As popular as they’ve become in recent years, I’ve actually never used a RedBox video rental machine, and probably never will again. Sure, there’s nothing technically “wrong” with them and they provide a nice service and everything, but I thought we moved beyond basic DVD rentals with OnDemand rentals and Netflix downloads. [What’s up with Netflix by the way and why are they trying to be Hulu Plus all of sudden?] I was never very big into renting movies (much rather watch them at the theater) but when I did, I enjoyed the experience of a Blockbuster or—–to get really ancient for the kids out there—–a Hollywood Video.
Redbox has all the charm of a vending machine, providing neither the magic experience of a brick and mortar rental palace nor the sit-on-your-ass-and-hit-play convenience of instant downloads. Instead, they encompass a little bit of the worst of both worlds for one driving factor that’s becoming the driving factor in America right now: being dirt cheap.
It seems Taco Bell culture (“why go to a restaurant when I can pay a dollar at a drive-thru window? And why someplace fancy like Arbys?”) has gone from restaurants to people’s preference to shop at Dollar General stores (Wal-Mart is now considered, I shit you not, too expensive) to video rentals. Redbox is undeniably cheaper than Blockbuster was, Netflix is (depending on how many movies you want to be watching every month), or $5.99 OnDemand rentals will ever be. [I guess there’s a sitting-on-your-ass tax I didn’t know about.]
So, RedBox is there for people seeking minimal charm, least convenience, but a price benefitting both of those. You know, basically the same business model that’s made McDonald’s one of the most successful companies on the planet. And if you really want to spend more time interacting with a screen (not only can you now watch a movie on your computer or TV, you can rent one from an equally lifeless screen too), it’s not a bad use of your dollar…dollar in the singular sense. Oh, but some wanted a review of the movie…
Afterthought—–It’s almost befitting that I nearly forgot to review this movie since, it’s not really something that lingers with you long after you watch it. I actually enjoyed this movie, and it’s whole low-key, yet high-concept vibe. [Two very good friends decide to have a kid without the romance, and their married-with-kids friends are a little less than supportive looooooong after it’s appropriate.] Most of the movie is a little too slight and unmemorable, but I think the last third of the movie really saved it. The movie’s MVP is Party Down’s Adam Scott, playing the world’s least convincing ladies man (I mean, a shallow Megan Fox character is into this guy?), but much better in the last third’s scenes where he gradually wakes up to what he really wants. What’s so striking about his transformation is that a lesser-movie would paint it as him “growing up” but in this one it feels like a guy finally realizing who he is. A minor, subtle winner that plays perfectly on DVD (and probably wouldn’t at the theater), so maybe I’ll change my mind about RedBox yet…Grade: B+