First I have to talk about what happened when I got to the screening location. After experiencing another lovely bout with Los Angeles traffic we arrived at Rollie Studios at 7:20 pm. This concerned me because the movie started at 7:30 pm so 10 minutes is very little time to get situated with.
As we pulled in to the back of the studio a guard leaned down to the car window and asked me while I was there. I told him I was there to see J&SBSB. He then tried to inform me that “everything was sold out.” In true Hollywood fashion I lowered my sunglasses to the bridge of my nose and said, “That can’t be, I’m on “the list.” (See yesterday’s entry if you don’t know about “the list.”) I was then informed where to park without another question.
As we walked upstairs I was asked my name. When I said it I was instantly told, “Got you right here! Sit anywhere in the back three rows.” When I first heard “back three rows” I thought I was going to be getting some bad seats. Turns out it was the marked off press section. That’s right baby, I was “press” at this point.
So, since I was in the press section I guess I better put up my review of the movie. Keep in mind that I am a die hard fan of the works of Kevin Smith. The man can write dialogue like no one else I’ve ever seen (or should that be read?). Also keep in mind I am not a movie critic nor a professional reviewer so I can’t give you any type of “Ebert” insight into this film.
First let me say that if you enjoyed American Pie or Scary Movie then you will have no reason not to laugh every bit of your ass off while watching Jay & Silent Bob Strike back. This movie has got enough comedy to appeal to the masses and does so a lot better then the other two movies I previously mentioned. The best news is that if you are a fan of Kevin Smith’s previous works this film delivers 100 times more for you. The jokes kick in at the very beginning and they NEVER let up.
If you don’t know what the movie is about I would first tell you a little back story. In Chasing Amy we are introduced to two comic book creators who have created a comic book based on the real life characters (in the Kevin Smith Viewaskewniverse) of Jay & Silent Bob. These comic alter egos Bluntman & Chronic (as well as their mild mannered secret identities of Jay & Silent Bob) have now been optioned to be made in to a film by Miramax. In pursuit of their share of the profits from this movie deal Jay & Silent Bob are introduced to the Internet and the anonymous voice it has given to every would be film critic out there (examples can be found at http://www.moviepoopshoot.com or its real life counterpart http://www.aintitcoolnews.com). In their logic the best thing to do is now to get to Hollywood and stop production of this movie so that these movie board flamers (term used for those that log on to the Internet just to spout text based verbal diarea to make themselves feel bigger to make up for their small penis size… OK, that’s just my definition). Let the wackiness ensue!
I am going to warn you that this movie has so many cameos and so many characters in it that you will need to see it more then once just to catch all of the people in the film. They can be major cameos like the ones by icons from the Star Wars community down to the guy who played Buffy’s boyfriend in the 4th and fifth season’s of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The great news is that the movie is funny enough that you won’t mind paying to sit through to spot all the people that played in it. For those of you that enjoy Hollywood hotties this film has even got women in full body vinyl jumpsuits! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
Another personal treat in this movie is the way that it pokes fun at Hollywood (hence the tag line on the one sheet above). No one is spared folks. Not the parent company to Dimension (Miramax), not Ben Affleck or Matt Damon (even though they are both in this movie and Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier brought Good Will Hunting to Miramax)… hell, even the movie itself is mocked by this movie! If you are a fan of Hollywood the way that I am you just won’t stop craving every little bit of inside humor and ribbing that Tinsel Town takes.
Now, I went to go see this movie with my lovely wife and my biggest concern going in to it was crude comedy that made my wife dislike Scary Movie. The great news is that even though it does contain its fair share of dick & fart jokes (a Kevin Smith staple at this point) the humor in the movie didn’t dig that deep into the muck. Yes, there are drug jokes. Yes, there are sex jokes. Yes, there is harsh language. Know what? All of ’em made me laugh to my enjoyment instead of inspite of myself the way that Scary Movie did.
I think the biggest endorsement for this movie is that after it was over my wife said, “I think this is one of his best movies.” Folks, let me tell you something… this is a screaming endorsement. Run, don’t walk to see Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back on August 22nd.
I can honestly say if you like comedies, if you like buddy movies, if you like getting high, or if you like really cool cameos you are going to LOVE this film. There are already lines from this movie I will be pestering friends with for the years to come. (My favorite you can catch in the official trailer and TV ad’s… the way Jay says, “We goin’ to Hollywood” makes me piss myself
every time I hear it.)
-WW