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 he movie studio, Miramax, started out life as an
"indie studio" that became known as a place for independent filmmakers
to flock to in order to make their independent films with minimal
"studio" interference. The studio, ran by brothers Bob and Harvey
Weinstein, eventually became successful enough with "small" movies
that they've become giant movie studios in their own right. How do you know if a
studio has made it into the ranks of the Major Studios? One sure sign is when
they start releasing movies under different "banners" for their
various movies. Dimension is one of Miramax's banners, known for releasing their
more genre-oriented films. Miramax was built from the bones of
independent filmmakers like Kevin Smith, the writer/director/co-star of Jay
and Silent Bob Strikes Back (Smith plays the latter titular character,
Silent Bob).
The entire movie is strung together with one skit after
another, with the flimsy premise of Jay and Silent Bob going to Hollywood by way
of New Jersey to stop a movie currently being made about them. All this in the
two doper's never-ending effort to stop Internet fanboys from badmouthing them. Along the way, they free caged animals,
meet up with 4 sexy gals, joins a hippie animal rights activist, and throw out enough
"F" words that if you were to take out all the "F" words you would think the movie had no
sound or dialogue.
Jay and Silent Bob is a hilarious send-up on
the road movie. It's all about the various encounters the film's two main
characters (Jay and Silent Bob) have with the strangest
people on the road. How about a van full of very familiar-looking characters and
a certain talking dog that wants to solve "ghostly" mysteries; or a
hitchhiker played by George Carlin who holds up a sign that reads, "Will
give head for ride".
The movie also pulls no punches when it goes after
Hollywood. The film's two biggest targets are Miramax the studio
and the army of loudmouth Internet "fanboys" who frequents chat rooms
and fan sites to criticize filmmakers like Smith. A running gag in Jay and
Silent Bob concerns the two titular characters badmouthing anonymous
Internet loudmouths who are badmouthing them. The irony is that neither factions
have ever seen the other in person, but that doesn't stop either party from
badmouthing the other. (Hmm, wonder where I fit in? Heh heh.)
Other targets on Smith's hit list are his old buddies Matt
Damon and Ben Affleck. Forget for one moment that Smith and Affleck are
buddies in real life, or that Affleck actually plays a character that badmouths the
real-life Ben Affleck -- re: himself. How funny is that? Well, it probably doesn't sound very
funny here, but I promise you that it is a riot to hear Affleck calling himself
all kinds of names. Damon shows that he's a good sport as he and Affleck
(the movie star Affleck, as played by Ben Affleck, and not the not-Affleck
character played by Affleck (confused yet? I know I am!)) shoot a sequel to Good Will Hunting.
Somehow, someway, Smith was able to talk noted directors like Wes Craven and Gus
Van Sant (the director of Good Will Hunting) into doing cameos as themselves. Van Sant is seen counting his buckets of cash on the set of Good
Will Hunting 2 and telling his actors that he's too busy to direct them. Craven's cameo is just as funny --
he's directing yet another Scream sequel, but this time starring Shannen
Doherty and an orangutan playing the ghostface killer.
I am still quite amazed how Smith managed to convince all
these famous actors to play themselves in such disparaging roles. Even Jason "Pie
F---er" Biggs shows up as himself, playing the movie role of Silent Bob,
while James Van "Creek" Der Beek shows up to play the movie role of
Jay. The two have a small scene in an apartment where Van Der Beek criticizes Biggs for calling every one,
every situation, and everything "gay". Biggs then laments the fact
that whenever people notice him, they always call him Jason "The Pie F--er" Biggs, of course pointing out his infamous role in American Pie
when he, well, makes love to an apple pie in his parent's kitchen.
Jay and Silent Bob has a long list of funny gags.
Who needs a "story" when you've got funny skits?
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