Complete A-Z list


Blind Dating

5/10

Stars: Chris Pine, Anjali Jay, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jane Seymour, Stephen Tobolowsky, Susan Dolan, Bob Conder

Director: James Keach

This romantic comedy about a blind man and his problems - both with blindness and girls - has been on the shelf for four years, and gets a release now presumably on the strength of its star Chris Pine's subsequent success as the young Kirk in the recent Star Trek movie.

It is, essentially, a film of two halves. The serious side of its story works quite well, but the treatment, in spite of personable leads, is too broad, and the comedy content often excruciating. All in all, it's a good idea, but poorly realised.

Danny (Pine), the son of a perhaps too supportive family, has two dilemmas: the fact that, at 22, he's still a virgin, and a decision on whether to undergo a pioneering operation to help him regain partial sight.

Brother Larry (Thomas), who lets his limo taxi out to hookers to conduct their business in his back seats, sets Danny up with a series of blind dates too horrendous to take seriously, especially the one who says 'Oh you poor man' and cries all the time. Sorry, guys, that's way the wrong side of credible.

In any case, Danny, who's studying to be a lawyer, and makes money on the side with a talent for rooking guys at basketball, has already met Leeza (Robin Hood's Jay), a helper at the clinic. Even here there are snags: he doesn't know she's Indian (minor) and (major) she's engaged to another in a forthcoming arranged marriage.

Jay is appealing in this role, and Pine never loses our sympathy but, despite the eastern flavour, this is nowhere near a rival for Slumdog Millionaire or even Bend It Like Beckham whose star, Parminder Nagra, could be Jay's double.

David Quinlan

USA 2005. UK Distributor: The Works. Technicolor.
95 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 13 Sep 2009