The Do's And Don'ts For Picking A Takeout Night Movie

The Do's And Don'ts For Picking A Takeout Night Movie

Posted on Monday July 25, 2011, 14:07 by Jodie McEwan in Empire States

Takeaway is probably one of the best ideas man has ever had: all you need to have a good time is food, films and an oversized hoody. But there is always the same squabble when trying to decide on the ultimate film to fit the mood, so from past experience I’m going to share the do’s and don’ts on what to watch.

I thought of this guide because last night I had people round my house to mong out, watch movies and order Chinese (the ultimate laze about session). My lounge has become the usual takeout host so my friends know the drill – bring films, bring munchies, do not wear anything that will stop your food baby from expanding, and if you leave your seat you’re automatically in a ‘you snooze, you lose’ situation. As ever, we can never decide on what film to watch but there at least one or two ground rules I’d like to share with you.

(1) Don’t watch anything that demands your full attention. This isn’t the same as watching a film on your own. Here you have to cope with the munchers, who’ll drown out key plot points and moving moments with the ear-shattering crunch of tortilla, the commentators and, of course, the “I don’t get it” fraternity. These immediately rule out anything by Christopher Nolan, David Lynch, or Kevin James and talking gorillas. Then there’s pesky interruptions like the takeaway arriving, loo breaks and the chatterbox who can't last ten seconds without asking someone how their day was. This out rules most things sci-fi, dramatic or historical. Films with finesse-filled storytelling like, for instance, Moon, Notes On A Scandal and Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto deserve your full attention – especially when subtitles are involved – so films like these are a strict no-go area for takeout night.

(2) Remember to have a mix of what to watch for both lads and ladies - nothing too action heavy or likely that could turn into a cry-marathon. If the sight of Jason Statham in full flow stirs your emotions, The Expendables is a “no” on both counts. Although Mean Girls and The Notebook are probably the best ‘chick flicks’ of our generation, if you don’t bring at least one movie that sits in the unisex category, there will be an unending feud over what to watch. I’m talking from experience here.

(3) Don’t pick anything too lengthy. You want something short and sweet that gives you a chance to watch other films after it. Movies like Return Of The King, King Kong and The Green Mile won’t allow much more than a reach for the taxi number. In fact, by the time Frodo gives his final farewell everyone will be itching to go home and crawl into bed. This isn’t to say I don’t love these films, but for night in with takeaway and friends they won’t keep everyone’s eyes glued to the screen.

Finally, comedies and animations are probably your best bet if you want to satisfy everyone – Anchorman, Hot Fuzz, The Hangover, Toy Story 1-3 and Shrek (the first movie only) are bankers. They don’t need much attention and certainly don’t stereotype into a guy or gal film. In the end you only want something enjoyable while you swallow your chicken curry without chewing.

What did we opt for this time? Well I won’t lie, Mean Girls nearly made its way into the DVD player with the boys as the minority voters, but in the end Monsters, Inc. won our take-out night spot, playing to our childhood memories.

Those are my takeout night tips but what are yours? What films make the cut for a night in with friends?