Testicle Comparison Club

My Dear Princess and Dear Friends,

A few weeks back Jefe asked if I wanted to see "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" with him and Manda.

AT LUNCHTIME.

ON A SUNDAY. 

IN THE MIDDLE OF WELLINGTON.

I mean. WTF, Jefe? There are less trains on a Sunday AND there is no way I'd be able to get people together on a Sunday AND it's effing SUNDAY.

So they went on their own and told me it was AWESOME. Meanwhile, I arranged my OWN date & time which was OF COURSE after work. 

Sunday. Bah.

I set up a Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness WhatsApp chat. It included Corrie & Siu, Mo, Tiger and Craig. Shenée did not want to come because she doesn't like Marvel films. 

"We want to go again!" said Jefe and Manda. They were so enthusiastic. This is why I love them.

So they were added too. 

Tiger made the mistake of asking the group which film he should watch before the movie. He hasn't seen many Marvel films. He was instantly bombarded by a troop of nerds making suggestions. 

And I created a special animated PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Doctor Strange: Everything You Need To Know" to get him up to speed.  

We nerds take our nerding seriously.

As for Shenée, I met her for lunch anyway. Ostensibly because Nate the Australian Naked Monkey Guy is leaving us and this was his farewell lunch. But he DITCHED us! Went off for lunch with someone else!

So we just had lunch anyway. And said farewell without him.  

It was while we were chatting over a teriyaki chicken poke bowl that she experienced a sudden rush of FOMO.

"I want to come! Can I coooooooome?" she asked. 

As it turns out I had a spare ticket anyway. I thought the newest member of Project Gromit, a nice young lady named Terina might want to come. But she did not. 

So ssssssssure, Shenée could come along. But first... I had a PowerPoint presentation for her...

We all met for tacos and beer after work, and the chat was excitable and fun. Jefe and Manda were very good about not giving away anything and Manda ordered tequila shots. 

Manda and I have both been excited for this movie as we are both horror nerds. It was directed by Sam Raimi who is a horror hero and Manda told me gleefully that he had put some scary bits into this film. She said she wanted to sit next to me to gauge my reaction. "You are MINE," as she put it. 

Meanwhile, Tiger and Jefe, who had never met before got talking about road trips and beer, while Mo and Shenée discussed black holes. 

It's an eclectic group. 

As for the movie itself, I'd heard it was OK but a bit messy. Honestly, I LOOOOOOOVED it. It may be one of my very favourite Marvel films so far. And Manda was right. There ARE scary bits! And zombies! And evil spirits! It honestly did feel a bit like an Evil Dead movie at some points. The visuals are truly trippy, there's an amazing musical battle between wizards and the ending was really very satisfying. 

I can see why some people said it's messy. It really doesn't let up. The action is almost non-stop with bits of hurried exposition along the way. But it didn't bother me - or even Tiger and Shenée - at all. 

But the scary jumpy parts were my favourite. I heard Corrie and Siu SHRIEK and then giggle behind me at one point.

It was one of those great group movie experiences where we all came out BUZZING about our favourite bits. "Oooh, and did you... and what about... and I loved that part where..."

I love that. 

After the movie, most of the group went their separate ways, but Mo, Tiger and me went to the Welsh pub for one for the road. Tiger told me that Loulou calls boy's nights like this, the "Testicle Comparison Club" and has taken to abbreviating it to "TCC" on their calendar at home. I do feel honoured to be part of this club, but honestly my T's do not compare. 

So tonight was a great success. We promised we would do it all again soon. And "Thor: Love and Thunder" comes out in July! And it has Guns 'n' Roses on the trailer! 

WhatsApp and PowerPoint at the ready.

S.