Movie #322 - Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, Jeff Anderson, Brian O'Halloran, Will Ferrell, Jason Lee, Judd Nelson, George Carlin, Carrie Fisher, Seann William Scott, Matt Damon, Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Gus Van Sant, Chris Rock, Jamie Kennedy, Mark Hamill and tons of other cameos....

There are too many cameos in this crazy movie for me to tag and list here... It's a veritable Who's Who of past Kevin Smith films.  A reunion of sorts.  Written as a promise to pal Jason Mewes (after the actor went to rehab and got clean), Smith's reunion movie pulls out all the stops.  They even dig up Morris Day & the Time for the grand finale.

So Jay and Silent Bob are on a cross-country adventure, hoping to claim the royalties they're owed by Brodie for using their comic book likenesses in a new movie. Along the way, as in any good road trip movie, they meet a lot of wacky characters. Some try to help them, others frame them for robbery.  Many old favorites pop up again from Mooby's to the Quik Stop.  And Ben Affleck and Matt Damon appear both as characters in the film and as themselves... so that's fun.

This isn't a movie to watch if you've never seen a Kevin Smith film before.  If you have, it's like watching a long string of inside jokes being told by familiar friends.  If you're a fan, chances are you've already seen this anyway... so what am I telling you for?

Movie #167 - Dogma

Dogma
1999 - Rated R - 2 hr 10 min
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Chris Rock, George Carlin, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Jason Lee

Who isn't in this movie?  It's like a Who's Who of Kevin Smith films.  Even Brian O'Halloran makes an appearance. Impressive.

Believe it or not, this was the first Kevin Smith movie I ever saw.  But I knew afterwards that I was a fan and I needed to see more.  That lead to Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mallrats... and I even went to see Jersey Girl.  That's dedication.

What makes this movie even greater than his others is the seamless way he blends his usual comedy with Catholic dogma.  Alan Rickman as the angel Gabriel? Only Kevin Smith would think of this.  George Carlin as a cardinal? Ditto.  And of course, adding Jay and Silent Bob elevates this to a whole new level... and ranks them as the greatest "prophets" the world has ever known.

Only watch this movie if you can laugh at religion, or else you're going to hate it.  The humor isn't mean-spirited or disrespectful in anyway, but you have to have a sense of humor about it.  It isn't meant to be taken seriously, but it's message is: don't believe blindly, just have a good idea.

Movie #115 - Clerks II

Clerks II
Miramax
2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith

And they're back!  This movie revisits our angst-ridden heroes after the convenience store burns down and they start working at a fastfood restaurant, managed by Rosario Dawson... possibly the only female in the universe who is as deranged as they are. 

This time, Dante is supposed to be leaving... with his inexplicably hot fiancee. Of course, Randall has a problem with that and so, it turns out, does Dante. He just doesn't know it yet, in his classic wishy-washy, I'm-so-confused-by-my-life-I'm-going-to-whine-about-it way.  Brian O'Halloran does this so well, it makes me wonder if he's like this in real life.  Anyway, you want to punch Dante less often in this movie, but you still want to punch him.

Obviously, Jay and Silent Bob (out of rehab) are the best part about this movie.  If you need a reason to watch it, I cite Jay's dance scene as enough.

All in all, it's fun to revisit 'old friends' and see where they've ended up.  Kevin Smith does a great job bringing these characters' story to a somewhat satisfying conclusion.  If you're a fan of the original, this will make you laugh for sure. But don't expect it to replace Clerks in any way, shape or form.

Movie #114 - Clerks

Clerks
Miramax
1994 - Rated R - 1 hr 32 min
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith

Finally, some culture! Hahahaha

Not everyone is meant to like this movie, that's for sure, but Kevin Smith doesn't apologize for his crass dialogue, touchy subjects, and downright unlikeable characters.  Dante is probably supposed to be sympathetic, but you're going to want to punch him in the face by the time you get halfway through this movie.

And yet, every time I watch this one, I crack up.  I don't know what it is about this movie that makes it relatable or likeable, but it is.  Perhaps its how relevant it is to an entire generation and an entire era.  Oh, the Nineties.... how happy we are that you're over.  Still, this movie remains as one of the classics of that decade.  And of course, the pivotal 'break-out' film of Smith's career.

If you don't like it, it's okay. You don't have to.  I think Kevin Smith just wanted you to watch it and nothing more.