Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

To Smith Fans, with Love

I'm not a hardcore Kevin Smith fan, but I feel like I am at least a decently knowledgeable fan. I liked all of his movies. OK, I liked them all except for Mallrats. Well, Mallrats wasn't terrible; it was ok. But it wasn't admirable either. In any case, I really did like the others.

However, with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, my crossing of the line over to "true Kevin Smith fan" status has pretty much taken place. This is because I have never seen a movie so lovingly devoted to the director's fans, and to fans, fan-boys, and greasy fan-boys in general. To all you devoted Smith fans, those of you who recommended Clerks to all your friends, those of you who cheered the critical praise of Chasing Amy, those of you who could appreciate the true spirit of Dogma, and, yes, those of you who, to this day, defend Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is for you. It celebrates your sub-culture, it gets in its humorous jabs at you, it inundates you with inside jokes only you true fans can appreciate. If you are a true Kevin Smith fan, you won't have as much fun this year at the movies than at a screening of this movie.

We're not necessarily talking about the "basement-dwellers," either, although those of you who are both Smith fans and basement-dwellers are fully welcome to enjoy the movie as well. Real fan-boys know that not all of their kind live that way. Fan-boys can assume any shape or form, but they have a kindred spirit. They talk minutiae. They know the little details of their favorite movie-maker's works. They quote lines from the movies at appropriate (and sometimes inappropriate) occasions. They talk amongst each other and make movie references. And they are everywhere in the American sub-culture. This is the movie that not only acknowledges their existence, but also rewards them for being so loyal.

Only a true comic book afficianado like Kevin Smith could be able to do this, for this sort of fandom flourished within comic book culture. The internet has allowed it to expand, in full-force, to the adoration of movies. In this movie, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) are essentially given a road-movie where the two stoner losers try to find their way to Hollywood. Why? So they can stop the production of a movie about characters, Bluntman and Chronic, that were based on them and therefore give the flaming basement-dwelling internet jockeys no more reason to make fun of those characters. Along the way, they re-visit several characters from Smith's past movies. Their journey allows Smith to initiate one of the true fans' favorite games: spot the reference (not only to his movies but to other cult-creating flicks as well). They shoot off lines Smith knows his fans will want to bring up out of nowhere to give their friends something to laugh about. They run into a host of celebrity cameos, from Smith troupers like Brian O'Halloran and Joey Lauren Adams to hilarious appearances by famous directors. But before one gets the idea that this is nothing but a reference movie, Jay and Silent Bob get to participate in enough goofy mishaps to make the story in itself something fun for the fans to get into. The fans will be happy as Jay and Silent Bob never get out of character, and Jay actually experiences some character development! Well, he experiences about as much development as a character like himself could. All of this adds up to true fan heaven.

Maybe I'm more of a fan than I realized, and this movie has helped me to realize it. After all, I had so much fun watching this movie that I'm willing to forgive some of the slow spots and clunkers. There's enough good humor in this movie to go around and get an appreciator of Smith's films really in to the proceedings. In fact, the film's only major weakness is that someone new to Kevin Smith's "View Askewniverse" won't be able to really get into it. As for me, I thought this movie was great. Maybe I should've seen this reaction coming; after all, I've seen all six episodes of the "Clerks" animated series and, well, readily enjoyed, I'd say, at least four of them.

Honestly, why are we that afraid of the internet denizens? Most of the ones are good ol' ordinary folks, like you and me. As for the ones that give us a bad name... let's just say there's a priceless segment at the end of the movie that allows the decent netizens to experience some vicarious feelings of revenge. Anyhow, I recall many celebrities saying how afraid they are of the "freaks" that are out there. It's as if they would be afraid of meeting the true fans, the ones that wouldn't stalk them but do honestly love their work. With Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Kevin Smith not only acknowledges the true fans, but welcomes them with open arms. That's a man with his heart in the right place for you. Mr. Smith, you love us, and we love you. Thanks. Peace.

Rating: 9/10

©Jeffrey Chen, Aug. 26, 2001

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