The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

OK I sat through this movie and actually did like it. It wouldn't have been the same if Elisabeth Wagner hadn't been in it. She made this movie. Where did she come from and why hasn't she made more movies? She's very sexy in a quite smoldering kinda way. Don't walk out of this movie don't turn it off. Once this thing started I thought I might get up but I had to stay to see all of it. This is one of those movies that takes a little getting used to. Don't watch it expecting to see Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. Watch it expecting to be entertained by some interesting people. Would I watch it again? As long as Elisabeth Wagner will be in it, and what are the chances of her not being in it the next time I watch it? Only the Twlight Zone knows for sure.

....ripoff of a dozen better films. Particularly Steven Martin's "LA Story", which at least had the grace to be obviously fictional even though it starred his then-girlfriend playing his girlfriend in the film.Yes, naive boys and girls, "20 Dates" IS a mockumentary, although I am not absolutely certain that was Myles Berkowitz's intent when he started. My impression is that he started the project semi-seriously, then quickly realized that it would be pathetic and not funny unless he made the situations more and more ridiculous. As a result, the whole thing has an uneasy, cheap and insincere feeling about it.As someone smartly pointed out, the film has two of the "dates" suing and putting restraining orders on Myles and yet they appear in the film, which would be impossible as it would require a consent form. It also appears to me that the majority of women who appear as "the dates" are professional actresses (albiet not famous ones, excepting Tina Carrere) -- they are simply too obviously pretty, polished, thin and comfortable in front of the camera to be average civilians.Mr. Berkowitz makes a classic error in only casting this kind of very pretty thin actress, instead of utilizing a variety of believable women, which might have made the premise (even in a mockumentary) more believable and funnier. He also skates over what is probably his real-world problem, and which is that both the movie character and the real world Myles Berkowitz appear to be functionally unemployed (his real life IMDb credits are practically non-existent, excepting this film). Even in the world of the movie, his ex-wife divorced him for never being employed. I think the viewer (let alone Mr. Berkowitz's real life dates) are deserving of an explanation of he manages to live in one of the most expensive urban environments in the US, in a luxury apartment, driving a fancy car and eating out at pricey restaurants when he doesn't seen to have any source of income whatsoever. (Is he drug dealer? Living off his rich parents? No clue!)You can get away with most anything in a film, if the jokes are really funny. "20 Dates" is painfully, embarrassingly UN-funny. Mr. Berkowitz's idea of a joke is to have his character, while on restaurant dates, announce to his companions how the food served is likely to give him either diarrhea or constipation -- the WORST kind of childish potty humor.It is not very surprising to discover that Mr. Berkowitz never made a film before "20 Dates" and in the last 8 years, has not made a single film, appeared as an actor in anyone else's film OR had a writing or producing credit of any kind. My gut instinct tells me that this film was not financed by "Elie" (the gangster money man who appears off-camera) but more likely by Mr. Berkowitz's affluent parents, or perhaps represents a shocking abuse of credit cards. Whichever it was, we can all rest easy that we are unlikely to have to see Myles Berkowitz or any of his creative efforts EVER AGAIN. Hallelujah!!!

not even funny in an "its so bad" its funny sort of way. i can only think that tia carrere lost some sort of bet as reason for her appearance. its mindnumbing that this film was made and even moreso, released in a theater where i sadly admit that i saw it. like i said, i see a good 150 movies a year and this is the WORST movie i have ever laid eyes on. did i say..ever!!

This movie had an mildly interesting premise: a zany guy goes on twenty dates and films the result, offering insight into the game of romance. Hilarity presumably ensues. The premise is intriguing, but the resulting film suffers a fundamental flaw: the protagonist, Myles Berkowitz, simply isn't charming or funny enough to sustain the viewer's interest over the length of the film. Berkowitz has some funny moments, but his humor is of the smug, abrasive, everyone-is-dumb-but-me variety, which quickly becomes tiresome. By the end of the film, I found myself wondering how such an obnoxious man convinced any woman to date him, never mind twenty. Neither does Berkowitz have any insight to offer us on the art of love, ultimately concluding with nebulous statements like, "Love can conquer all; love is a strange magical thing." Stendhal he ain't.2/5 stars. Possibly worth watching on cable if you're bored.