So you think you have a good reason to bring your kids to an evening movie? Wrong. You think it’s okay to bring your infant to a movie that gets out at 10.20pm? Wrong. Oh, you don’t have money for a babysitter, but you really want to see the movie? Tough. And even if you DO bring your infants and 3 and 4 yr olds to a movie, you think it’s okay to stay IN the theater when the baby starts to scream bloody murder when she sees the pirates on the screen? WRONG again.
Sarah and I and a friend went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2 at the North Dekalb Mall movie theater last night. As the movie was beginning, an infant (INFANT!) started screaming, and the parents didn’t take the baby out. At the end of our row were about three 4-yr old kids talking, moving around the aisle and being annoying all throughout the film. Again the infant screams – the parents do nothing. People are looking around, trying to figure out what parent thought it was a good idea to bring the infant to the movie. Behind us, a man’s cell phone rings and instead of hearing a hurried attempt to silence the thing, we hear, “Hello? What’s up…” To the left of me, one seat away, a girl is crumpling up a Subway sandwich wrapper. I begin to stare at her. She continues to crumple – and it’s getting louder and louder. I’m still staring. She continues. Finally, I say, “Shhhhhhhh.” She looks at me. I continue my stare and give her the “WTF” look, and she looks away. I hold the gaze for a few more seconds before rolling my eyes and turning back to the screen (yup, I was *that* guy). The kids are still talking. The baby is still screaming.
Why, oh why, did the parents think it was okay to bring the infant to the movie. Furthermore, why did they not leave for a few minutes when the baby started screaming? I do not understand this phenomenon. And before you leave me a nasty comment – know this: I really don’t mind screaming kids. I take some pride in putting up with them quite nicely on planes and being *that* guy who gives the mom or dad a sympathetic, “I’m sorry”-look while most people get quite irritated. It’s not like the parent really has any control in this situation. They are usually tired and exhausted from hauling themselves, their luggage, the baby, and the stupid car seat all around the airport; the last thing they need is to be given crap by some random stranger on a flight because their kid is crying a little bit.
But in a movie theater? No, I’m sorry – you can leave. And furthermore, there is NO reason to bring an infant, let alone kids under 5 years old to an evening movie that doesn’t get out until late. And if you do – if for some god-forsaken reason you do – take the damn kids out of the theater for a few minutes, or tell them to be quiet.
Am I being too harsh? Parents out there? Can you defend the asinine actions of these other parents? Is there something I don’t understand yet because I have no kids? I don’t understand.