Sneaking Into an Age Restricted Movie - Cinema Shenanigans

Summary

A 14-year-old recounts an adventurous and humorous attempt to sneak into an R-rated movie with his friend Adam. Despite their enthusiasm for 'Kick-Ass 2,' the duo encounters a series of missteps, including being caught trying to use invalid IDs and nearly getting busted by a cinema clerk. After a failed attempt to sneak into another movie, they finally settle into 'Monsters University,' but not without constant fear of being discovered. Ultimately, the experience teaches them that sometimes, it's better to wait until you're old enough, but the thrill of rebellion lingers. The story blends humor, youthful defiance, and the chaos of attempting a harmless heist.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator describes himself as a 'goody two-shoes' in school, rarely getting into trouble except for a mix-up over homework submission.
• 😀 The story takes place in August 2013, during the last few days before the narrator and his friend Adam are set to return to school as 14-year-olds in the UK.
• 😀 Adam, a frequent movie-goer, convinces the narrator to watch *Kick-Ass 2* in theaters, despite their age making them ineligible for the 15-rated movie.
• 😀 The narrator panics when he realizes the movie is rated 15, but Adam reassures him, citing his own experience of watching films without being asked for ID.
• 😀 When they arrive at the cinema, the ticket clerk asks for ID, and they present their travel Oyster cards, which aren't accepted as proof of age.
• 😀 The ticket clerk asks if they have passports, which neither of them carry, leading to the realization that they won't be able to see the movie.
• 😀 Instead of giving up, the two decide to try another nearby cinema, but the only movie showing that soon was *Monsters University*, which wasn't what they wanted.
• 😀 The two eventually decide to try sneaking into *Elysium*, an action movie rated 15, by purchasing tickets for *Monsters University* and then entering the wrong theater.
• 😀 The plan nearly fails when they encounter a cinema employee who looks suspiciously at them, and the narrator has to hide in a bathroom to avoid being caught.
• 😀 Despite the tension and close calls, the narrator and Adam finally make it into *Elysium*, but spend the rest of the movie nervously watching the exits in fear of getting caught.
• 😀 After the movie, they leave the cinema, agreeing to never try something like this again, and eventually watch *Kick-Ass 2* on Blu-ray instead of in theaters.

Q & A

Why was the narrator hesitant to buy the tickets for *Kick-Ass 2*?

The narrator was hesitant because the movie was rated 15, and he was only 14 at the time. He worried they might not be allowed to see it.

What was Adam's attitude toward the age restriction for the movie?

Adam was not concerned about the age restriction. He had previously been allowed into movies with similar ratings and believed the age difference between 14 and 15 wasn’t significant.

What did the narrator and Adam try to use as ID to prove they were old enough?

They tried using their Oyster cards, which were travel passes for free bus rides. However, these did not include their dates of birth, making them invalid as proof of age.

Why were the narrator and Adam not allowed to see *Kick-Ass 2* at the cinema?

The cinema clerk asked for proof of age, and since the narrator and Adam didn't have proper ID, they were not allowed entry to the movie.

What alternative movie did the narrator and Adam consider watching after being turned away from *Kick-Ass 2*?

After being turned away from *Kick-Ass 2*, they considered watching *Monsters University*, but ultimately decided it wasn’t what they were in the mood for.

What prompted the narrator and Adam to consider sneaking into *Elysium*?

After discovering that *Monsters University* didn’t fit their mood, they saw that *Elysium*, a more action-packed film, was playing at a nearby theater. They decided to sneak into it as a way to still get the movie experience they wanted.

How did the narrator and Adam plan to sneak into *Elysium*?

Their plan was to buy tickets for *Monsters University*, enter that screening, and then sneak out to watch *Elysium* once the coast was clear.

What almost ruined their plan to sneak into *Elysium*?

The plan was nearly foiled when they encountered a cinema employee who was walking around the theater. The narrator became nervous and pulled Adam into the bathroom to hide, worried they might get caught.

Why did the narrator feel particularly anxious during the mission?

The narrator was extremely nervous because they were doing something they knew was wrong, and the fear of getting caught, especially after their close encounter with the employee, made them feel like they might end up in trouble.

What was the ultimate outcome of the plan to sneak into *Elysium*?

Despite the tension and close calls, they successfully sneaked into *Elysium*, though they spent most of the movie on edge, worried they might be caught at any moment.