SF Chapter 59: Premiere III
[Gloria, Jay and Manny Commentary]
Sitting a little farther away from the Dunphys, Manny was the first to comment on the movie.
"It is a tragic ballet of adolescent cruelty," he said, trying to sound wise and older than he really was.
Gloria went next. "Es brilliant! The girls are beautiful, the clothes are perfect, and everybody is stabbing each other with smiles. It was like in Colombia."
Jay shook his head after listening to the two of them. "Well, I had already seen it before. It's definitely not the kind of movie I like..."
"But people liked it, and the folks at Paramount are cautiously confident it's going to make good money."
"Jaay," Gloria warned.
"I'm really proud of my son," he finished, offering a rare compliment.
[Charlie, Alan and Evelyn Commentary]
"I feel a little sympathy for Damian, the kind-of-gay friend of Janis, one of the outcasts," Alan remarked.
"Well, it's not an Oscar movie..." Evelyn made her usual undermining comment. "But it seems to have a lot of commercial value."
"And my youngest knows that very well. How to create content that the masses enjoy."
"You're going to do great with that maternal warmth and love for the common people when they interview you," Charlie mocked.
[Geller's family commentary]
Ross was the first to comment. "You know, it's actually fascinating. The hierarchical structures in high school social groups are remarkably similar to primate dominance systems. But-"
Monica cut him off before he could continue with his boring lecture. "I think it was great!"
"And... that made me remember my old friend, Rachel. It's been a few years since I've seen her..." she muttered.
Jack remained silent, unsure of what to say, while his wife commented, "It was an okay movie." She then turned to her daughter. "Monica, did you see how your seventeen-year-old cousin is already succeeding in life?" she added in a judgmental tone.
Monica took a deep breath. "Yes, Mom." She swallowed the retort that her cousin had been successful since he was thirteen, not just now.
[Raj, Sheldon, Howard and Leonard commentary]
"It is well written," Raj praised. "Daniel understands women's nature very well."
"He stole my joke," Howard pointed out. "That boobs joke about the weather was mine. But it was incredible with Karen-"
"She is a minor, Howard," Leonard cut him off.
"Oh well," Howard continued. "Regina isn't. And she was hot. That part with the bunny costume, and the Christmas scene..."
"Yeah, we get it..." his friend cut him off again.
Sheldon turned to his roommate. "How did you get it, Leonard? Considering you spent most of the time attached to that waitress?"
"Her name is Bernadette."
"I remember her name. Did you forget that I have an eidetic memory?" Sheldon scoffed, then added, "I only came because I was forced to. Besides, I feel like he deserved it after the gift he gave us," he said, referring to the Stormtrooper Dani had given them.
Leonard ignored him and looked forward again. "I didn't watch the entire movie..." he confirmed what Sheldon had implied.
"But I don't think my cousin would mind. I can watch it later, at the theater. And with Bernadette," he added with a smile.
Raj and Howard were a little envious of their friend.
[Cam and Mitchell commentary]
"That," Cam declared, placing a hand over his chest, "was a masterpiece of modern female social warfare."
Mitchell sighed. "It was a teen comedy, Cam."
Cam turned to him, offended. "It was a layered exploration of female power structures. Your brother did amazingly."
"If someone asked what kind of man could write something like that, it would either be a weirdo with a lot of social perception, a gay man, or..."
"...a boy who hooked up with a lot of girls," Mitchell finished. "But he would still need psychological knowledge."
[Penny and Alexandra commentary]
"I loved everything!" Penny grinned. "It reminded me of my high school days. Great four years."
"Four years? You took four years?" a voice said in disbelief.
"Sheldon, get out of here," Penny shooed him away.
"I knew Dani was different," Daddario remarked, not caring about her neighbor's interruption, "but this is on another level. I think it requires exceptional observational ability."
[Haley and Alex commentary]
"Are we doing this again?" Alex looked at her sister strangely.
"Of course. We're two of the most important people in Dani's life," Haley replied, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
"What I want to add is," she looked ahead, "I helped him with a few ideas. Like those lines: You can't wear a tank top two days in a row, and you can only wear your hair in a ponytail once a week." She was proud of her contribution.
Alex rolled her eyes but added, "I think the movie goes beyond comedy. There's satire and a subtle critique of how the high school social system works."
Haley groaned. "Don't turn this into nerd stuff, Alex!"
"Shut up, Haley," her sister retorted. "Besides, you know the other movie Dani is releasing this year is about nerds, right? Superbad."
"Oh, don't remind me. I don't know why he did that..."
[Commentary finally ends]
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After the movie ended, the audience stood up and applauded. Obviously, it wasn't an Oscar-type movie, but the reception in the room could already be a sign of popular approval.
After a few speeches, with Daniel also saying a few words, the attention remained focused on the actresses, especially Lindsay Lohan and Rachel Adams.
The post-premiere party took place near the theater, with Daniel making new connections and talking a bit more with Lindsay and Amanda. With Rachel McAdams, he only exchanged a few polite, light conversations.
Afterward, Daniel approached his two friends.
"Our prodigy," Penny smiled, apparently having had a bit to drink.
Daniel took her hand and placed a light kiss on it. "So, Malibu tonight? In a little while?"
"Whoa."
Seeing Penny's reaction, he lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "It's an important day for me. I'd rather get laid with my friend than with someone I just met today."
Penny laughed at his boldness and weird logic, then whispered in his ear, "You've got yourself a great present tonight. I'm feeling even more generous toward you, sir."
"I'm speechless," Alexandra exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief at his statement.
"Well, you can join us," Daniel smirked, teasing her.
Penny laughed and stepped closer. "Yeah, Lexi," she whispered to both of them, adding with a playful grin, "it wouldn't be my first time hooking up with another girl."
"Penny, we're leaving now!" he announced. Obviously, that turned him on, even though he wasn't getting a threesome.
Alexandra, still wide-eyed from what Penny had just said, muttered, "Maybe another time for me."
Now Daniel was the one left speechless. "Wow... my hard work is finally paying off!" he said in a mock emotional voice.
Lexi just rolled her eyes.
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