Rating the Muvico theater experience
No one remembers which movie Annie actually saw during her very first trip to a theater, bought out by Daddy Warbucks in the 1982 movie.
With ushers lined up on either side, Annie twirled down the aisle while everyone sings "Let's Go to the Movies." People she doesn't know hang up her coat, seat her in the middle of the theater and bring her snacks galore.
The new Muvico Rosemont 18 Theaters is sort of like that, only without as many bathrooms.
The $15 VIP tickets -- for those 21 years and older-- include valet parking and free popcorn. Beer and cocktails are for sale and reasonable -- $3.50 for a domestic beer. There are formally dressed employees ready to park your car, pour you a beer and help you find your seat -- in front of a huge screen or in the plush restaurant, where you can grab quesadillas for $8 or a filet mignon for $42.
Downstairs movies cost $9 and are for kids and families. It's brighter and colorful, but it smells a bit like chlorine.
Three Daily Herald reporters checked out the VIP level of the recently opened Muvico theaters and all agreed it's like no other theater in the suburbs.
Daddy Warbucks would've loved this place.
Valet parking: Pay attention to the signs. Three one-way lanes lead you through a maze of buildings, which finally open up onto the theater's enormous marquee, ablaze with bright neon lights. It's a little like driving up to the Oscars, but instead of limousines there were Fords and Toyotas.
Also, get ready to talk about the movie you're seeing with the parking guys.
They've seen them all.
Restaurant: If you want to eat dinner, make a reservation and arrive at least 90 minutes before your movie starts. Long beer and wine lists accompany appetizers, dinner and dessert choices. If you're running late, tell your server. They'll try to make sure you don't miss opening attractions.
Popcorn: It's free with a VIP ticket and it tastes like it. You add your own butter and salt, but it's still not the "just as many calories as a Big Mac" movie popcorn everyone is used to. It tastes more like the free popcorn at bars.
Buying tickets: In the VIP section, you have to pick your seats on a computer screen when you buy the tickets. It's nice they seat you, but this isn't a concert and pre-assigning seating is awkward. People pick out movie seats based on different criteria -- like grabbing seats away from large families or particularly amorous couples.
Bathrooms: All three of us agreed on this one -- not enough. Plenty downstairs, not enough upstairs in the VIP section. They were also surprisingly boring for such a grandiose theater.
If you're spending $50 million to build a theater, a scented candle or a few linen napkins would've been nice.
Atmosphere: It very well could make up for the lack of bathrooms. Gold-framed movie posters of "Citizen Kane" and "The Phantom of the Opera" with portrait lighting lined the avocado walls along the escalator. A faux white marble Pegasus statue sits atop the theater.
After one reporter was seated, an usher said, "If you need anything, we'll be right outside."
Then, he ran out to retrieve some napkins.
Child care: A large window looking into the child care facility will put parents at ease. Open from 5 to 9 p.m. for kids ages 3 to 8 years old, there are the typical toys and books, in addition to a line of laptop computers. It's open, clean and looks like there is plenty to keep kids busy.
Seats: It just feels nice -- we all picked up the popcorn kernels from the floor and couldn't bear to put feet on the wood back of these seats. There's no sticking to these floors -- they're lined with carpet. Huge cup holders and plush seats. Tons of room in between aisles. The arm rests double as a mini-table.
Movie: Oh, that's right, you came to see a movie.
Rosemont 18 touts Sony 4K digital cinema projectors. Gone were the crinkles and random black spots that appear on a silver screen with a normal projector. We could see Jodie Foster's pores, which may have actually been a drawback.
In the VIP section, you're given several tickets -- one for the movie, one for a free popcorn, one for the parking, not to mention all the receipts. One reporter -- who will remain nameless -- misplaced her movie ticket and had to beg to get in.
Popcorn
Popcorn is ready and waiting for you at no charge, and you get what you pay for.
(2 stars)
Ambience
Enjoy the restaurant and overall décor of the place as Pam Dipalomares and Angel Briones do here.
(4 stars)
Sound
The fully digital movie projector, here run by Trevor Eldridge, means great sound and a great picture.
(4 stars)