered), but Lahti remained focused and even cleverly changed the focus throughout the film with the greatest of ease. I was surprised to see that Lahti has not directed more after this project, because it was obvious that her talent was behind the camera.

Overall, I thought My First Mister was a sensational film. We had a superb cast that complimented each other so well that we could easily forget that we were watching a film. We had a story that spoke emotionally and socially about friendship and family on more than just a "June Cleaver" level. Finally, we had a director that was not afraid to take risks and do her homework. This story works on so many levels that to begin to unravel it would take more time than allowed. I suggest this film strongly because it will make you think twice about passing judgment on someone due to their clothes or piercing habits, who knows where friendship could erupt!

Grade: **** out of *****

I have to confess that I enjoy anything Albert Brooks does, whether as writer or director or actor, and this movie was no exception. The friendship between Brooks the older man and the young woman stuck in "Goth" mode was portrayed pretty realistically, as if between real people, once you accept the premise that it could happen at all. Carol Kane was funny in a touching way as the mother who wants so much to be a part of her alienated daughters life that she just keeps trying and trying no matter how much her daughter rejects her advances. Nice to see a picture that, like "Lost In Translation" depicts friendship between an older man and a younger woman without sexual themes.

What a great surprise this movie was. I sat down to watch it with no expectations. I was almost instantly hooked and when Brooks made his entrance I could not switch off. Beautifully written and played, Lahti directs with a sure touch and sensitivity not often found in modern movies. The relationship between the two leads is outstandingly portrayed and totally believable due to the way the whole thing is handled. My only criticism is the title of the movie. Together with the synopsis it seems the movie is going to be sleazy and not a little tacky. Maybe it could have been called "J & R" or almost anything else other than "My First Mister". I have not seen too many Albert Brooks movies but I will certainly search some more out. I loved him in this. A very underrated actor and an extremely underrated movie. Why has it been overlooked by the academy and critics and general public?

First I fall in love of Leelee when a i saw those blue eyes, second, what a movie, a movie that make you think in friendship, fraternal love, family and stereotypes....

I saw the movie on TV, it's a shame that in Mexico the only films that arrive from USA are the extremely commercial films, and films like this only on tv...

My First Mister, a good and often well-written and acted film, stars Leelee Sobieski, one of the best new actresses of late, co-stars as a lonley and alienated goth type girl with a lot of personal baggage. Enter Albert Brooks as a men's clothing salesman in a mall who becomes her boss after she comes by the store for a job. Then starts a relationship between the two not in sexual terms, but as a second family type of one (her family is quite distant from her, he doesn't even have a family anymore). The first two acts are quite good, sometimes a little over-emotional but in check and well paced. The third act starts to go downhill though with corniness and an amount of unbelievability pulling the film down (it is almost as if writer Franklyn didn't know where to go). But at least the bulk of the film is a good show to pass the time; Brooks fans won't be dissapointed and Sobieski is also a note of big interest. B+

Friends, family, fate...forever. A wonderfully compelling and very touching movie, on all counts. A story of trust, truth, reaching, communicating, needing people. See this. That's really all I have to say, but the computer tells me I need another line, so here you have it, plus a bonus line. Enjoy, computer.

The parallels between this film and Ghost World abound. In Ghost World's defense, it was directly linked to a comic and succeeded in being artistically blessed. On the other hand, 1st Mister is so real and true that your heart gets an exercise (and how often does that happen?).

Other than the artistic versus real comparison, 1st Mister spends much time with the departed. You may not want to view if you are in the throws of experiencing the pitfalls of life.

Is it me, or are more films subject matter about mortality due to baby boomers looking straight down the barrel at their own? Part of the previous sentence is quoted from a comment made by Tom Petty the musician, when he was providing a life view of approaching his 50th birthday, but there were no plans to stop rockin. Rock on Tom!

The movie should have had more naturalistic portrayal of characters. LeeLee's for instance has been introduced as if ticking the checkboxes from "how to write a script 101" textbook: show bit of family, bit of school and bit of stream of consciousness and viola! But no man, this is so cartoon, same case with Brooks' character, I think this is one of the movies where actors and actresses really felt on the edge of stupidity and shame while performing the script.