JIM reviews film "SURROGATES" [ + Reports on "GOLD CLASS CINEMA" theater ]

“SURROGATES” — Live life. Only BETTER (— if you like your experiences VICARIOUS!).

Ratings: 8 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening). =

This film (which uses the above “Tag line” before my parenthetical addition) boasts a very intriguing sci-fi concept: People who, rather than doing their OWN labors (and pleasures) in life, buy increasingly-sophisticated ROBOTS to take their place in such experiences, thus having time for a usually-indolent (& periodically sensationalistic) kind of existence at “home” (or parties). The robots are generally more handsome “plasticized” versions of their “Owner / Operators”, & are designed (by production companies such as VSI) to be easier to control (with no strikes or disagreements, no aversion to being soldiers in wars, etc.).

But suddenly, some person (or group?) is ATTACKING the robots, & causing the disabling / deaths to carry “thru” them to their “OPERATORS”. That starts the panicked “authorities” to spring into (re)action, including policeman Greer (BRUCE WILLIS), who is in-effect forced to leave his home “seclusion” to determine the “who” & “why” of the sudden violence. He’s assisted by Peters (RADHA MITCHELL), a “big boss” guy Stone (BORIS KODJOE), and others.

Are the often-segregated ANTI-robot human “Dregs” (led by “The Prophet”, played by VING RHAMES) involved in the plot? What’s the “connection” to the ex-inventor of the Robots named Canter (JAMES CROMWELL), who for some reason left the VSI operation? You just know there’s some “hidden” meanings as more & more Robots & Operators get destroyed. Little by little, the questions get answered.

There’s some quite good action to the film— tho, as friends commented, nowhere near as MUCH as they’d hoped for & expected from the trailers. That’s the odd conundrum of this film for me: it had a fascinating concept, a good beginning, some impressive special effects, etc. But, the end just sort of “dissipated”, with a to-me “RUSHED” conclusion that came so quickly, I couldn’t fully “APPRECIATE” it because it didn’t fully & successfully “EXPLAIN” just what was happening at the time & why. It left you feeling sort of “EMPTY” by not concentrating more effectively on the “meaning” behind WHO was controlling the “war” & the quick achievement (& likely future effects) from having stopped them. (Maybe they’ll be smart & make ANOTHER movie about those elements?!)…

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As more than one person commented, they were more impressed by WHERE we saw the film than the movie itself. That’s because we were at a special event staged by VISA Signature at the super-high-level GOLD CLASS CINEMA in South Barrington, IL (goldclasscinemas.com). Their concept originated in Australia, wherein the location was in-effect more like a high-class restaurant that “also” showed movies:

The S. Barrington complex features a comfortable waiting lounge, with chairs, couches and a fireplace (as opposed to any concession stand!), to which servers would bring you libations & the like. You’re then “called” to your assigned theater before the show. This location has 4 theaters of 40 seats each, + 2 of 24 each, with all seats having unobstructed views of the good-sized screen. (A 2nd area location, at the Promenade in Bolingbrook, is scheduled to open in November, & that will have 32-seat theaters instead of the 24-seat ones).

Each of the individual theaters feature very large, plush, super-comfortable RECLINING lounge chairs (in groups of 2 together), with wide arms that flip open to stow your jackets and bags. Each pair of chairs have a small table (with a CALL-BUTTON for service!), to which servers bring whatever food and / or drinks you’ve ordered.

You order whatever food you want before you view the first-run theatrical film (or HOME movies or photo show you’ve expressly contracted for). For our special screening, we had a “sample” menu of appetizers (salads or blue cheese potato chips) and a “tasting” platter (of Kobe beef burgers and chicken piccata), + a welcoming drink & coupons for other drinks. (VISA Signature has special arrangements with the Village Roadshow chain, & offers “extras” there to people holding their cards).

The Lounge can be visited (& food & drinks ordered) WITHOUT attending any movie, if you wish. On Tuesdays, the theater offers many food items at HALF-price. The chain has a wide-ranging menu (which is also available for serving inside the theaters): The “Smaller” appetizer items include soups, various salads, a “charcuterie platter, ideal for sharing”, Chinois Chicken Salad Rolls, Mini Crab Cake Quartet, Crisp Maine Lobster Rolls, and Sushi Sampler Platter.

The “Bigger” items include: Artisan Pizza, Wagyu Beef Burger Duo, Grilled Pressed Cuban Sandwich, Duck Tacos, NY Strip Steak Sandwich, Lemon Grilled Chicken Satay, Club Calzone & Roasted Portobello Sliders. The “Sweeter” group includes Assorted House Baked Cookies, Sweet Shots, House Made Beignets, Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Mousse, and Seasonal Lightly Sweetened Berries. They can also create some customized menus.

This being a theater, you might expect CANDY & POPCORN. They have it (included the corn with special Seasonings)— but, you have to specially ASK your server what’s available, as it’s a sort of “hidden” offering! (They make their own popcorn, & I found it to be unusually GOOD!)…

Their management & staff (such as Coordinator Tiffany) were unusually friendly, helpful and customer-oriented in their attitude and demeanor. When small things didn’t all go as intended (such as slightly-tardy delivery of certain foods), they went out-of-their way to make things “right” for people. And, when we “experimented” with the “Call” button on the table, a server arrived within 30 seconds to take a new order.

As you can tell, this is NOT your “EVERYDAY” type of operation! In the U.S., they so far only have this location + one in Redmond, WA, & upcoming ones in Bolingbrook, IL & Pasadena, CA. For movies-only, the local rate is $ 22 per person + whatever food & drinks you order (or, as their flyer states, you could come in “under $ 40 [per person] for a dinner and a movie”. It’s an “elegantly”-COMFORTABLE way to relax, &, as a friend commented to me, he intends to utilize it for a future “SPECIAL” excursion him & his wife. All-in-all, an IMPRESSIVE outing for a screening!…