Remembering Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Jon: I think after all of the controversy that “Dogma” got, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” was a refreshing about-face for Kevin Smith. Many have missed the point of it though; some say it’s too light-hearted and goofy. Well, I hate to burst their bubble but let me say to them “duh!” 

For me, every time I watch the film I find new things to like. Yes, at first it seems all too breezy and fun. Good. But there are a lot of funny observations on celebrities, the Hollywood scene, and film in general to warrant repeated viewings. We get Jay and Silent Bob front and center for basically the first time in any of Kevin Smith’s prior films, and they do not over stay their welcome. Sometimes when secondary characters get the spotlight, it just doesn’t work because they are only good in small doses. Not Jay. Jason Mewes’ shining View Askew moments are always the most remembered and this film is no different. Everything from his quips on Silent Bob to his puppy dog crush on Shannon Elizabeth, Mewes owns this film.

This film is also made for film geeks, there are so many movie references that it’ll take repeated viewings to catch them all.  You have Mark Hamil, “Fugitive”, “Charlie’s Angels”, and many more creating a fun film for all to enjoy. In fact, when I feel down, this is the Smith film I put on to rid me of my blues. Seeing the beautiful Eliza Dushku helps, but it is the funny lines, the light-heartedness of it all and the fast pacing that gets me to feel better. I love ripping on Hollywood and seeing Smith do it too, the scenes with Affleck and Gus Van Sant top it off for me. 

I think Smith didn’t expect “Dogma” to be so controversial and have the controversy win out over the quality of that film, so this film you can feel him take a sigh of relief. More Jay and Silent Bob is always a good thing in my book, so that’s why this is in constant rotation when I feel blue. I know you like this film a lot too Donny, did you have similar feelings like I did?

Donny:  I feel pretty much the same, you can never have to much Jay and Silent Bob.  One of the main reasons I love Smith’s work so much is because of these two characters.  No matter how colorful their language gets, or how mischievous they get, their hearts are always in the right place.  These are bad-boy characters that can connect with both the rebel in all of us as well as the geek.  So the fact that these two got their own movie put a huge smile on my face.  Also, pretty much every character in View Askew universe is in the flick.  How cool is that?

This is a film that plays just as well the after the tenth viewing as it does the first, maybe even better, and that to me is the test.  If I can watch a movie multiple times without it getting old the filmmaker has done his/her job right.  Another huge contributing factor to the re-watch-ability of “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is the fact that Jason Mewes is front and center.  It’s hard to not love Mewes, he is comfortable on screen, easy to relate to, and really fucking funny.  I can’t wait until Smith decides to put his old pal back into a leading-man position.  I’m extremely happy about Smith’s decision to cast Seth Rogen in his upcoming comedy “Zack and Miri Make A Porno,” but at the same time I’d have loved to have seen Mewes in another title role.  I think both Mewes and Rogen have that everyman quality that works in their favor, plus both of them have impeccable timing.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that in my humble opinion “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is a love letter to the movie geek, and one of the most exciting comedies made by Smith.  In todays market of throwaway films Smith’s flicks are a breath of fresh air.  So if you haven’t already seen “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” or any of Smith’s other flicks, then do yourself a favor and check them out ASAP.  On the other hand if your a fan of Smith’s work, then hurry up, and watch them all again.  

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