Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

6/10

Starring

Jason Mewes

Kevin Smith

Directed by Kevin Smith

It’s always been a thrill to see the duo of Jay and Silent Bob in Kevin Smith’s films, especially when their presence is used in small doses. When the idea of giving them their own full-length movie came up, and Kevin Smith actually made it happen, I didn’t know what to expect.
I was worried there might be too much Jay. After all, Silent Bob’s presence is easier to overlook because, well, he’s mostly silent throughout his appearances.

In the end, the movie wasn’t half bad. I enjoyed watching these fools (as their characters are meant to be) let loose in the world without any restraints on their ridiculousness. The movie can come off as harsh with the way Jay curses and behaves so out of tune with societal norms. But the introduction of a significant other, who makes him consider toning down his language at times, was a nice touch. Plus, the movie features an almost endless array of actors making cameo appearances or playing exaggerated versions of themselves.

The movie is fun because it doesn’t take itself seriously. Criticizing the plot for being shallow or lacking cohesion is fair, but for some, that’s the point.

The movie starts by showing how the duo met and how Jay developed his foul mouth. The two are doing what they do best—hanging out and selling weed—when their day is interrupted by news of a movie being made.
It turns out Miramax bought the rights to a film based on Bluntman and Chronic, a pair of comic book characters created in Jay and Silent Bob’s likeness. The duo is upset because they’re being left out of the financial benefits. They decide to confront the comic’s creator to demand their cut. He tells them he’s not getting any money either, as he sold the rights to his partner. He directs them to the internet, where they find a long list of people trashing Bluntman and Chronic. The duo takes this personally (even though they’re told not to) and decides to head to Hollywood to stop the movie’s production.

Their journey leads to a wild cross-country chase, with them being mistaken for terrorists. They unknowingly get involved in a diamond heist and end up completely lost in Hollywood.

Well, Kevin Smith is planning a return for these two characters, and I can’t imagine what they’ll get up to next. It will be nice if he writes a stronger plot, and picks up on some of the loose ends of this movie, and ties them up neatly in this coming sequel.