I scored two free movie passes to the local artsy theater a couple months ago when an old women fell down the stairs during Little Miss Sunshine. Don’t worry, she’s fine. They had to call the paramedics though and stop the movie for about a minute to walk her out. The incident did make me wonder if you could see movies for free for the rest of your life by simply sitting at the end of a row and tripping people as they pass by. Their bladders are full or their stomachs are empty, so they’re bound to be distracted. Plus it’s dark, so any eyewitness accounts of your treachery would be unreliable.
The theatre is in the mall, so I decided to cash in my free passes before the writhing masses descend on the area and devolve into hyenas in their search for 60% off sales. I saw Stranger Than Fiction starring Will Ferrell and I must warn anyone planning on seeing this film to be careful, it contains food. Gratuitous footage of culinary delights abound. Very, very mild spoilers follow, though nothing that ruins the plot.
Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a baker who is being audited by Will Ferrell’s IRS agent. And she makes lots of cookies. And cupcakes. And pineapple upside down cake. And Bavarian sugar cookies, which I had never heard of before, but look damn tasty. Halfway through the movie I wanted to reach into the screen and devour some of the black and white cookies in her bakery’s glass casing. I’d even eaten before I left the house, but seeing all these yummy treats was somewhat torturous and completely unexpected. At least when you go to see a movie called Soul Food or Chocolat you can expect to be exposed to food pornography, but this was a sneak attack, like a nipple slip during the Superbowl half-time show.
I’ve been told never to trust a skinny chef, so maybe Maggie Gyllenhaal’s cupcakes wouldn’t have been as tasty as they appeared, but it doesn’t really matter if simply looking at the treats makes me hungry. It reminded me of the time my brother and I saw Supersize Me. Even though we were grossed out by how horrible fast food is for you, after the movie we both agreed we could really go for a Big Mac.
So if you go to see this film, stuff your purse or pockets with cheese sticks or pistachios or baby carrots. Don’t go in unarmed! You have been warned.
Stop, stop with the cupcakes already! I’m drooling!
Thanks for the heads up on the movie… unfortunately, your description including the cupcakes, cookies and pineapple upside down cake only made me want something sweet… oh well, such is life =)
OMG, I thought I was the only one who got hungry after supersize me! Glad to know I’m not the only sick and twisted one! :D
hehehe, food porn never though of it like that, but it’s true! When I saw Marie Antoinette (another movie FULL of food porn) I noticed the food more than any of the actors!
Your post made me laugh because my husband and I felt the exact same way after watching Stranger Than Fiction. When Will Ferrell bit into that cookie, my husband leaned over and whispered, “Let’s pick up some cookies and milk on our way home.” That movie did a lot for cookie sales everywhere.
I love your site btw. Your progress is amazing and I give you MUCH credit for your hard work, discipline, and fun writing style. You rock!
That was a great movie
No, not the only one who got hungry watching Supersize Me. (Though not for McDo in my case. I’m vegetarian and haven’t eaten there since about 1993, but I absolutely went to the African café over the road for a sandwich.)
Yes, it was great food porn, though I brought something light to snack on while watching that movie. It was very good, Will Ferrel showing us he can not go over the top with his acting.