Wow, talk about feeling old. This morning while driving to work listening to Madonna's fabulous new best of collection Celebration, and having one nostalgic flashback after another, I suddenly realized that the 25th anniversary of my first ever 'date movie' was approaching. Yes, it has been nearly a quarter of a century since my mom dropped my eleven-year-old ass off at a theater to meet the girl I was 'going with' at the time to see Susan Seidelman's eternally amazing Desperately Seeking Susan. Realizing that it has been nearly 25 years since this all important occasion in my life made me feel simultaneously sad and strange, but mostly it just made me think on how much a life can change in a couple of decades. I remember the day fairly well with the slightly embarrassing afternoon drop off and awkward evening pick up capping off what had been a nerve racking if nice experience. The 'date' was as innocent as it could get (basically imagine an Ozzie and Harriet episode set in the eighties) and the closest we got to contact over the popcorn we were sharing was holding hands for a few minutes about halfway through the film. And oh that film! I still adore Desperately Seeking Susan. I think it's one of the best comedies of the eighties and it makes the perfect double feature with Seidelman's incredible debut Smithereens (or Demme's Something Wild if you are so inclined, and you should be).
I became instantaneously hooked on Rosanna Arquette due to Desperately Seeking Susan during that first viewing and it remains Madonna's shining moment on film. Everytime I hear her joyous "Into The Groove" I flashback on that afternoon, Seidelman's film, Madonna in 1985, and the promise of my youth and I can't help but smile.
So the question is begging...what was your first date movie? Share your memories of your first date film, if you would like, and enjoy this tribute with some of the advertising materials that helped promote mine.
