Cinema Trip

Last weekend we went out to see the film 'He's just not that into you' at our nearest cinema. A friend who had watched it on pirate dvd from our neighbourhood rental shop said it was great but did caveat that by saying it was not entirely necessary to watch it on the big screen.

We were not deterred until on the way to the cinema we saw a dead body lying by a smashed bicycle and a burnt-out bus, which didn't bode well for our evening, especially as we were in search of light entertainment. Armed police were guarding the roadside scene.

Arriving just in time for the 'main feature', we sat through the film which was too long and full of 40 somethings trying to suspend our disbelief that they were 30 somethings (ie Jennifer Anniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly), all caught up in teenaged type relationships angst.

I don't know if it was just the super huge screen, but they all looked old - their faces were 12 foot high and yes, there were wrinkles - even noticeable on Jen who reportedly spends $20,000 per month on her appearance. It all became clear when I read in the final credits that Drew Barrymore co-produced the movie - she must be living in a parallel universe where 40 is the new 20.

I felt much the same watching Mama Mia with Meryl Streep and Julie Walters bouncing on a bed aged sixty, pretending to be in their late 40s. Call me ageist but I would have far rather watched a film about the pretty Sophie and left out the bit with her aged aunts and uncles/mums and dads (or whatever). It would have been hugely more enjoyable to have watched Sophie dancing and singing with her youthful boyfriend in Corfu than hear Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth make strangled crooning sounds with shirts undone to their naval and Meryl Streep in her dungarees with lanky locks (16/61) - a mental image which I sadly cannot rid from my mind.

There are lots of lovely, young actors and actresses - lets give them a sporting chance! After all movies are supposed to be about escapism?! Models know their shelf life - lets have a bit of turn over in these female leads.

I don't mind watching the Cameron Diaz et al on the big screen, but just beg that they are cast in age appropriate roles. Sadly, in spite of their best efforts, these actresses (Demi Moore) and singers (Madonna) do not hold the secret of eternal youth. Watching them with surround sound on mega huge cinema screens with enhanced imaging just reminds us all of the dreaded slippery slope. Tick Tock.