Prologue: Considering that one of the major premises
of the movie is that the internet is merely a medium created
so that pathetic people can exchange porn and complain about
movies - I feel like kind of a sap right now writing a movie
review for the internet ...while downloading ridiculous amounts
of porn.
If
you are a Kevin Smith fan you may be a bit angry with a so-called
movie fan and critic like myself. I cannot deny that Mr. Smith
is somewhat of a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood today,
but for some reason, while he has been on my radar for many
years, the only work of his I have seen is last year's Dogma.
After catching his latest - the unabashedly riotous Jay and
Silent Bob Strike Back - I humbly ask forgiveness from all those
who have been of the enlightened for the past 7 years and I
will do my teshuvah
(surely before Rosh Hashanah) and excitedly anticipate seeing
all of his other films. As the Hebrew saying goes (translated):
CLERKS MALLRATS CHASING AMY will lead to an overturning of a
bad decree.
If you're still sticking with me you are either a benevolent
Smith fan or you don't give a damn either way. For now, I am
more ably equipped to speak to those who don't give a damn because
I may be able to convince them otherwise.
Kevin Smith may just be the savior, as far as filmmaking is
concerned, for a generation. Who else has the guts to take his
adoration for America's cheesy with extra cheese pop culture
from a decade and two and
three ago and plaster it lovingly on the big screen. The man
is, as the French say, la connoisseur de' fromage. Who else
is giving meaningful work to Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie
Fisher (Princess Lei), Judd Nelson (John Bender), and George
Carlin (Rufus)? Who is still referencing Mork and
Mindy, Purple Rain, Shermer Illinois (the fictional John Hughes
town), and a variety of classic comics with pristine respect
for what is all essentially - and I mean this with tremendous
compassion and sentiment - garbage. Kevin Smith appreciates
movies, and actors, and studios for exactly what they are many
times worth - not much. He is looking to have a good time when
he steps out into the world and by unleashing this film; he
is telling us that it is OK to do the same. He preaches laughter
at the absurdities of movie making and the people who seem so
important because they work in the industry.
Many of the laughs in the movie are rooted in the satisfaction
the audience receives by simply getting the jokes. If you don't
know movies, have never seen Star Wars or Good Will Hunting,
or can't stand pop culture in general then it will be all the
more difficult to enjoy Smith's work. 
These
types of movies are made for those - and there are many of us
- who think like Smith. It is a kind of exclusive group and
you will realize this if you look around the theatre. There
will be three types of people sitting amongst you: 1.) The horrified
who made a wrong turn on their way to Captain Corelli's Mandolin
2.) The brainy movie buff picking up on every clever inside
joke and 3.) The young dumbasses - too young to understand Smith's
70's and 80's tributes - who came to hear Jay (Jason Mewes)
use the F word unceasingly amongst other "rude" gestures,
watch Eliza Dushku (Bring It On), Ali Larter (Varsity Blues),
and Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie) feel themselves up, and
generally take in the deviant behavior and other warped high
jinks.
Needless to say, I found myself somewhere between group 2 and
group 3 but my friends from group 3 wanted me to mention that,
and I quote "we rock".Because my editors at Bangitout.com
went Shanah Bet (1/2 year) I don't think it would be appropriate
to describe some of the better raunchy gags in this review on
their website, but I assure you they are all high quality vulgarity.
Just to make sure it is said before I wrap up - and to give
a quotable line for the newspaper ads- this movie is very funny.
Laugh out loud funny? Perhaps even that.
Another plus for Kevin Smith is that he must be one heck of
a nice guy. His popularity is evident based on the myriad of
high profile actors, actresses, directors, and producers willing
to be almost viciously slandered and to mock themselves throughout
the movie. I wouldn't want to tell you about all the cameos
because some of them should remain pleasant surprises. An honorable
mention, however, to Will Ferrell of Saturday Night Live who
simply will never let you down when it comes to putting a smile
on your face.
By the way, the movie is "about" Jay and Silent Bob
(Bob, played by Kevin Smith with only the rarely broken silence)
going cross-country (from Smith's beloved Jersey to Hollywood)
to stop a movie being made about the comic book characters (Bluntman
and Chronic) based on themselves (background for this surely
lies in the aforementioned Kevin Smith films). Along the way
they meet up with some stunning jewel thieves, hitch a ride
from Scooby and the gang, and steal a monkey. Now you're convinced.
In Three Sentences
or Less -
Everyone is game and having allot of fun so go and do the same.
If you care at all about the pending Yom Ha-din (yes, I am talking
to you) then you really should vow immediately that you would
never succumb to viewing such blatant tummah, and then, naturally,
rent it after Yom Kippur.
- Bang Jordan comments
------------------------------------
Writers
Note - Stick around for the credits if you want to hear the whole uncut
version of the song "Because I Got High" by Afroman. It is amusing,
especially the first time.here
