JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK ------------------------------
Writer/director Kevin Smith ("Clerks") goes back to where he started, giving an entire feature over to the Greek chorus who've appeared in all his films, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). When Jay and Silent Bob hear that the 'Bluntman and Chronic' comic book characters based on them have been sold to Miramax for a feature film, they find Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck, "Chasing Amy") to get their cut. Holden's sold off his share to Banky Edwards (Jason Lee, "Chasing Amy") but does introduce the boys to the Internet. Jay becomes incensed when he sees all the rude comments on the web about his alter ego and the dynamic duo decide to take on Hollywood in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
Kevin Smith gathers just about everyone who's ever been in one of his films (although Alanis Morrisette appears to have been cut) to have fun dissing Miramax, Paul Thomas Anderson, the success of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and the stupidity of his own characters. You'll find parodies of "E.T.," "Armageddon," "The Fugitive," and "Planet of the Apes" in this free-wheeling, good-natured, foul-mouthed grab bag.
Jay and Silent Bob meet up with a hitchhiker (George Carlin) who informs them that the 'unwritten book of the road' requires thumbers to orally service their drivers - just before they're picked up by a nun (Carrie Fisher - "Star Wars homage #2 after the "Star Wars-like" logo Smith's emblazoned across his film). Then Jay becomes smitten with Justice (Shannon Elizabeth, "American Pie"), a jewel thief travelling with Sissy (Eliza Dushku, "Bring It On"), Missy (Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, wife of Kevin Smith) and Chrissy (Ali Larter, "Legally Blonde"). Sissy makes Justice set up Jay and Silent Bob, telling them they're out to set free lab animals.
Jay and Silent Bob end up escaping with an Orangutan while the girls make off with a cache of diamonds, but now they've got idiot Federal Wildlife Marshall Wilenholly (Will Ferrell, "Superstar") on their trail. Eventually the lads make their way onto the Miramax lot, where they crash the filming of "Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season" before encountering James Van Der Beek ("Varsity Blues") and Jason Biggs ("American Pie") in the Bluntman and Chronic outfits they appropriate. They dazedly reply to a set call by director Chaka (Chris Rock, "Dogma") and Silent Bob finds himself in a light saber dual with Cock-Knocker played by none other than Mark 'Luke Skywalker' Hamill.
Smith's film is clearly an exercise for his extended filmmaking family to have fun and they mostly let us in on it. This lightweight comedy is wispy, though, vanishing from memory within 24 hours of having seen it. Smith does have a talent for dialogue, making even excessive foul remarks still seem amusing, but his visual style (or lack thereof) still needs attention (early scenes in Holden's office look really subpar).
Most amusing is the trashing of Affleck by himself, Damon and Smith. Affleck is accused of having dead hookers in his trailer and his face adorns a giant movie billboard titled 'Moonraper.' Damon's introduced doing a 'lion face, lemon face' acting exercise with an admirable 'straight' face. A movie fan site, presumably based on Ain't-It-Cool-News, is redubbed the 'Poop Shoot' here. While there are numerous references to things being 'gay' and Jay's sexual identity being questioned, GLAAD's recent attack on Smith seems like misplaced overkill.
Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith are front and center stage this time and prove they can hold it. The reliable Will Ferrell is amusingly clueless and just about the entire cast of "American Pie" acquit themselves well. A background scene showing Jay and Silent Bob's first infant meeting features Kevin Smith's baby daughter as his alter ego. Gus Van Sant gives a fun cameo while Wes Craven gives an awkward one. Chris Rock isn't funny at all as the shrill director. Morris Day gives a send off right out of "Purple Rain."
"Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is fun while you're watching it, but with the talent on hand, you can't help but feel it should have been a whole lot better.
B-
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