Mr. Movie: Drive-in movies return with Tri-Cities Carpool Cinema

I grew up going to movies in theaters. It’s why I hate watching the movies I’ve been reviewing lately on my television. Movies are just better in a theater. They’re made to be there and not on a much smaller, flat screen.

And by the way, I believe theaters ought to be able to open. Once the COVID situation stabilizes in this area and the governor allows restaurants to seat people inside, then the area’s theaters ought to be able to open, too. Theaters have computer seating systems and ways to socially distance moviegoers very easily. And it’s not that hard to sanitize an auditorium after a movie.

Back to going to movies. When I was old enough to drive, I not only went to theaters but I caught bunches of them at drive-in theaters. Drive-ins were a blast. Sometimes they’d run five or more biker movies or horror flicks from sunset until dawn.

At one time in my late teens — and before I embarked on a broadcast journalism career — I worked as a projectionist for a chain of drive-in theaters in Portland, Ore. In fact, at one point in that couple of year period, I lived in an apartment located in the snack bar. A lot of drive-ins in the old days had them. You were an employee-caretaker of sorts.

These days drive-ins are mostly gone. Theater chains found putting houses and businesses on the land was a heck of a lot more profitable. In the decades of the 1980s and 1990s, they disappeared. Some still exist but they’re few and far between.

I’d love to see them come back.

They won’t and that’s one of the reasons I am intrigued about what the parks and recreation departments are doing in Pasco, Kennewick and Richland. They’ve embarked on an interesting experiment. They call it Carpool Cinemas. Using the drive-in concept, they’re going to allow people to go to parking lots around the area and see movies.

They’ve picked up a huge 11x19 LED screen and are going to hoist it up high enough to be seen from the back of the parking lot. Each carload is $15 and admittance includes a big bag of pre-popped popcorn.

It’s a fun idea. All films are family-friendly. Nothing is R-rated. All are PG and PG-13.

Pasco does the first batch of movies on August 21 and 22. Kennewick goes next and is showing films on August 28 and 29. Richland’s films are being shown September 11th and 12th.

The LED screen will also allow the cities to show films in the morning for the little ones in the family who might not be able to stay up late. The evening shows start at 8:30 p.m. which means a 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ending time.

Pasco - Aug. 21-22

You can find information on the movies and times on social media, or go to the individual parks and rec websites. Pasco’s serving will be at the Tri-City Youth Soccer Association parking lot and starts with “The Addams Family” on Friday the 21st.

This 2019 animated version of “The Addams Family” isn’t as good as the 1991 version with Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia but the kids will love it. The 9 a.m. morning movie is “The Secret Life of Pets 2” which is a much better movie and a lot funnier than the first.

On Saturday baseball fans will love the classic “Field of Dreams.”

Kennewick - Aug. 28-29

Kennewick is up next. The films will be shown in Columbia Park and will start with “Playing with Fire” on Friday night the 28th. I haven’t seen that one so I can’t give you a comment. On Saturday night they’ll show the Beatles tribute flick “Yesterday.” It’s the sci-fi-like comedy surrounding a world that has forgotten The Beatles and how a young man who does remember takes advantage of it to become a superstar.

It was more of a miss than a hit for me but audiences loved the music. The film ends with Hey Jude and when I saw it, and as the credits rolled, the audience sang the, “Nah nah, nah nah nah nah” along with the band.

The morning movie is the best of the bunch and is my favorite animated movie from 2019. “Abominable” is a total treat and parents are going to love it as much — or maybe more — than the kids. My suggestion is if you can only afford to go to one movie that weekend, “Abominable” is the one to choose.

Richland - Sept. 11-12

Richland’s selections are also quite good. Friday evening, September 11th we’ll all remember Denzel Washington and “Remember the Titans.” It’s based on a true story of the integration of a football team in 1971 in Virginia. Inspiring and since there won’t be anything close to high school football this year, “Remember the Titans” will have to suffice.

The morning movie is “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” Animated or real life — like this one — Dora just isn’t my thing. I found the movie delightful and quite funny in spots. A definite winner for the kiddos and parents willing to give it a shot.

Saturday evening of the 12th is the second Jumanji movie with Duane Johnson. Those who saw the first film say it’s not as good. I didn’t catch the first one but found this one hilarious.

Carpool Cinema is a really great idea. I take you back to “Field of Dreams.” The idea definitely relates to the film’s most famous line. It says, “If you build it, he will come.” That fits what the three cities are doing. Instead of “he” make it a they and they will come. I suspect the parking lots will be full.

Get there early.

This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Mr. Movie: Drive-in movies return with Tri-Cities Carpool Cinema."