Film Reviews

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

• Rating:
• Director: Kevin Smith.
• Starring: Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Gus Van Sant, Eliza Dushku, Shannon Elizabeth, Will Ferrell, Ali Larter, Jason Lee, Chris Rock, Brian Christopher.
• Details: US / 99 mins / (18).

Chances are, if you were one of those who thought Afroman's recent tie-in single, Because I Got High, was an absolute hoot, you'll probably find Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back to be a slice of comic genius. Yet if you thought the single sounded one-dimensional and adolescent, avoid this movie like the plague never happened. Peripheral characters in Kevin Smith's four previous movies, Jay (Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith), the sex obsessed stoner dudes, take centre stage in this loose adaptation of the director's own comic book series, Bluntman and Chronic. With a ridiculous premise - Jay and Bob must get to LA to stop an unauthorized film being made of their lives - the movie has a ramshackle, rushed feel to it. Apparently now devoid of the inspiration that fuelled Clerks and Chasing Amy, Smith relies too much on obvious stoner and sexual innuendo gags and the gaggle of cameos by his film star mates doesn't do much to alleviate the feeling that Jay and Silent Bob probably should have been thrown out with the bong water.

Review by Garreth Murphy