Film: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Now in the middle of four nights of Meetup. Last night, I started two nights of horror, with The Hideout again for the first time in over two weeks.. was supposed to be Psycho Killer (stars Malcolm McDowell), but its UK release seems to have been delayed. Hope to see it at a later date, it looks good, some Satanic elements - from the writers of Se7en. Instead, we headed to Cineworld to see Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die - an apocalyptic thing, the trailer looked funny. Directed by Gore Verbinski, stars an unrecognisable Sam Rockwell as a visitor from the future, here to save us from the hell of AI. Meeting in Victory House beforehand - and yay, that meant I could eat in my fave Bella Italia! Ah, I've missed them..

Arrived a bit early - and my walk to the restaurant was made a bit easier by the fact that many of the roads were blocked off - turned out there had been a parade for Chinese New Year! And, of course, I was walking right past Chinatown:

The staff in the restaurant had little to do - there were a few patrons, but most people had probably been distracted by the parade. They seated me - and broke the news that they were out of Pinot Grigio! (I don't particularly like the Sauvignon Blanc here, tend to go for the Pinot Grigio.) I had the Chardonnay instead, which was nice and light.

Doughballs to start - excellent. Beef & red wine tortellini.. sublime. I was close to reprising the cafe scene in When Harry Met Sally, with Meg Ryan making all sorts of inappropriate noises, and a neighbouring patron saying to the waiter, "I'll have what she's having!" With time to kill, I had a dessert - just some vanilla gelato, to which she obligingly added chocolate sauce. With more time to kill, I had another glass of wine. Ah me, I really have missed the place..

I actually ended up being slightly late in the end! I didn't have far to go to meet the group though, just around the corner.. and it was great to see the organiser in particular, it's been too long - he's got family stuff going on, and is away a lot. It was terrific to catch up with people - he wasn't the only one I hadn't seen in an age. And gee, when I went to get a drink there, even the bar staff remarked that I hadn't been with the group, the last time they were in! Jeez, gimme a break, I really can't be everywhere..

And so to the film - we arrived during the trailers, having stopped for snacks and drinks. It turned out to be completely full. Now - what this is, is a very dark comedy indeed. It has lots of surreal elements - the hybrid machines at the end, made from toys, are particularly good n creepy, and I'd have liked a bit more of them. But wow, this film takes its chance to take a potshot at so much.. with the classroom full of kids being hypnotised by their phones, I'm not sure whether they were trying to make a connection, but let's just say that school shootings feature prominently, with separate support groups for parents of victims, and parents of shooters. There are opportunities to clone the dead children. And most of the population in this nightmarish vision of the future are effective zombies, locked into their VR headsets, not communicating with anyone IRL. Hell, with the cat attack, were they trying to make a dig at online cat videos..?

It's chaotic, it's nonstop, and it's unsure what's happening most of the time - but it's a wild and wonderful ride. We couldn't but be impressed. And it did make for a darkly fun evening. Plus, as I say, I was overdue seeing people.. Hope to see them again before too long!

Ran too late to blog tonight, what with having to be up for work today. And tonight, when I saw Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) were going to Dracula, well.. showing in the Noel Coward Theatre, by the time I came to book, "cheap" seats were in short supply. There was one left in the Balcony - £50, and predictably, no legroom. There was one left in the Grand Circle - decent seat. £85. I got that one. It's a one-woman show, and has mixed reviews.. well, you can't know unless you go! Eating beforehand in The Salisbury, nearby.

Tomorrow, I'm trying out a new Meetup group; London Music Showcase - Gigs & Drinks specifically exists to promote the Piano Smithfield bar. So I'm trying out the gig there that night - cheap tickets on TAC, as apparently with all theirs. I'm eating in The Old Red Cow beforehand - gee, seems you know there's a place for you if they respond immediately to your booking enquiry; if you don't hear, it's a no.

And on Wednesday, back with UITCS for the first of two nights of comedy with I'm Sorry, Prime Minister in the Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue. Eating in Bella Italia Strand for that one.

On Thursday, going to see Dara O' Briain, yay! Booked ages ago - he's in the Hammersmith Apollo.

And I'm finishing off the month with two more Meetups - on Friday, back with La Isla Flamenco Club, ole! Back in the gold Bar in the Colab Tower for a show called Identidades.

And on Saturday, back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his rescheduled Southwark: Seedy and Sublime walking tour.