My First Mister (2001)

53% of critics liked it
(79 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(5,055 ratings)

A first feature from acclaimed actress Christine Lahti (who won an Academy Award for her short film Lieberman in Love in 1995), My First Mister explores the delicate relationship between two unlikely individuals who bring each other out of their protective shells. Jennifer (Leelee Sobieski), the… More A first feature from acclaimed actress Christine Lahti (who won an Academy Award for her short film Lieberman in Love in 1995), My First Mister explores the delicate relationship between two unlikely individuals who bring each other out of their protective shells. Jennifer (Leelee Sobieski), the film's narrator, is a Goth-obsessed, tattooed 17-year old who absorbs herself in death-laden music and poetry. Just graduating from school and immersed in a dysfunctional relationship with her out-there mother (Carol Kane), she finds a job at a local clothing store as a clerk. Her boss, Randall Harris (Albert Brooks), is a rigid, middle-aged type, who becomes uncomfortable when Jennifer begins to spy on him and follow his moves. She then cleans up her act a bit and lands a position as a stockperson, and Randall begins to take an interest in her. After a few outings where they attempt to relate their lives to each other, they begin to become close friends, effectively building confidence and bridging their considerable age gap. Also included in the cast are Desmond Harrington, Mary Kay Place, and John Goodman as Jennifer's hippie father. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Christine Lahti
Written By: Jill Franklyn
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Apr 23, 2002
Studio: Paramount Classics

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
A testament to both Sobieski and Brooks -- especially Brooks, who is Oscar-worthy here -- that we buy into their film's manipulative tendencies and its demands of unconditional acceptance.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Sobieski's performance in this role pretty much kills off the film.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
Franklin's gooey, implausible script is too ridiculous to support unexpected bouts of sincerity, and the darkness is seldom as profound as it should be.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Although the movie has its moments, it's a tearjerker that jerks too hard.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Beautiful and so phony it makes you urp.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
If the girls in Ghost World were to see this one, they'd gag.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The actors earn the couple of salty drops you may shed at the end -- the script sure doesn't.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Actress Lahti's feature directorial debut is a disappointingly sappy melodrama about the unlikely bond between a rebebllious high-school grad (Leelee Sobieski) and a dying older man (Albert Brooks).
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A beautiful story about finding camaraderie, and ultimate love in the infrequent of places
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...while Ghost World is, on the whole, a slightly better movie, My First Mister is nevertheless worth checking out mostly due to two incredible lead performances.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
Starts out as a deliriously original "odd couple" comedy, and then hangs a quick left turn into shameless tear jerking.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
A good small movie featuring a different kind of love story..
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The calculated sappiness does succeed in provoking a heightened reaction--but resentment and disgust is surely not what they had in mind.
Ethan Alter, Film Journal International
A woefully underdeveloped story populated by unbelievable characters.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
There's a terrific movie somewhere inside Christine Lahti's My First Mister, but it's kept hidden by the trite trappings of a Lifetime movie-of- the-week.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
She's not just tattooed and surly and he's not just geeky and stern - their characters are beautifully written and fleshed out gradually and admirably by the actors.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Simply stated, this was a wonderful discovery. The movie boasts a cast who played off of each other effortlessly, and believably. It was poignant, and timeless. I loved this movie,
Red L

My type of movie - people (in this case a Goth chick and a dress salesman) listening to each other and growing emotionally.
Jason S

I little weird. The acting was there but the story was a little slow and off.
Deb S

This was a story about a lonely and alienated Goth-like teenager named Jennifer Wilson (Leelee Sobieski) who has a lot of personal baggage (and almost unrecognizable under the tattoos, body piercings and a suicidal fetish.) Then she meets a grumpy clothing store owner (Albert Brooks)… More
This was a story about a lonely and alienated Goth-like teenager named Jennifer Wilson (Leelee Sobieski) who has a lot of personal baggage (and almost unrecognizable under the tattoos, body piercings and a suicidal fetish.) Then she meets a grumpy clothing store owner (Albert Brooks) and little by little, they generate a real friendship. All bodes well for this tale of the unlikely friendship between two very different characters, who manage to connect despite these differences, not the least being the vast age differences (he's 49 and she is 17). They are clearly soul mates but not in the sexual sense (which in hinted at in one hilarious moment when Jennifer asks Randall upfront if he wants to f**k her and he promptly chokes on his Sanka coffee).
Lesley N

Romantic comedy without the romance (thankfully) as Leelee Sobieski, 17 with purple hair and piercings falls in friendship with 49 year old Albert Brooks and his paunch. First half is quirky and spikey, second half falls into sentimentality and tear-ey eyes but is rescued momentarily… More
Romantic comedy without the romance (thankfully) as Leelee Sobieski, 17 with purple hair and piercings falls in friendship with 49 year old Albert Brooks and his paunch. First half is quirky and spikey, second half falls into sentimentality and tear-ey eyes but is rescued momentarily by John Goodman playing Leelee's incorrigible over-the-top father as if he'd popped in during a tea-break from a Coen Brothers film.
Audrey L

A fine Albert Brooks film-a little more sentimental than others- but still contains the wonderful humor for which he is known. I really liked the film-not fully understanding J's macabre persona but enjoying the relationship blossom with R. Leeleee Sobieski is a fine young… More
A fine Albert Brooks film-a little more sentimental than others- but still contains the wonderful humor for which he is known. I really liked the film-not fully understanding J's macabre persona but enjoying the relationship blossom with R. Leeleee Sobieski is a fine young actress-I have'nt seen many of her films but will be looking from here on.Is it just me or is her voice EXACTLY like helen Hunt's?
Wu C

I really liked this one when it came out.