Photo by Tom Gilchrist • Adrian Robinson of Fremont Township, an employee at the Vassar Theatre, will greet viewers for the “indie” movie “Old Fashioned” this weekend.
By Tom Gilchrist
Staff Writer
VASSAR — In some places, the movie “Old Fashioned” challenged “Fifty Shades of Grey” as the romance film of choice on Valentine’s Day.
This weekend, the dueling dramas open in Tuscola County.
“We’re one of only three theaters in the whole state showing ‘Old Fashioned’ this weekend,” said Vassar Theatre owner Andreas Fuchs. “Some of them are through showing it already.”
“Old Fashioned,” the romantic story of a former frat boy and a free-spirited woman trying to carry on an old-fashioned courtship in contemporary America, shows at the Vassar Theatre at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. It also shows Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
“Fifty Shades of Grey,” an erotic tale of a female literature student falling for beautiful yet troubled billionaire Christian Grey, shows at the Strand Theatre in Caro at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, and at 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“People in the area are very lucky. They can have both versions of romance,” said Andreas Fuchs, who bought the Vassar Theatre in December.
“Old Fashioned,” distributed by Freestyle Releasing, is a small fish compared to “Fifty Shades of Grey,” distributed by film giant Universal Pictures.
“(Old Fashioned) is totally indie, and was basically self-financed,” Fuchs said. “It’s a small film, but the word got out in the faith community because it’s about romance and about how you deal with it when you believe.
“We had a lot of requests for it. We’re actually hosting a couple of groups that are coming to see it.”
Tom Hess, 54, of Juniata Township, said he took his wife, Carol, to watch “Old Fashioned.”
“We had to drive up to Midland to see it. … It was kind of a ‘David and Goliath’ thing, because it was marketed as pretty much the antithesis of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’” Hess said. “We really enjoyed it, and we’re glad to see that it’s coming to Vassar.”
In “Old Fashioned,” Rik Swartzwelder plays the lead male character. “He’s trying to change, and realizes there’s a better way to live,” Hess said. “It sends a really good message about forgiveness and second chances, and a better way to live.”
The Vassar Theatre offers special group pricing, and showings, with prior reservations, for those interested in viewing “Old Fashioned.” for more information, call the theater at 989-823-3030.
Fuchs said he’ll show another “indie” movie, the horror film “The Lazarus Effect,” tonight and Sunday at 9 p.m.
In addition, the Vassar Theatre will show “Spare Parts” at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. today and tomorrow. The drama tells the story of students who form a robotics club and forge a rag tag team that goes up against the country’s reigning robotics champion.
Robotics teams from Vassar High School and Vassar Middle School will show their work in the theater lobby. The theater will donate $1 from the sale of each popcorn combo to Vassar Public Schools robotics programs.