Engaging, interesting documentary that brings back memories of an eighteen year old NYU student (me) who, mildly disgusted with the culinary offerings at Weinstein Hall, (my dorm), would routinely hightail it to the H/H on Union Square and, for less than two bucks, treat myself to a delicious lunch or dinner of sandwich (chicken salad was my fave), side of baked beans, pie (apple crumb or lemon) and really good, strong coffee (not all that common in America in 1967). So yeah, I find myself in agreement with Mel Brooks, RBG, Elliot Gould and, amazingly, Colin Powell in praising this beacon of American cuisine that shone through a fog of Hojos and worse in 1950s-60s east coast culture.
In telling H/H's story director Lisa Hurwitz, for the most part, employs a properly light and jaunty tone, appropriate for the discussion of good food. Things get a bit too mournful in the last third, though, as the automat declines and falls. I mean, we're not talking about western civilization here and, let's face it, restaurant tastes change. So if you're waxing nostalgic about a scrumptious, low priced, egalitarian food experience and don't know where to turn I have about five food trucks within half a mile of my place in LA toward which I can direct you. To mention nothing of the diner revival.
I also thought the talking heads were generally well chosen. I agree with the previous reviewer that a little of Mel B goes a long way and I could have done without Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz droning on about how H/H was his "inspiration" (certainly true of his treatment of unions, huh?) but, all in all, I thought this to be a fairly fun ninety minutes.
Bottom line: Sure would be nice to bring back the dolphin spout. Give it an A minus.
In telling H/H's story director Lisa Hurwitz, for the most part, employs a properly light and jaunty tone, appropriate for the discussion of good food. Things get a bit too mournful in the last third, though, as the automat declines and falls. I mean, we're not talking about western civilization here and, let's face it, restaurant tastes change. So if you're waxing nostalgic about a scrumptious, low priced, egalitarian food experience and don't know where to turn I have about five food trucks within half a mile of my place in LA toward which I can direct you. To mention nothing of the diner revival.
I also thought the talking heads were generally well chosen. I agree with the previous reviewer that a little of Mel B goes a long way and I could have done without Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz droning on about how H/H was his "inspiration" (certainly true of his treatment of unions, huh?) but, all in all, I thought this to be a fairly fun ninety minutes.
Bottom line: Sure would be nice to bring back the dolphin spout. Give it an A minus.