Adrenaline and anxiety.
Sharing food. Sharing secrets. Staring into each other’s eyes.
“Sucking his lips off in a Denny’s parking lot.”
Ah, the first date. And not just any first date. The first date that leads to love.
When John Corbett (Ian) and Nia Vardalos (Toula) go out on a first date in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 Canadian-American film written by Nia Vardalos, directed by Joel Zwick), Toula is nervous because she used to be “frump girl.”
She’s recently undergone a metamorphosis from insecure girl to confident woman – caterpillar to butterfly – and she doesn’t want Ian to remember how she used to look and act.
Too late. Ian realizes they’ve met before. “I remember you.”
It’s everyone’s nightmare – to be recognized and remembered for one’s worst moment – shy or obnoxious, thin or fat, mean, stupid, slow, or awkward. These moments/phases of our lives haunt us all like skeleton bones spilling out of overcrowded closets, ghosts of ourselves that won’t go away.
Toula holds her breath, hoping her past doesn’t ruin her future, but Ian doesn’t flinch, blink, break eye contact, or run for the door. He looks at Toula with a slow, sensual, steady smile and repeats, “I remember you.”
The gift of love – to be accepted for who we are – Frump Girl and Greek Goddess. This scene wins the prize for most romantic first date. Watch it below (the first date scene is second in the compilation) and feel free to leave a comment below with a first date story.
KIMBERLY SAVAGE 