Review of Be Kind Rewind (2008) by Jw M — 24 Apr 2011

In Be Kind Rewind, VHS rental store owner Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) entrusts his business to the hands of his only employee, Mike (Mos Def), as he departs to attend a memorial event of his friends honoring legendary Jazz pianist, Fatz Waller. Before departing, Fletcher attempts to instruct Mike to keep Jerry (Jack Black) the local weirdo, out of the store, but does not convey the message in time. Thus, Jerry, who has just been "magnitized" after attempting to sabotage a local power plant, enters the store. After fumbling about the store, Jerry manages to erase all of the videos under his "magnitization". In order to restock the store, and avoid letting Mr. Fletcher down, Mike makes it his initiative to remake the majority of the store's films with homemade movies, and the cast of colorful characters surrounding the store in the ghettos of Passaic New Jersey.

When I initially saw the trailer for this picture, which was filled with homemade farces of classics such as Ghostbusters, Carrie, and Driving Miss Daisy, I immediately new I would enjoy the movie. The picture starts a bit slow, and has some fantastic and over the top elements to the plot. But after a slightly confusing start, it really picks up. Mike and Jerry's dubbed films include a cache of great nostalgic Hollywood classics. The viewer sees almost the entire making of their renditions of Ghostbusters, Rush Hour, and their especially hilarious adaptation of Robocop. These fun simultaneous jabs and salutes to legendary films makes Be Kind Rewind entertaining and engaging.

But the movie is far more than a silly salute to Oscar winners and cult classics. Be Kind Rewind is full of deep enriching characters. Jerry is a quirky obnoxious yet lovable jerk. Mike is bumbling clerk who becomes a powerful advocate for community. Mia Farrow plays an especially lovable old patron of Be Kind Rewind, and the cast of minor characters, ranging from silly ghetto thugs, to Sigourney Weaver's legal agent character come together for a lot of close to home laughs.

What really won me over along with the characters, was the amount of heart in this movie. The picture features the history, myth, and music of legendary Jazz pianist Fats Waller as a focal point to emphasize the importance and beauty of local community. The community's efforts to make the video, and their final self written mockumentary "Fats was Born in Passaic" offers an incredibly moving look at the ties and connections between those living together in a ghetto community (or any community for that matter).

Be Kind Rewind is a hilarious and emotional picture with uproarious Hollywood shout outs, and moments and characters that show intense and real human emotions.