In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)

85% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(3,816 ratings)

Alex Holdridge's comedy In Search of a Midnight Kiss follows the plight of Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a 29-year-old man who has just suffered through the most miserable year of his life. A new arrival to the City of Angels, Wilson ends up alone and penniless as New Year's Eve rapidly approaches, and… More Alex Holdridge's comedy In Search of a Midnight Kiss follows the plight of Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a 29-year-old man who has just suffered through the most miserable year of his life. A new arrival to the City of Angels, Wilson ends up alone and penniless as New Year's Eve rapidly approaches, and vows to lock his doors, pull his blinds, and climb into bed -- until best friend Jacob (Brian Matthew McGuire) talks him into posting a Craig's List personal ad. In seemingly no time at all, the message leads Wilson to Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a freewheeling young woman utterly determined to be with the "right" man at the stroke of midnight. She soon leads Wilson on an eventful and colorful trip through the nighttime streets of L.A. that he will never forget -- and that leads to a heartfelt emotional connection between the two. Anne Walker-McBay (Before Sunrise and Dazed and Confused) executive produced; Holdridge authored the original script. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Alex Holdridge
Written By: Alex Holdridge
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 1, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Dec 30, 2008
Studio: IFC First Take

Critic Reviews

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
What follows - walking, talking, flirting, fighting - is a charming piece of low-budget, improv-y filmmaking in the tradition of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
An offbeat looking-for-love comedy with enough fresh notes to please even jaded viewers.
Tom Long, Detroit News
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a surprising charmer, a wandering modern romantic comedy with enough bittersweet aftertaste to give it substance and enough wit to keep you entertained.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
How incongruous that while veteran studio heads prepare slates of comic book movies, the slackers behind this $12,000 gem have made one of the most mature films of the year.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Smart dialogue, an impeccably crafted story, and eye-catching LA locations make this low-budget feature by Alex Holdridge the most worthwhile date movie I've seen in some time.
Mike Mayo, Washington Post
Despite some scenes that have the feel of an acting or writing workshop, these are believable, complex characters. Their story has a full measure of Judd Apatow raunch, with a dash of Swingers emotional sweetness.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Shot entirely in black and white, this endearing, low budget indie offers as compelling a combination of character development, credible dialogue and surprising plot twists as you're likely to encounter between now and New Year's Eve.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
It's a great feeling, isn't it, falling in love with a movie about falling in love?
Noel Murray, AV Club
In Search Of A Midnight Kiss shows enough flashes of brightness that its more conventional business is all the more dispiriting.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Alex Holdridge has written and directed a sweet, funny little indie movie.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
There is no magic here. This is not Paris, these are not Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, and Holdridge's script does not give us a reason to care what happens to these characters.
Josh Rosenblatt, Austin Chronicle
Holdridge is clever enough to keep his characters from slipping into outright narcissism, or when they do, he's familiar enough with the art of mainstream moviemaking to balance the exhausted with the ecstatic.
Jonathan W. Hickman, Entertainment Insiders
Shot in black and white and edited extremely well, Kiss is funny and consistently credible.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Shockingly bad.
Ted Fry, Seattle Times
Writer/director Alex Holdridge maintains the intrigue of Wilson and Vivian's dance through a combination of naturalistic dialogue and a magical-realist style.
Bill White, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A naturalistic mix of vulgarity and romanticism gives this independent effort a mainstream appeal.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lewis C

Despite the fact that In Search of a Midnight Kiss was shot with that cheap digital video that I HATE, HATE, HATE, (seriously, I let out an audible sigh every time I realize that the movie I'm about to see uses it) I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Refreshing, even. It's… More
Despite the fact that In Search of a Midnight Kiss was shot with that cheap digital video that I HATE, HATE, HATE, (seriously, I let out an audible sigh every time I realize that the movie I'm about to see uses it) I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Refreshing, even. It's a tale of loneliness, Los Angeles, and New Year's Eve. Depressed and lonely Wilson puts an ad on Craigslist at the bidding of his best friend, in a last-ditch effort to not be alone on New Year's Eve. The ad is answered by an aspiring actress named Vivian, and the two of them meet and spend the rest of the day in a long, rambling, eventful date that takes them through various parts of Los Angeles. It's actually a lot cooler than I make it sound. Sort of a drama and a realistic comedy, with the ups, downs, joys, and uncertainties of a real relationship condensed into the events of one night. There's genuine chemistry between the two leads, and the whole thing feels surprisingly genuine, if you let yourself get into it. Crappy video aside, this is a movie that I'd recommend to anyone, be they romantic or jaded.
Nicki M

This was really a great little movie. I wasn't expecting much of it at all, small film with no one I've ever heard of in it, but it really exceeded my expectations. I actually would have scored it a little higher if the ending had been different, but then again, can't… More
This was really a great little movie. I wasn't expecting much of it at all, small film with no one I've ever heard of in it, but it really exceeded my expectations. I actually would have scored it a little higher if the ending had been different, but then again, can't fault something for being true to life. This reminded me a lot of Before Sunrise as most of it is just two people walking around getting to know each other and revealing things about their lives. The two leads are so good that it never comes across as dull and the Vivian character is originally so horrible that it is a credit to them that everyone doesn't just switch off. One interesting thing is that it seems that it was originally black and white, but for whatever reason, the Dvd release (in Australia, anyhow), is in colour. I did notice at times that the film looked very blocky, but put it down to a bad transfer. I have to say, I generally really like black and white films, but in this case, it was odd to see the trailer in black and white and I think I actually prefer the colour here.
Gordon A

Raw and honest portrayal of LA life with believable characters who reveal unexpected depths and emotion.
Justin F

This film is worth a watch and I like the way in which it attempts to look at situations like the stigma of internet dating and what things like New Years Eve means to different people (especially being alone during this time). At times its very funny (especially the opening scene)… More
This film is worth a watch and I like the way in which it attempts to look at situations like the stigma of internet dating and what things like New Years Eve means to different people (especially being alone during this time). At times its very funny (especially the opening scene) and I really liked the way it showed LA in a very anti glitzy light. The main down side for me is that I just didnt find it believeable and the date itself especially so. Normally I wouldnt hold this against a film as at times you have to suspend belief but I think this contridicted what the film was trying to achieve? Performances were good though and Scoot McNairy was especially convincing in the sensitive Geeky\Nerd role.
Lesley N

Four stars for the story line and the black and white pictures, minus three stars for the female lead character, who was, quite frankly, a cow.
William G

Charming low-key rom-com was better off in black and white, trust me on this.
Nicolas K

I watched this one in an open air monophonic (it actually had one speaker only) summer cinema theatre and it all felt very fitting indeed. The story was not original although the acting was very sharp and the dialogues made the story quite realistic.
Quinto W

Who knew Craiglist could be so romantic? Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds give both excellent performances, even if it took me a little time to get used to her character, and deliver a very sweet film love and hope in the cynical 21st. century.
Wu C

A very well shot and brutally honest look at a lovesick guy in L.A who posts an ad on craigslist in search of a date on new years. Some snappy dialogue and different B&W cinematography of L.A locations really help sell this 'clerks' type indie film.
Chris M

No cliché romance. No A-list cast. Not big-budget. Great film.