An Acceptable Movie for One-Ticket Guys

The guy in front of me asks the clerk for one ticket to “The Wrestler,” which I found surprising since I was also alone and also going to that movie.

Then the guy behind me asks for one ticket also.

And that totally weirds me out. It is not normal or socially acceptable for single guys to go to the movies, especially at night, especially unaccompanied by at least a friend. It made me feel all creepy and perverted. What kind of movie is “The Wrestler” again?

I got on the escalator that slowly propelled me down to the second level of the E Street Cinemas, where you could by a beer and some popcorn before going into your arty flick. The familiarity of it all, and the packs of yuppies make me feel more comfortable. I keep repeating to myself something along the lines of “The Wrestler is an Oscar-nominated film. There is nothing weird about a bunch of solitary random dudes going to see it.”

I enter the theater. There are a few couples and a handful guys with friends but on the row I am almost compelled to sit at it goes something like this — me, empty chair, fat dude, empty chair, guy with tie on, empty chair and so on. A bunch of one-ticket guys.

Since Leah and I are not big into previews, this is all I knew about the film. It is about an old professional wrestler played by Mickey Rourke. He is nominated for an Oscar for best acting and Marisa Tomei is nominated as best supporting actress.

That’s it.

But as I see the movie — which is quite good — I totally understand why it attracts one-ticket guys all about my age. Rourke’s character is pretty much a Hulk Hogan rip off named “The Ram,” whose arch nemesis is the Ayatollah, which is really just a rip off of the Sheik. I know this because I loved wrestling in the 80s and I’m willing to bet everyone on my row loved it too. Tomei plays a stripper. I’m not totally fond of strippers, but I like women and I’m willing to bet everyone on my row liked them too.

Leaving the theater, I started thinking there are many worse movies to one-ticket, like “The Reader,” nominated for best picture. From what I gather it is a romance staring Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet. I’m sure I will see it soon, as I try to see all the best picture candidates, but I plan to drag Leah with me, whether she wants to go or not.

Going to “The Wrestler” by myself was one thing, seeing a Kate Winslet romance without a woman on my arm, would be something totally else.