Last night, in an attempt to leave the dog on his own for a few hours in the evening, ALL OF THE SEYMOURS went to the cinema.
This is rare. Firstly because we have Netflix. Who needs the cinema when you can have Netflix? Secondly, because we usually can’t be bothered to go out after dark, and thirdly because what film could possibly satisfy the tastes of a gore-loving middle-aged man, a sixteen year-old romantic, an animal-crazy tweenager, a very basic boy and a small eight year-old with the attention span of a gnat? What film indeed.
But I had free tickets. And I wanted to use them, and then I heard that Cineworld may be closing, so it was now or never. A few phone calls and some googling led me to believe that we could go and see something, and so we all ventured out for the evening to watch… Bill and Ted Face the Music, certificate PG.
To be honest, I was not excited by this. Neither was Number One. Big Seymour had been grouting all day, and had to be up early, but for old time’s sake, went along with my crazy plan. Yes, we used to be proud and proactive holders of Unlimited Cards, and went to Cineworld loads! Even after Number One was born! But these days, going out after a long day is not very appealing. And besides, we have Netflix…
But I digress. Mini Seymour was very keen to go. Boy Seymour will try anything once, and as he pointed out, he has never been to a cinema like that before. I racked my brains. Could this be true?I know he has seen films on large screens, but in a multiplex? Probably not. And so this was an experience more than anything. A family trip to see a family-friendly movie. All together. For the first time. As a family.
And we did it! Not only was Cineworld still open (just) but it was ours for the taking! We were the only ones watching our screen (OK, three men in masks came in at one point, but we will forget about them) we all got excited when the adverts started, and then, the trailers! Wow! The kids were open-mouthed, the poor sheltered creatures.
Sadly, Bill and Ted didn’t appeal to everyone. Number One just wanted to slink off to the car and read her book. Or go to the screen next door to watch some soppy, sexy twaddle. And I think Big Seymour wondered what the heck he was giving up an early night for. But in the end, the film was quite funny (probably funnier if you’ve seen the other two, which we haven’t) and it fitted the bill: a family-friendly flick for a rare night out, all together.
As lovely as it was to have the cinema largely to ourselves, especially when Mini Seymour decided to ask very loud, inane questions and then fall off her chair twice, it was also very sad. We love film! And Cineworld in Crawley is such a fantastic place, with glittery floors and expectant corridors. I remembered all the times we used to go there as young, childless people, and queue for ages with the hordes to see the latest releases. I recalled the time I went to see one of the Breaking Dawns at midnight with my friend, who has sadly since died. There was the time I bellowed like a man at the scary bit of The Others, and then there was the episode where we were evacuated out of the back door for some unknown reason. Big Seymour played a disgusting trick on me with a pick’n’mix bag within those very walls. And I winced, remembering watching Spiderman there whilst having contractions…
And now, as of Thursday, it will be closed for the foreseeable future. Such a waste! Coronavirus has a lot to answer for. This is just one more thing to succumb.
I feel guilty that we haven’t used the facility more. Over recent years, we have only been there a handful of times (and clearly not with the children!), but the days when we could watch all the films we liked for £9.99 a month are long gone. A cinema trip for all of us would ordinarily cost us £51, and when there are roof tiles to buy, they take precedence.
So I am glad we took the plunge last night – even if Bill and Ted were not to everyone’s taste. Who knows when we will be able to walk those glittery floors again? Cineworld is not exactly Mecca, or our spiritual home, but it holds so many memories. And its closure is a sign of these strange times.
Bugger off Corona. BUGGER OFF!
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