Editorial
Front Page - Friday, January 29, 2010
Are We There Yet?
Two not to miss
Jay Edwards
Last Friday night it was a toss-up on what to do, deciding whether to finish out another week with a bang or a whimper. We talked about going to a movie, but felt we had already been to everything worth seeing, or that we’d longed to see. And after Avatar, what’s left?
If you haven’t seen Avatar, or even if you have, you need to check it out at the IMAX in 3-D. Kathy and I went, and it is incredible.
But if you go and have to get up for another tub of popcorn or to use the facilities, make sure that you are safely back in your seat before you put the 3-D glasses back on. I made the mistake of putting mine on right when I got back into the theater, and as soon as I could see the screen, one of those flying dragons was in my face, causing me to fall to the floor so my throat wouldn’t be ripped out.
It looks pretty certain Avatar will far surpass the record $601 million in ticket sales generated by Titanic in 1998. Even though several reports have noted that so far it is falling short of Titanic’s attendance figures. One day last week the Los Angeles Times pointed out that in 1998, the average price of a movie ticket was $4.69, versus $7.46 in 2010. Also, most of Avatar ‘s revenue is coming from 3D and IMAX screenings where tickets are selling for a high as $20 each. Our matinee tickets cost $11.25 each, well worth it and much more entertaining than say the Row 11 Hog basketball tickets I can buy on eSeats.com at $55 a pop. Sorry, cheap shot, but that laugher in Lexington last Friday was tough to take. Remember 1994?
So we finally decided to stay home Friday night and eat one of those “$10 dollar any size, any topping” Pizza Hut deals, while renting The Hangover on Pay-Per-View.
You know about “Chick Flicks.” This isn’t one. However my chick watched the whole thing, and, while she won’t admit it, she was laughing just as hard as me when Stu (played by Ed Helms of The Office) realized he was missing a tooth.
It’s about these four guys who head to Vegas as a last hurrah before one of them (Doug) gets married in two days.
They arrive at Caesar’s Palace and upgrade to a luxury suite.
(Alan: Can I ask you another question?
Lisa: Sure.
Alan: You probably get this a lot. This isn’t the real Caesar’s Palace is it?
Lisa: What do you mean?
Alan: Did, umm... did Caesar live here?
Lisa: No.
Alan: I didn’t think so.)
Alan is the brother of the bride to be and the fifth wheel. But Doug invites him to come along, which means the world to Alan.
Doug and Alan hit the road in a vintage Mercedes, loaned to Doug by Sid, his future father-in-law and Alan’s dad.
(Sid: Don’t let Alan drive, because there’s something wrong with him.)
Their first stop is at the high school to pick up Phil, a teacher, who is seen in his classroom taking money from a field trip envelope and putting it in his Vegas envelope, while Doug and Alan wait out front in the car.
(Alan: I shouldn’t be here.
Doug: Why is that, Alan?
Alan: I’m not supposed to be within two hundred feet of a school... or a Chuck E. Cheese.)
The last stop is to pick up Stu, who while he waits on the guys is telling his domineering girlfriend Melissa that they are headed to Napa Valley to drink wine.
Rachael Harris plays Melissa, and she deserves a Nurse Ratched Award for her performance.
The guys arrive at the hotel and as they are getting ready to hit the town Stu shows Phil and Doug the ring that he plans to give to Melissa as soon as Doug’s wedding is over.
Stu: That’s my grandma’s ring. She made it all the way through the holocaust with that thing. It’s legit.
But before they go Phil leads them up on the roof where they make a pact of silence, while toasting the night ahead. They’re on top of the world, but of course that soon changes.
The next thing you see is Stu, lying on the floor of the suite, waking from his stupor. There is a chicken walking around behind him.
Then Alan wakes up and goes into the bathroom, where he senses something is watching him. He’s right; it’s a live tiger.
Alan escapes and they soon realize that besides Stu’s tooth, Doug is also missing, and thus begins the real adventure.
It’s the funniest movie I’ve seen in years.
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