Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

It's a wonderful moment in cinema, when a secondary character manages to steal the show. You know what I’m talking about, where they are so funny, or so charming or heartbreaking that when you leave the theater, they are all that you can talk about. It's a credit to the actor who happened to portray that particular character, but those types characters often make rare appearances in cinema. Unless of course, we’re talking about a Kevin Smith movie.

I say that because there are two characters in a majority of his films that have always managed to steal the show, Jay and Silent Bob. In fact, they are a rare duo, managing to upstage the lead stars in every single one of Kevin’s movies and they garnered enough of a following that their roles grew in every successive film in Kevin’s stable, until the inevitable finally came to pass...they got their own movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. 

The good life has suddenly come to a screeching halt for Jay and Silent Bob. For not only has their favorite hangout spot at the Quick Stop been taken from them, it turns out the comic book that they lend their likeness to has been green-lit to become a major motion picture, and they won’t see a single dime from its release, and to make matters worse, their alter-egos are being dragged through the mud online. Knowing that they won’t see any of that fat cash for the movie rights come their way, and angry that the world has taken to the internet to rip on them, Jay and Silent Bob decide there is only one way to make everything just and fair, and now they’re headed to Hollywood to shut down production on Bluntman and Chronic.  ​

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​This is the fun film by Kevin Smith, and I mean that in the best possible way. While the films that came before this one added incredible depth and meaning, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back goes right into flat out wild comedy territory, bringing in laugh after laugh after laugh. It really is one incredible joke after another in this film, so much in fact that my ribs were aching halfway through the movie.  

Not to mention, holy crap does this film feature a star-studded cast. You'll find incredible cameos from big name stars and Hollywood legends all here to get in on the fun. Yet, in many ways this film also served as a closing of a chapter for Kevin Smith's career. There are many moments in this film when you feel as though all the characters that interconnect in the aptly titled ‘View Askewniverse’ were saying goodbye and in many ways, they were, despite the fact that Kevin had a surprise up his sleeve years later.  

But that strange sense of farewell is overshadowed by the hilarity of this film, and the ludicrous plot that you never question because well...it's Jay and Silent Bob. And it's a movie that is worth viewing over and over again, because not only is it a dream come true for fans of the franchise since their two favorite characters finally received their comeuppance, it’s also worth that second or ninth look to catch the jokes you missed and other little plot nuggets that escaped your sight while you were laughing relentlessly

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