Review of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) by Harry W — 21 Dec 2013

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back doesn't last a chance of being nearly as insightful of any of the previous Kevin Smith films such as Clerks or Chasing Amy because while there are two main characters, one doesn't talk. Jay does it all.

And if you're a fan of the characters, more often than not you are likely to enjoy yourself watching Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is so overloaded with celebrity cameos and comic book references that it's the ideal comedy for fanboys and stoners alike, and it manages to intentionally milk its paper thin characters for all the jokes they can go through, and most of the time they're successful in initiating laughter amongst viewers, or even shock.

Its script is hardly insightful and is loaded with excessive swearing in replacement, but it still maintains enough humour to pass as a successfully written one, even though it also falls short of many of Kevin Smith's other works.

The general comedic spirit is consistent in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and so its entertainment value is good and its surely easy to watch, mainly because of all the wacky characters employed into the story.

But also the presence of various celebrity cameos and supporting roles is what makes Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back the kind of film that I would define as a fan favourite. These actors include, but are not limited to Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Wes Craven, Gus Van Sant, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sean William Scott, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and Brian O'Halloran. All of this ensures that Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a strong cultural treat and a funny and entertaining one and it is a real nostalgia fest to a lot of viewers which enhances the viewing experience. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is also filmed very well and shot on some great locations.

But of course the main source of laughs have to come from the dynamic titular duo of Jay and Silent Bob, and the fact that they journey through such a comedically rich plot even if it may be a scattered one.

Jason Mewes is as hilarious as ever as Jay, and even moreso because he dominates the screen with his hilariously half assed yet organic line delivery which makes him a living embodiment of the figure. His talent as Jay has just grown over time, and it gets funnier every time.

Kevin Smith is also spot on as Silent Bob, getting the physicality of him perfectly and giving a strong line delivery to his only two lines in the entire film. He does a great job.

And Will Ferrell is hilarious too, and especially considering he's a legendary comedian he's a great cast member to have in the supporting role.

Really, while its appeal is largely limited to fanboys, people already associated with Kevin Smith's brand of humour or the braindead, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is simply easy to watch and funny.