Review of Chasing Amy (1997) by Brian C — 03 Jan 2010

It's so interesting to me that Kevin Smith believes that it is so easy for a lesbian to suddenly be attracted to men, or that it's even possible. I'm upset how popular this film is and even more upset about the ridiculously positive reviews it received.

Yes, Kevin Smith evolved and showed the world he has a heart. It's a great concept. In fact, it's so great, before I saw this movie or knew the plot, I was brainstorming for a script with a very similar theme, although mine makes more sense. And I do like that in the end (spoilers) they don't live happily ever after. At least you gave me that, Kevin.

This films, like ever other Kevin Smith film, is set literally one town over from where I live in New Jersey. And yes, I am a Kevin Smith fan. But this film does so many things wrong. Along with the ridiculous turn of events, the script is near garbage. These are grown men who talk worse than Jonah Hill in Superbad. Smith tries to entertain us with raunchy dialogue, which is fine, but then expects us to take the same characters seriously. And what the hell is up with the scene in the end where Ben Affleck thinks Jason Lee has a crush on him. The whole thing seems like a mockery of homosexuality.

Now onto the acting. Ben Affleck is NOT an actor. Not even a little bit. He is terrible, and his much less popular brother Casey needs to be more recognized. Stick with directing, Ben. Anyway, throughout the whole film, I didn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy for his character, nor did I like Jason Lee's character. In fact, there is not one likable character in the whole film. Shall we talk about the female lead? Joey Lauren Adams is quite possibly the most annoying thing ever filmed. Like Paul Rudd in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, "I'd rather listen to Fran Drescher for 10 hours." Besides her ridiculous speaking voice, it gets even worse when she screams. In the parking lot scene, she screams for ten minutes. Whatever happened to building tension in a scene? My god, after five minutes, I just stopped caring about what she was saying and prayed to God it would soon end. And of course, there's a useless Jay & Silent Bob cameo that's only purpose is to give the film a title.

I do not know why people like this film. It's incredibly insensitive, annoying, and stupid. A flop, in my book, by the "genius" Kevin Smith.