JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK

US, 2001, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Ben Affleck, George Carlin, Matt Damon, Shannon Doherty, Eliza Dushku, Shannon Elizabeth, Will Ferrel, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Jason Lee, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, Seann William Scott, Jon Stewart, Gus Van Sant, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, Wes Craven, Rene Humphrey, Joey Lauren Adams, Alanis Morisette.
Directed by Kevin Smith.

Jay and Silent Bob are the two characters created by writer-director Kevin Smith and impersonated by Jason Mewes (Jay) and Kevin Smith (Silent Bob). They were introduced in Kevin Smith's first film, Clerks, and appeared also in Mall Rats. They made guest appearances in Smith's other films including Chasing Amy and Dogma. They also had a walk-on part in Scream III (which accounts for their parody of the Scream movies with the orang-utan being the murderer and a guest appearance by Wes Craven).

The critics were favourable to the film although many were urging Kevin Smith to grow up. In the dialogue of the film, he pokes fun at the characters that he and Jason Mewes portray, especially their pre-adolescent jokes and lowbrow humour. However, he still seems to enjoy it and the film is full of these lowbrow jokes and situations. Smith, however, showed with Chasing Amy and Dogma that he is capable of stronger material.

Smith is also interested in comics and these have been a theme throughout most of his films, especially Chasing Amy where there is a long discussion of Star Wars (which may account for the guest appearances here of Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and the laser fight between Jay and Mark Hamill). Smith also wrote a treatment for a Superman film with Nicolas Cage which was not made. The gist of the story is that a comic strip based on Jay and Silent Bob is about to be made by Miramax (who actually financed this film) and they intend to sabotage it because of all the adverse comments made about them on the website.

The film has a lot of guest appearances by friends of Smith, especially Ben Affleck and Matt Damon who have appeared in Chasing Amy and Dogma. They get the chance to send themselves up with wry comments about the films that they have appeared in. Gus Van Sant, director of Good Will Hunting, also appears on the set of Good Will Hunting 2, but is too busy counting his money to direct. There is also a guest appearance by Jason Biggs (with many references to his role in American Pie) and James Van Der Beek from television. Other regulars like George Carlin and Chris Rock also appear, with Chris Rock as the director of the Hollywood film making his usual comments about white men and blacks.

The film will appeal mainly to the fans of Jay and Silent Bob - but gives a different angle on the attitudes and senses of humour of the thirtysomethings around the year 2000.

1. The work of Kevin Smith? His age, experience, comic strips, sense of humour, his range of films, the creation of Jay and Silent Bob?

2. The characters themselves, Jay doing all the talking, his appearance, living back in the '80s, stoned, foul-mouthed, pre-adolescent? Macho and crass in his approach to women? The contrast with Silent Bob - with Smith himself being silent except twice in the film bursting out telling Jay off and then finally describing the nature of the implications of Hollywood contracts? The two as a cult tandem?

3. The guest stars, the friends of Smith, their appearances, the film stars and directors sending themselves up? The jokes at the expense of Miramax? The Hollywood scenes, the making of Scream films, of science films with special effects?

4. Jay and Silent Bob in New Jersey, proud of it, drug-dealing, the kids? The two running the store and their being insulted, getting the police injunction to move them on? Their going to discuss the matter of the film with Holden, his advice, going to see Brodie? The situation on the Internet, the stopping of the film?

5. Going on the road, not knowing you had to pay for tickets on the bus, the crass hitchhiker and the book, the nun and insulting her, with the group, getting stoned? In the diner, meeting the women, the attraction of Justice? Jay falling in love with her? The young guitar-player and his being thrown out? The girls, their plan, the alleged love of animals, their using Jay and Silent Bob as a cover for the jewel robbery? The video with Jay being at his most crass? Using it against him?

6. The raid, the robbery, Jay and Bob with the orang outang? The agent for wildlife and his being stupid, his letting them go, realising afterwards, the local police and their laughing at him? His pursuing them, his pursuing the women? His appeal to them? Following in the tunnel - and the parody of The Fugitive at the dam?

7. The trip to Hollywood, the pursuit by the agent? Their arrival in Hollywood, getting into the studios by stealth, the security guard and his sexual curiosity, their getting away? Running into walls thinking they were streets? Discovering the stars of their film, the stars thinking they were the doubles? The assistant director getting them to perform? Jay and his laser-beam fight with Mark Hamill? The further shenanigans in the studios, especially with Wes Craven and the monkey being the killer in the Scream movie?

8. The change of heart of Justice, her coming to Los Angeles, seeing them on the television, getting the jewels, owning up, giving the jewels back? The other women coming, the sense of betrayal? The martial arts fight throughout the studios?

9. The happy ending, the preview of the film, most people thinking it was terrible? The agent thinking it was very good? The party afterwards, the celebration?

10. The in-jokes, especially about films and cross-references, the stars like Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, with Jason Lee resolving all the issues about the film and copyright and profits? With Matt Damon and Ben Affleck talking about their films and looking and the audience? Audience enjoying this kind of pop movie culture?

11. Kevin Smith and his films, acting out all the pre-adolescent and adolescent humour? Comic-book heroism? His knowing how to make films - and a more serious future or not?