At least the movie isn't about doctors

Today's strip is so blandly inoffensive that I'm having problems focusing on it, other than it was submitted by "Paula and Paul" which is just wrong. I'm kind of grateful that there isn't a male version of my name so I don't have to worry about that sort of situation.

The situation here is somewhat universal; it's not like it's the "salesman" (I've always thought of them as "clerks"; I mean, in the movie Clerks, one of the guys worked at a video rental place!) at the "film rental shop" (is it OK to still call them "videos" if they primarily rent DVDs?) is the only person who recommends movies you don't enjoy. Even the best of friends don't necessarily enjoy all the same movies. You do run into dull movies now and then.

Man, this strip is putting me to sleep. But I gotta ask--Why are there actual pillows on the couch for Mom and Dad to be sleeping on?

Flashback to last summer

I saw today's strip and immediately thought, "I've seen this before." And not in an "Al has used this general concept before" way. No, in a "Seriously, this is an actual reprint of another strip." Well...I was almost right. I spent a couple minutes staring at the two of them and wondering why Al actually went to the effort of drawing another strip when he had done this before, almost exactly. Maybe he just wanted to work on the bottom panel of the strip from last year a bit more, so focused solely on that. So since I'm already a bit cranky because it's Friday afternoon and I'm at work...just go back and read what I wrote (and what you said) last August. It'll save us all time.

People don't live in the suburbs, do they?

I hope today's strip has taught everyone a lesson: There's traffic in the suburbs, too! I know, I know, you're all shocked. But nobody would go to a movie in the suburbs on what's probably a weekend night! you think.

Dear reader, I know. It's almost as though people who live in the suburbs for some reason don't want to trek down into the closest city to see a movie. I don't understand it either.

I also don't really understand where Lula and Alf live. Is this some sort of artsy film they want to see? Otherwise, why do they have to drive a half hour to see a movie? If they live close enough to a "downtown," they should probably be closer than a half hour from a movie theater. Although I suppose traffic (particular the traffic on Long Island, where Jericho, NY, is located)could add up.

But really, in general, why would anyone think, ever, that a movie theater in the suburbs would be empty? Has this person ever been to the 'burbs?

Actually, the real question is why is everyone still standing in line when the "Sold out" sign is up. I refuse to believe that more than just the one movie ("Purple Love"?) is playing. Look at the marquee!

Movie and a dinner

I didn't even think about TDIET yesterday, but I got bored watching the Golden Globes, so thought I'd check it out. And I just need to make a quick comment on yesterday's strip. I was impressed with it, not because of any genius in the strip itself, but more because it didn't go the way I expected it to. After the top panel, I was convinced that they would get there and then have to sit through previews and commercials. Of course, that might be a bit too logical, because God knows enough people complain about them. (I don't. I love previews. I could live without the commercials, though.) I do enjoy all the people around Arfo who clearing aren't enjoying his snoring. Hey people, you could always just wake him up!

On to today's strip. I hate it when Al sets up strips like this--"Find the couple blah blah blah." It just brings out my sarcastic side. Well, gee, Al, I don't know! Who could it be? I'm thinking it's that guy in the right side of the strip who is glaring at the couple in the middle, possibly because the waitress, instead of saying, "I'll be back in a minute" and going to help him, is just wasting her time standing at the couple's table. Waitress Wendy, they're not going to leave much of a tip anyway, so you're just inconveniencing everyone by standing there.

Naturally, though, I'm in love with the food options not found on the menu--goulash, squid (yes!!! I get to use the squid tag again), knockwurst, scrod. Excellent. What kind of restaurant do they think they're in?

What does Al know about real life?

I hate strips like today's strip. I mean, I really have no reaction. Yep, I agree with it (which, OK, is a bit shocking unto itself), but it's already been pointed out a bajillion times. I mean, is anyone honestly going to read this and go, "Yeah! That does always happen! I never noticed that before." I do continue to be annoyed with Al's depiction of life on the streets. Unless you're driving in midtown Manhattan during rush hour, the street probably isn't going to look like that. And, of course, all the cars look like they belong in 1969 or so. So that's fun.

But really, I got nothin'.

The kids only look a few years younger than those actors

In the past, I know that I've said that I read the strip and my only response was "No." After reading today's strip...my reaction is that "No," only multiplied by, like, a million. I mean, seriously. What? (And it depresses me to be reduced to writing like this, as it feels too Scaduto-like.)

So...what? Huh? At least he's blatant in acknowledging that the readers of this strip are old. Because, really, when was the last time kids played cowboys and Indians (though notice that, ever the epitome of political correctness, Al calls it "played cowboys")? Maybe kids in the early 60s. Though I suppose it could be more recent. I don't remember playing cowboys as a child, but then, I wasn't a little boy. Kids today could be playing cowboys, but I try to avoid contact with children.

Anyway, it's logical that little boys playing would call each other "men"--that's how they want to be seen. In the movies, do they really call each other "boys"? The only cowboy movie that's come out lately (hee hee, "come out") is Brokeback Mountain, which I doubt Al (or his readers) saw. Before that, there were a few that came out in the mid-90s (Unforgiven, Wyatt Earp, The Quick and the Dead), but it's hardly a popular genre these days.

I do love that the viewer in the bottom panel is so completely disgusted as he thinks "Boys?" Mister, try being 28 years old and have people not infrquently refer to you as a "girl." Shut up, Al. Also, the cowboys in the movie are gross-looking. (Hey, if you call me a "girl" I'll act like one.)

Maybe next week's movie will be "the ultraest"

So today's strip is about those wacky talking pictures the kids are going to these days. Although, I'm not sure what he means by "plunk down $9.50 per ducat." Isn't "ducat" a currency? I mean, he's not talking about going to another country and exchanging cash, is he? Ahh, thank you dictionary.com, where the third definition is "Slang. A ticket to a public performance." I'm not going to query when that slang was most popular, but my guess would be 1949.

And yeah, this probably has happened to me, though I can't think of any specific instances. I've certainly gone to movies knowing that the reviews have been largely negative, but I also know that I don't necessarily agree with reviewers. But, really, this is just another case of people going to the movies without any really thought into what they're going to see. I can understand complaining about paying $9.50 for a crappy movie (and you know that the submitter, who's from the Bronx, must have specified the amount, which undoubtedly horrified Scaduto; I imagine he flipped when he heard that movies cost more than 50 cents these days), which is why most people don't go to a movie without some knowledge of the movie, its plot, and/or whether it's been panned or praised. But if you're going in just off the street, all, "Hey, let's see a movie!" (which, again, I've done), you probably shouldn't whine about it too much.

Even going in prepared, yes, you can get caught off-guard on occasion. Which sucks. So...I'll give him that, I guess.

And again, love that the ticket-taker is in the full-on uniform. Must be some classy movie theater! Particularly when you consider how dressed up everyone is. Another detail I loved--the previous audience is from "the early show." Why not "an earlier showing"? Sorry, sorry. Too logical. I'll stop now.

But...hey! It's the same poster from the August 31 strip! I guess Blue Kisses turned out not to be "The greatest, ultraest movie ever produced!" I do wonder why it opened 8/31 in Boston, but not until 9/15 in New York.