Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Harley Quinn Smith
Have I Seen It Before?: As the movie willfully makes a point of reminding me at various points during its runtime, if you’ve seen Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), then you’ve seen this movie, too. The characters are the same. Even their arcs (such as they are) are essentially the same. And yet, curiosity abounds. My view on Smith has dimmed considerably over the years. I used to be a regular listener of his podcasts, and would make a point of being there on opening weekend for any of his movies. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) seemed like a step back from him. I was relatively ambivalent about Red State (2011). I bounced out of Tusk (2014) after about half an hour, steadfastly ignored Yoga Hosers (2016), and am somewhat relieved to realize that Moose Jaws never saw the light of day. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw a trailer for this film and was something resembling intrigued.
Did I like it?: Well, let me put it this way:
Have you ever run into somebody you used to hang out with all of the time, but haven’t seen them in years, maybe even decades?
You chat for a while and catch up on old times. Old inside jokes abound, many unlocking memories that had been the farthest thing from your mind for God knows how long. Every once in a while, those memories even bring a smile to your face.
But then something begins to dawn on you. The version of you that knew this old friend? An absolute stranger. When you really start to think about it, there is nothing connecting you to this person anymore.
You say it’s great to see the old friend, and that they shouldn’t be a stranger. The first sentiment is only kind of true, and the second one is something resembling a fiction.
Has any of that ever happened to you?
That’s it. That’s the whole review.