I went to the cinema on Saturday night, for the second time in about 2 weeks. Or the second time in about 2 years, whichever you prefer. There were big queues for popcorn, so we didn’t get. And in the absence of ‘eating’ you have to wear your mask. So I had to pretend to eat popcorn. Same motion, just no popcorn. Reduced calorie option.

And we went because for the second time in 2 Saturdays we’ve been cancelled due to someone ‘testing positive’. Or saying they have just to avoid us; its what I’d do.

We went to see ‘Licorice Pizza’, which is the American way of saying ‘Liquorice Pizza’ because they’re just stupid. And I knew nothing about this film other than it had great reviews. And because the ‘star’ of the movie is Alana Haim, of the rock-sister band ‘Haim’, I kind of presumed that the ‘liquorice pizza’ may have been some euphemistic reference to a ‘record’, vinyl, a 33, if you can recall such things, because the movie was set in the 70s. Which you could tell by the fab cars. I also knew the cast included Tom Waits and also Bradley Cooper, who has been known to croon himself on occasion, most notably with Lady Gaga. My presumption was wrong. It had nothing to do with the music biz or music at all, other than a fabulous soundtrack. It fact it had nothing to do with anything really. It was just a movie that travelled along, at its own pace, not particularly going any place special but providing a most enjoyable ride whilst not getting there. The ‘stars’, Waits, Cooper and the ever-awesome Sean Penn, were given wonderful cameos. The real stars were a young tubby kid and Alana. Who, whilst not being in any way ‘beautiful’ or even ‘pretty’, has a quirky charm that is very endearing. Tubby (I’ll leave out ‘pimply’ and ‘greasy’, even ‘ginger-haired’) Kid was likewise wonderful as a 15 year-old ‘entrepreneur’. With a big crush on 25 year-old Alana. Who is called Alana in the movie. And lives at home with her 2 sisters. Who were played by her 2 real-life sisters. And her mum and dad, played by her mum and dad.

But I wouldn’t recommend this movie to you. Not because it isn’t fantastic, nor because its not wonderfully enjoyable. The problem is you. If you need a structured plot, car chases, gunfights, sex scenes, people dying of horrible diseases, this ain’t the movie for you. Go see all the others. It is a very quirky film and should carry a warning. A ‘quirk-alert’.

But I loved it. Much more than I loved the football yesterday. Much, much, much more. At least the movie didn’t make me cry. Nor punch people nearby.

Happy Monday

A xxxx