I love the good ol' U.S. of A., where efficiency and convenience reign. Thanks to the miracle that is the Internet, we can balance our checkbooks, make flight reservations and browse for books and CDs without leaving our homes. And if this makes us a little hungry, we can simply venture out to the 24-hour Kroger to buy minute-rice, cheese in a can and microwave dinners. We can even stop on the way home at the drive-thru alcohol store to buy beer to put in our baseball caps outfitted with can holders and long straws that allow us to drink without even using our hands.
Add to the list of uniquely American time-savers Raleighwood Cinema Grill, a movie theater on the outskirts of Raleigh where you can take in dinner and a film simultaneously. Opened five years ago, Raleighwood offers four nightly showings of second-run flicks as well as a selection of afternoon matinees that cover the whole movie spectrum, from "Anastasia" to "Boogie Nights."
Though the cost of a movie is a modest $3.50, the slightly-elevated food prices end any hope of getting away with a cheap evening. Similarly, a quick glance at the menu ends any hope of a gourmet dining experience. A run-of-the-mill selection of-you guessed it-overpriced American fare, like burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos and barbecue wings, dominates the menu.
The decor of Raleighwood-swivel chairs, long rows of tables and vanity mirrors in the bathroom-is appealing in a cheesy, dinner theater-esque kind of way, and the obligatory awkward adolescent manning the theater's popcorn trough is conspicuously absent. Instead, a seemingly sourceless and sickly pink light pervades a barren lobby.
Although I usually pride myself on scorning the tackier aspects of America-strip malls, guided bus tours and all things fluorescent-I must admit that the concept of Raleighwood did appeal to my baser instincts-that little deep-down-inside part of me that craves drive-thru Chick-Fil-A and revels in cat fights on Jerry Springer. As it turns out, Raleighwood didn't fulfill my wildest dreams, but it did provide an evening of guilty pleasure.
Although the recorded phone message advises customers to arrive half an hour early to evening shows, my boyfriend and I bought tickets early and slipped into the theater several minutes before showtime. We chose a small, round table, and as I sunk down into the pink leather of my chair, I prepared myself for sensory overload.
The movie we had chosen, perhaps unwisely, was "Boogie Nights." Call me crazy, but there's something that's just a little unsettling about contently swathing your fries in ketchup and sinking your teeth into a hunk of chicken while watching Marky Mark do the nasty and Julianne Moore snort coke like a fiend.
The waitress element was a bit disconcerting too, kind of like when you go to a movie and the guy behind you keeps whispering, "What did he say?" or "Wait... what's going on?" Though she kept her appearances down to a minimum, at times I felt like she was interrupting a private moment. A good movie is supposed to engage you, capture your attention, make you forget about your worldly problems for two hours. It's kind of hard for this to happen when you periodically hear a little voice behind your right shoulder asking if you'd like a refill on your water.
As for the food, I couldn't tell you what it looked like, but it didn't taste too great. My chicken sandwich was lackluster and a bit soggy, and my messy self didn't appreciate having to open plastic packets of ketchup in the dark. The powers that be also put ice in my orange juice, which was not appreciated. I guess I should have partaken in the selection of beer and wine that Raleighwood offers, which is a pretty novel concept if you ask me. The two middle-aged couples in the back corner who stumbled out of the theater giggling sure seemed to like it.
One last warning-I wouldn't recommend going to Raleighwood on a first date. Between chewing your food and keeping track of what's on the screen, there's not much time for conversation. One of the nice things about going to both dinner and a movie is that you have time to let both your introverted and extroverted sides breath, to talk and then to relax. But at Raleighwood, you might as well just bring a blow-up doll.
Raleighwood is the only theater of its kind in North Carolina, and one of 22 in the country, all of which are operated by a company in Atlanta. Named the best theater in Raleigh and Cary by the News & Observer of Raleigh, owner Jim Keane said business is solid. His two theaters, he noted, get especially crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to daily showings, Raleighwood also hosts Monday night football, children's birthday parties and corporate events. Companies including IBM and Xerox have rented out one of the theaters during the day for meetings, partaking in lunch and a movie on their midday break, Keane said. I assume they probably didn't see "Boogie Nights."
Although Raleighwood has its faults, there is a certain appeal to it. In fact, compared to writing a ten-page research paper, it provides a truly joyous experience. This weekend, Raleighwood is showing "The Wedding Singer," "The Full Monty," "L.A. Confidential" and, my personal favorite, "Boogie Nights." So if you're feeling a bit lazy, a little self-indulgent or just downright patriotic, I suggest you check it out. Unless, of course, the "I'm six months pregnant and still stripping!" episode of Jerry Springer is on TV. Now that's a true American classic.
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