28th
A Memorable Episode In A Series Of Reruns
Last night, I saw Away We Go with my mom at The Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland for $5 Movie Monday. It was phenomenal. Even if the film’s first two acts had been crap (they aren’t), the third one would make up for it. Great cast, strong characters, lots of laughs and some seriously good acting. By comedians, no less.* Longtime SNL veteran Maya Rudolph and everyone’s Office sweetheart, John Krasinski, play a mid-thirties pregnant couple scouring the United States for a place to build their nest, meeting old friends who have settled in each potential destination. The Montreal scenes were oustanding, particularly for Chris Messina’s two powerful monologues.
It was also one of the greatest memories I’ll have of my mom, and eloquently sums up the bonds of our relationship: dinner and a movie, spaced by an aimless walk in Cleveland Heights because we had to go to the 21:40 showing instead of the 19:05 showing as planned, because Mom didn’t wake me up to make the 40-minute drive to Cleveland until 20 minutes before it was supposed to start. Typical.
It was 72˚F and clear. We hung out in one of our favorite places in the world and talked about everything, she bought me my favorite pizza, and we went to the movies and got popcorn with the real butter anyway even though it’s not actually free on Mondays and she’s trying to watch what she eats these days but oh what the hell it’s the movies for Christ’s sake.
We do this all the time, but that’s the night I’m going to DVR for the archive.
*My actress friend Laura took exception to this and asked me if by the phrase, “by comedians, no less” I meant “that comedians as all around actors aren’t as talented and have poor range.” Au contraire. I meant that Maya Rudolph’s most recognizable work (to me, anyway) in the past decade has been Saturday Night Live, and this is the first I’ve seen her play a dramatic role. And she nailed it! Same goes for her co-star, John Krasinski of “The Office.” Even Jim Gaffigan’s character was only funny in sheer magnitude of awkwardness his dispicable nature caused for the characters around him.
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