Relaxed cinema viewing: Ron’s Gone Wrong

We’ve visited The Showcase Cinema every November for a few years now and it was sorely missed last year when we were unable to go due to Covid. It was lovely to be able to contact this year and arrange a return visit. And to be honest, it was as if we have never been away. The staff there are brilliant and have everything sorted and organised for our arrival.

They open up early so it is just us on arrival which means that we can all relax and let our hair down a little bit. We also make sure we only book 100 for a cinema that can sit 160 ish. This also means that people are not scrabbling for seats to sit together and it adds that little bit extra safety in again for social distancing between families.

On arrival, the families check in then they can either chill out in the reception area with a complimentary Costa Coffee courtesy of Little Hiccups or they can gather their popcorn and head on in to grab their seats.

We keep the lights on low for the cinema screening as we know not all of the kids will want to sit still for 2 hours straight and we certainly don’t want anyone getting injured in the dark. It’s a relaxed showing so children (and parents) can relax in the knowledge that it doesn’t matter if their child wants to walk up and down the steps, or talk to the person next to them or have nothing to do with the movie at all. It’s a safe space – with no judgement.

Ron’s Gone Wrong is a feel-good movie all about the story of Barney, an awkward middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally-connected device. Ron’s malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age launch them on a journey to learn about true friendship. And I’m not afraid to say – it had me in tears in a couple of places. It was very well done and had a very important message. Plus – it was funny!

Thank you as always to The Showcase Cinema for hosting us!