My wife and I took an unplanned trip to a drive-in movie complex on the northern side of the New York-New Jersey border. A few things have changed in the decades since our last drive-in movie adventure.
Many people use their utility vehicles' rear ends for seating (no pun intended). Movie sound, rather than coming through ungainly metal speakers that one attached to the side of a door, comes through the FM radio bands. The most curious change was the number of available screens. This drive-in offered three screens; each one showed a different movie than the other two. And while tonight (Saturday) is historically "date night," most people attending the picture were parents with children.
The show was crowded, so we parked at the top of an embankment. This gave us superb sightlines to see all three movies (The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Despicable Me, Inception) at once, as well as fireworks reflecting off the surrounding hills. While we paid to see Despicable Me, I was intrigued to go from one film to another. The best part was the animated retro commercial for the concession stand, which featured a talking hot dog and a talking bun eventually finding bliss together. (This segment is shown in the "Sandy" number from Grease). Despicable Me was dull, but that didn't matter. The experience felt connected to a vanishing and purely American spectacle. At one point, my wife noted I wasn't especially attentive to Despicable Me. "Amy," I said, "no one goes to a drive-in to watch the movie." Then I leaned over and smooched her, as it was now dark and the children from nearby vehicles were focused on the film.
Drive-ins have historically annoyed cinephiles and most serious film critics. I don't care: drive-ins are fun. The event also serves to usefully remind us that most movies are made to entertain people. It would be great fun to rent out the complex, invite friends, and watch movies we like on an outdoor screen.
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