JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK
Released: August 24, 2001
The MPPA advises us "Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back" is rated R for nonstop crude and sexual humor, pervasive strong language and drug content. And this time an R rating is well deserved. I love Kevin Smith movies but this one easily has the MOST EVER uses of the word "fuck" (or variation thereof) than almost any other movie in recent memory! Only "American Pie 2" comes close. But hey, this IS a Kevin Smith movie, surely his highest budgeted one as well. Also, where "Chasing Amy" (1997) was the closest he came to really busting through to the mainstream, "Jay And Silent Bob" is a big budget "present" for his diehard fans. The whole movie is riddled with references, cameos and in-jokes that only a fan would understand and appreciate. I can only sit here baffled at what a first time Kevin Smith movie goer will think of this one! Plot notations are really not needed as it's mainly jumping around from one absurd situation to another but essentially the comic book "Bluntman and Chronic" is based on real-life stoners Jay and Silent Bob, but when the goofball pair discover the comic is being made into a movie they set out on a road trip from New Jersey to Hollywood to stop the evil Miramax from creating the movie version. The in-jokes are a blast, as are the cameos. Jason Mewes plays (or IS) Jay and Silent Bob is brought to life as in all Kevin Smith movies by the director himself. Just a glance at the stars in "Jay And Silent Bob" is dizzying! The Hollywood adaptation of "Bluntman and Chronic" is to star Jason Biggs and James Van Der Beek, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play themselves in a hilarious parody of "Good Will Hunting" (which Smith produced), Shannon Elizabeth (also in both "American Pie" movies with Jason Biggs) takes on the Jay love interest role, Star Wars vets Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill turn in brief but great parts, Shannen Doherty from "Beverly Hills 90210" and also Smith's "Mallrats" (1995), Will Ferrell (from "Saturday Night Live"), George Carlin, Ali Larter, Eliza Dushku, Jason Lee, Chris Rock, Alanis Morissette, Judd Nelson, Seann William Scott, Jon Stewart, Wes Craven, Gus Van Sant, Morris Day, Joey Lauren Adams and the list goes on... Supposedly, Smith plans to conclude his five movie "Jersey trilogy" with "Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back" and retire the main characters. He plans to move on with a new interpretation of the "Fletch" movies popularized in the 80s by Chevy Chase. Look forward to "Fletch Won" sometime in 2002.
95 Minutes
Dimension/Miramax