Posted by Run DMC at 64-42-61-138.atgi.net on August 27, 2001 at 20:53:43:
In Reply to: Close, but no cigar posted by Kevin on August 27, 2001 at 13:32:55:
Hello I am new to this site but have seen all of Kevin's movies. I greatly enjoyed JASBSB and I am sorry to see it stuck at third place. I am campaigning to be the new teen movie reviewer for my local paper and I have chosen JASBSB as my sample review which I'll put at the bottom if anyone cares. Once again I feel bad for everyone at View Askew that they didn't quite make their goal.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Review by Daniel McLellan
3 out of 4 stars
Snootchie Bootchies. Snoogans. Snooge to the Nooge. If those phrases do not make you to smile or look back with fond remembrance I would recommend that you read more than one review of this film and spend your money carefully. Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) are back for the final time (excluding the upcoming Clerks cartoon movie) in this modern, drug reference laden, foul mouthed reincarnation of The Blues Brothers. Heck, this movie has a somewhat reincarnated John Belushi in the expressive writer/director/star Kevin Smith.
Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee), the two comic artists from Chasing Amy, have sold out to Hollywood and have turned Bluntman and Chronic, their Jay and Silent Bob inspired comic book heroes, into movie stars. The inspiration for their work are oblivious to this development until they are informed by Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee), the local comic book dealer from Mallrats, that, yes a movie is being made and no, they haven’t been paid. After bidding farewell to Dante Hicks (Brian Christopher O’Halloran) and Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), their two slacker buddies from Clerks, they hit the road to get their money.
That should be enough plot for anyone still interested in seeing this movie. Anyone worried about the ability of one foul mouthed, sex-crazed, stoner and his mute friend’s ability to carry a ninety minute movie need not worry because Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith perform excellently taking the movie from one cameo-filled skit to the next. Which brings me to the movies greatest strength and flaw. The movie is nothing but a series of skits and cameos. When they work, and they usually do, the movie is hilarious and full of outrageous humor and sharp satire. When they don’t, the movie makes you feel uncomfortable or bored (Chris Rock and the jewel thieves respectively).
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has been quite vocal about this film’s treatment of gays and the use of anti-gay language. Kevin Smith also has been vocal about defending his film but put a disclaimer at the end. This reviewer is torn about what to say. I’m still a teenager and going into High School so I hear the phrase “that’s gay” as an insult all the time, so I understand the Smith’s intent to satirize the way people talk today. On the other hand some of the scenes are so relentless when it comes to profanity and gay humor they comes off as unfunny and mean. And when you get right down to it the vilest crime a comedy can commit is being unfunny. Kevin Smith should’ve taken out a lot of the gay humor not because of its offensive nature but because it just wasn’t funny.
However, most of the movie is very funny and very smart IF you know something about Kevin Smith’s previous films and you know something about the movie industry (Miramax in particular). If you’ve never heard of Kevin Smith and still think that Miramax is that movie channel on TV then you should subtract a star from this review. Otherwise go, hut off your brain and enjoy.