Mini's First Time (2006)

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Blistering performances.

For certainly the leading actress, Nikki Reed, gives a first year acting course job. She was dreadful to look at and her performance matched her looks. I so wanted her old man to slap the crap out of her. She was that annoying. And why would the likes of Alec Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum and Luke Wilson have anything to do with this trite story and badly directed and written scenario.Best performance way above the entire cast was given by Carrie-Anne Moss as the mother who unfortunately is wiped out early in the film. Now if it were reversed and the daughter was killed off instead, it might have been a good film. Moss, Baldwin, Goldblum and Wilson could and would have given this loser some class.Oh, by the way, someone ought to wipe the tons of lipstick this little loser wears in the film. Ugly, ugly, ugly. And the push up bra didn't help either. She just doesn't have it folks. Forget this one.

With Alec Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum, and Luke Wilson on board, this should have been a far better film. Luke Wilson's character comes across as a "Columbo" clone, with his bumbling questions. Alec Baldwin must have simply been on an ego trip, pairing up with Nikki Reed, while Jeff Goldblum acts like he is in a completely different picture. Parts of the movie having to do with the demise of Reed's Mother, Carrie-Anne Moss, border on sadism, and seem highly unlikely. What you wind up with is a failed black comedy, along with a failed attempt at duplicating an episode of "Columbo", with zero likable characters. Not a total disaster, but not recommended either. - MERK

Mini: With desire, focus, and the willingness to treat every obstacle as an opportunity, it's amazing what you can accomplish.Not exactly "Oscar worthy" if you know what I mean. It has it's moments, but that's about it. In the end the film is mostly disappointing. The acting is a mixed bag. Alec Baldwin is solid as always, and Carrie-Anne Moss gives the best performance of t...(read more)he film as the incredibly shallow alcoholic mother of Mini. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Nikki Reed who was decent in 'Thirteen', is absolutely abysmal in her role. The other high-profile actors in the film such as Luke Wilson and Jeff Goldblum seem to just be in the movie for window-dressing. All in all, despite some interesting moments, Mini's First Time is a waste of time. Grade: C

SPOILERS: I thought I was going to love this! I've recently seen the movie "Pretty Persuasion" which is a bit similar to this and liked that a lot. But this movie, while not awful, really bothered me. It was very well acted, actually amazingly so, featuring superb performances from all the cast and wonderful direction but the movie was so incredibly mean that it was very difficult to enjoy it.Since I generally enjoy these type of pictures (I count 'Heathers", "Cruel Intentions", "Wild Things", "Election" and "pretty Persuasion" as good movies) I did ask myself why I had such a hard time with this one. Using comparisons to 'Pretty Persuasion" a movie I just saw recently, I have to say that movie, despite the twisted aspects-(and there were many) was provocative. It was daring but it had something to say. There were a lot of different themes explored and it made one think.But with Minnie's first time, it seems mean without all the Depth and introspective aspects. This is a very hard movie to like. I Will admit I was riveted and had no desire to turn it off. But man did it annoy me at times! It is a disturbing movie I'll give it that.Some of the main characters frustrated the heck out of me. Unlike other movies, we are not provided much detail on Minnie's motivations either. She just seems to hurt people randomly. Alec Baldwin did a great job with his character but this story was just to twisted for me. I mean sometimes there is a line between dark and utterly twisted. Minnie's first time seemed a compilation of many other films but the depth needed to really make a good film didn't seem to be there. This was not awful or dreadful but it just was not my type of movie. I thought it would be. It started promisingly. But This movie just left a bad taste in my mouth in general. I guessed fairly early the pictures were from Minnie not the neighbor. I was also bothered that Minnie got of Scot free. So this isn't my favorite of the genre although I've seen a lot of 1 and 2 votes on here and I could never give it a really really low rating because it's got some positives, mainly the performances. This movie defines "Performance Driven".So in spite of the negatives and Even though I wouldn't strongly recommend this, I'd give it a rating of low 6. It's got some positives, number one as mentioned the performances but also is the way the movie sticks with you-way more then other similar films. This movie is disturbing and one won"t forget it easily. I have noticed many either seem to love this or hate this. There are so many excessively low or high ratings on here. I'm one in between. I don't think this is Oscar material but nor do I think it's awful. I may even watch it again! (It could fall into the "Guilty Pleasure" type of movie but it wasn't that enjoyable to watch so I guess not) If I sound a bit confused about this movie it is because I am. But this is one where even though I was bothered by it, it does have something that grabs the viewer. Alec Baldwin is excellent as is Reed, Glodblum, Moss and Luke Wilson in a small but surprisingly effective role. This movie will never be one of my favorites and I can think of many other directions I'd have preferred it to go but it sure is intense movie watching. My vote's 6.