8A - Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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Anything goes at
midnight showings

Boring, impotent'Delivery'

State Theater
provides cult
classics for A'
By TYLER BAILEY
DailyArts Writer
For almost as long as the
phenomenon of cult movies
has existed, so too have these
strange, offbeat and sometimes
downright terrible films found
a home at midnight screenings.
It could be that the mythos of
the midnight hour meshes with
the appeal of the cult film move-
ment, because this combination
has been a hit nationwide and
in Ann Arbor. The city has been
at the forefront of the midnight
movie scene with the State The-
ater offering frequent midnight
screenings since the late '80s.
However, it is not just the off-
beat appeal of the midnight hour
that has audiences coming back
most Saturdays. Brian Hunter,
programming manager of the
State Theater, has been making
sure that viewers are served a
steady diet of classic cult films as
well as a complete social expe-
rience unlike any other trip to
the movies (that happens before
midnight, that is).
"I definitely think that things
can get weirder; I want the mid-
nights to feel like a party," Hunt-
er said. "My dream is for it to feel
like, even if you're seeing 'The
Goonies,' that you feel like it's
the first time you've ever seen it,
and it's the weirdest time you've
ever seen it."
While many patrons have
already seen multiple films that
are popular fare for midnight
screenings, the experience

offered by the State Theater is
worlds away from the experi-
ence of popping in a favorite
DVD or, more likely, queuing
up a strange, foreign thriller on
Netflix.
After purchasing tickets and
climbing the stairs to the State's
two screens on the second floor,
eager guests are in for a moviego-
ing encounter unlike any other.
Before every midnight screen-
ing, State Theater employees
introduce the film, often joking
and making insider references,
as well as a list of other upcom-
ing films. Unlike a Hollywood
film screening, audience partici-
pation is encouraged. Regulars
and newcomers shout out their
favorite lines, make jokes around
the on-screen dialogue or even
bring props related to specific
moments in the film. While this
behavior would most likely get
you the boot at a theater like
Rave or Quality 16, the State
Theater embraces this tradition
with open arms.
"It's really fun when the audi-
ence brings itto us," Hunter said.
"A midnight audience, if they're
in touch with the film, they
know what to do for it."
Audience participation is even
encouraged outside the physical
boundaries of the State's walls.
Due to the rip-roaring frontier-
like nature of midnight movies
at the State, there is always an
avenue for film enthusiasts to
suggest a screening of a classic
favorite or a new, strange lim-
ited release for consideration as
a part of the series.
"E-mail me! I can't say that
enough," Hunter said. "I'm more
than happy to hear what people
want to see. I want Ann Arbor to
have a fun midnight scene."

While nothing seems off-lim-
its in terms of audience behavior,
limits aren't even considered in
regard to the films that can, and
are, shown as part of the mid-
night programming. Though
midnight classics such as "The
Rocky Horror Picture Show,"
"Eraserhead" and "Donnie
Darko" have become a tradition,
the midnight series has given
audiences the chance to see more
experimental, lesser known and
even avant-garde films.
"There's nothing that I
wouldn't even consider show-
ing," Hunter said. "I think it's
all about experience; it should be
about stretching your boundar-
ies, what you're comfortable or
uncomfortable with. I do think
the midnight audience is willing
to take chances on things."
At midnight, it can be bet-
ter to go outside a comfort zone
or see something that pushes
boundaries instead of the daz-
zling Hollywood blockbuster
that is guaranteed to wow audi-
ences. At midnight, it might be a
better choice to see a crude, ter-
ribly made bust than a critically
acclaimed four-star thriller.
However, even with these dif-
ferences, one thing remains the
same: At midnight, a film should
give you an emotional reaction
just the same as it should any
time of day.
"You should leave the theater
either happy that you stayed up
and you went with your bud-
dies or leave the theater and
just be beside yourself because
you feel something," Hunter
said. "I think movies, in general,
but especially midnight mov-
ies, work on that visceral level.
You should feel something from
them."

By KARSTEN SMOLINSKI
DailyARTS WRITER
Leave any cynical attitudes
at the door when stepping in to
see director Ken Scott's Eng-
lish language
adaptation of
his popular
French-Cana-
dian film, "Star-
buck." While Man
"Delivery Qualityl6
Man" certainly QadtRave
and Rave
deserves no
awards, those Disney
audience mem-
bers who accept
its silly premise and plot contriv-
ances will leave the theater feel-
inguplifted.
In "Delivery Man," the ami-
cable but perpetually unreliable
meat truck driver David Wozniak
(Vince Vaughn, "Wedding Crash-
ers") can't get his life together.
He owes money to the mob, his
pregnant girlfriend wants to raise
their child on her own, he grows
pot in his apartment and disap-
points his family with airheaded
decisions.
When David discovers that
the excessive sperm donations he
made in his youth resulted in him
fathering 533 different children
and that 142 filed a class action
lawsuit to uncover his identity, it
seems things will only get worse.
However, David soon discovers
that his oversized family may
actually provide the sense of pur-
pose he needs.
When David receives a file
containing the profiles of his
children, his curiosity wins out
and he begins secretly checking
up on them. This part of "Deliv-
ery Man" plays out in an episodic
manner, with each newly found
offspring presenting a mini-dra-
ma. one might easily imagine
this premise working as the plot
of a television series, where David
solves another of his children's
problems each episode.

4

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"Dude, I crashed too many weddings. AM I RIGHT?"

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Though not comically focused,
e sections often feel too "Delivery Man" does manage a
ient - as David tends to few good laughs, mostly as the
p right when he's needed result of the interactions between
hey also present him with David's buffoonish lawyer (Chris
f parenting's most chal- Pratt, "Parks and Recreation")
, and rewarding, situa- and his four uncooperative but
Vhen he attends one of his adorable children. Pratt spends
n's NBA games, Vaughn much of the film playing the foil
ly portrays the proud and to David's desires to connect
lous parent. Another situ- with his children, even ironically
aptures the difficulty of warning him, "Do not reproduce,
g one's children with their ever" right before David receives
ife decisions, especially the life-changing news. The love
hey've made some wrong Pratt's character possesses for his
children does becomes apparent, 4
though, despite his frustration
and annoyance with their unruly
,aughn, the behavior.
In many ways, "Delivery Man"
only victor. resembles a family-friendly ver-
sion of 2007's "Knocked Up."
The unreliable slacker, sud- 4
denly motivated by becoming a
father, learns the importance of
his part, Vaughn deliv- responsibility. Coming up short
character the film needs on hilarious comedy or poignant
t much more. His genuine drama, "Delivery Man" supplies
nor and charm appeals to an enjoyable experience with its
ce members, but fails to warm and fuzzy attitude and lik-
:e much humor. No one able characters. The film falters
attend "Delivery Man" in many ways, yet champions the
ng a Vaughn comedy like emotional victories and defeats
Ball" or "Wedding Crash- found in the shared responsibil-
ity of family.

V
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"Dodge
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