Studio Movie Grill

If you want to sit with your family, don't go to the Studio Movie Grill. I'm a 44 year old mother of daughters who are away at college. During their winter break, we went to the movies, as a family, for my niece's 18th birthday. My husband and I arrived 1st and purchased 8 tickets. I went into the theatre to reserve our seats, all 8 of them. After all, 8 tickets allot for 8 seats. Right? I even picked 8 seats on the very front row so we could ALL sit together. My husband stood in the lobby to hand out tickets to each arriving movie goer in our party. 4 of the 6 arrived within 5 minutes of me saving our seats. So, we were only missing 2 of the 8. Within 5 minutes of the movie previews to start, an usher comes in and tells me that I can't save seats. Even though my niece and her boyfriend were on their way in (parking at the Arlington theatre means you are parking down by the Pet Store or Staples down the strip)...I spoke to the manager and he gave me back my money. He forfeited movie tickets and dinner for 8 so that 3 high school students could sit together in the seats I saved that I bought tickets for??? He gave me back my $60.75...my party of 8 drove 3 miles down the street and bought tickets to the same movie for 8 for $48.00 at the Movie Tavern. We saved almost $13. And Movie Tavern was very accommodating and ensured that we would have a great family night. I sent an e-mail to the owner, VP of SMG...they called me back and said "their policy is to not let you reserve seats." So, the moral of the story is, if you and your family arrive at the movies at separate times, don't go to Studio Movie Grill. You may not get to sit with your guests. And its nice to know that SMG is doing so well in our economy that they can turn away business. Movie Tavern gets my money now!!!