Review of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) by Ken S — 17 Dec 2014

Review In A Nutshell:

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was one of the first raunchy films that I have seen; this was during a time where I was about nine to ten years old where a random choice from my local blockbuster has shown me to a realm of comedy and reality that I have yet to understand.

I came back to the film time and time again during the years after that first viewing, and suddenly I remember shutting myself from it for a large amount of time; but with each revisit, my opinion of the film never changed as one of the best comedic films of all time. I watch it now and I still cannot shake away the feelings I had with this film, whether it be the amazing moments when the girls introduced themselves outside their van, or when Bluntman and Chronic face off Mark Hamill during a Star Wars inspired sequence; hell, I practically know the entire words of the profane song that Jay was singing during the start of the film.

Viewing it now does reveal its flaws a little more clearly but it wasn't as much as I expected it to be; it is a stupid and aimless film but it achieves so well in delivering its comedy that I was able to almost completely forgive the film. It is rare for me to appreciate films that cherish on the topics of genitalia and illicit drugs, but this film manages to provide enough hits that it wasn't entirely loathsome.

The aspect that I most enjoyed is its ability to become self-aware, with constant references to prominent films, it takes in story aspects that were found in previous Smith films through the appearance of familiar characters or subtle references to the stories that took place in these films, and it pokes fun at the Hollywood system with such ridiculousness that one cannot help but have a smile on their faces.

If the film had anything deep to touch on, it would probably be about the obsession of self-worth, with the two central characters primarily driven to protect their reputation from being tarnished and Hollywood not being able to pay respect to the source material, aiming only for something mediocre to ensure profit.

Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back aims to please those that adore their presence in previous Kevin Smith films, and done so with tremendous force and ambition. If not a fan of the titular duo then do not bother in seeing this film as this would just further hurt your opinion towards them.