Thank You for Watching

I ventured North into the no-man’s land between Maryland and the District last night with several colleagues and a smattering of other libertarian and conservative movement members to catch a preview screening of Thank You for Smoking, the upcoming movie adaptation of Christopher Buckley’s highly amusing comic novel. I ought to have an article (you know, one of those things I actually spend a little time writing) forthcoming, but for now, I’ll just say that it’s a solid satire—witty, lively, and appropriately pointed—and that fans of Buckley’s book will have to work hard to be disappointed. There are some changes that you could quibble about, but for the most part, it’s true to the spirit and tone of the original, updating it where necessary and, surprisingly, adding some really sharp new scenes to the mix. Box Office Mojo reports that the movie will only open at 5 screens across the U.S. this weekend, but it’s sure to play well (especially in D.C.) and expand to the rest of the U.S. shortly. Make sure you see it; you’ll thank yourself.