Why I paid $27 to see Four Christmases

Um...so tonight I saw Four Christmases (love Reese) with my friend, Gretch for $27. Each. Yes that's right.

About five minutes from where I work they opened this posh, upscale, completely pretentious (Gretch's word) movie theater, Gold Class Cinemas. There's only handful of them worldwide in locations like Greece, Singapore and Australia. And now one smack dab in good 'ole Chicago.

'Kay, so here's the drill for why it is so outrageously priced to see a movie: You walk in and a very refined, upscale movie ticketer person is waiting for you behind a marble counter. To the right of you is a roaring fire with lot's of comfortable looking, soft chairs. To the left of you is a huge, fancy looking bar with lot's of expensive looking drinks.

The movie ticketer person pulls out a seating chart of the specific theater for the movie that you are seeing. She says pointing to a specific location on the chart, "The computer suggests that this seat would be the best area for you in the theater." So, you take it. The computer says it's the best. Who are you to argue with the computer?

Then the movie ticketer person says, "That will be $27." You gasp internally, because you didn't expect it to be so much, but, you don't want to look cheap in such a pretentious environment, so you pull out your Visa card.

The movie ticketer person takes your card and says, "Because you are using your Visa card you will be receiving champagne and chocolates on the house." You (I) quickly ask, "Can we exchange the champagne for two diet cokes. She suppresses a smile and says, "I will check with the bartender. I'm sure it will be fine." She then escorts you to your theater and to your exact seat that the computer picked just for you.

Your chair (not seat, chair) is an oversized, velvet, Lazy Boy recliner with a table right next to you. Immediately a waiter comes with your diet cokes and a piece of chocolate that is wrapped in a little gold box. He hands you a menu that is complete with a list of wines and extraordinarily priced food. He then asks if you would like a blanket. He brings you a nice soft, cozy one.

After he leaves you and your friend turn to each other and say, "Let's split something."

Then you recline back in your oh-so-soft seat, sip your diet coke, nibble at your chocolate and completely enjoy your movie, because you know you won't be doing this again in quite a while, if ever.

And if you were Gretch and I, as soon as you leave the theater, still a little hungry, you turn to each other once again and ask, "You up for McDonald's?"