JUST WHEN you thought Kevin Smith had misplaced the funny formula that informed his 1994 debut, "Clerks," along comes "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
This movie, which has the proverbial cast of thousands from Smith's previous movies, is a fond farewell to every character that ever cussed, yelled or whatever'd in Smith's "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma."
Ben Affleck, left, Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith star in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," a parody that doesn't live up to Smith's earlier work.
(Dimension Films)
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In keeping with the Smith rules, the movie is irreverent, self-referential, twisted, cheap and tasteless. And, of course, I mean that as the highest compliment. "Jay and Silent Bob" is even charming, thanks to the relationship between Smith's most enduring characters, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith).
For some, it may take something akin to infrared vision to appreciate Jay and Silent Bob's charms, not to mention a shockproof ability to withstand Jay's piquant, sophomoric vocabulary.
But the sweetness is there. Even as you shake your head in disbelief at the more outrageous material, you can't help but like these two. After all, it takes a powerful talent to resist reality, inhibition and political correctness at every turn.
At the beginning of "Jay and Silent Bob," our trusted dudes are exactly where they belong: in front of a Quick Stop convenience store in New Jersey. Jay continues to sell grass on the cheap and mouth things to women and children that would have anyone else arrested. Silent Bob stands next to him, ever silent and devoted.
Working inside the Quick Stop are, yes, the other twosome from "Clerks": Dante (Brian Christopher O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson). Trouble breaks out when Dante and Randal, finally unable to tolerate Jay's hustling and belligerence, call the cops.
A restraining order later, Jay and Silent Bob are homeless, so to speak. But that's not the worst of it. They learn that their old pal, Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) has sold Miramax the movie rights to their comic book creations and counterparts, Bluntman & Chronic. They also learn about – horror of horrors – a brand-new creation known as the Internet, which provides a place for preteen nerds to post nasty insults about Bluntman & Chronic.
Jay leaps into action with an immediate (and, of course, thoroughly immature) response via the Internet to all those keyboard-clicking detractors out there. And to take on the Miramax bigwigs, he persuades Silent Bob to join him on the road, destination Hollywood. They're going to show those corporate ripoff artists what's up.
Thus begins a road trip that becomes grander and more gloriously convoluted by the minute.
Catching a ride with four hot women named Sissy (Eliza Dushku), Chrissy (Ali Larter), Missy (Jennifer Schwalbach) and Justice (Shannon Elizabeth), the two friends don't realize they're being set up. These women – intentionally portrayed as one-dimensional super-babes – plan to steal some diamonds and use Jay and Silent Bob as decoys.
Eventually, Jay and Silent Bob will make their way to the Miramax studio lot, where (without giving too much away) just about everyone you've ever seen in a Smith film is filming something. The multitudes include famous buddies Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who are seen making a tacky sequel to "Good Will Hunting" while director Gus Van Sant counts his money. As for the famous actors who end up playing Bluntman and Chronic, you'll have to find out for yourself.
"Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," which also features hilarious contributions from Chris Rock (an Angry Black Director) and Will Ferrell (as a demented federal wildlife officer), is almost enough to make you forgive Smith for "Mallrats" and "Dogma." Okay, maybe that's going too far. But at least Smith pokes satirical fun at the dogs in his still-young career. He also makes light of everything and everyone, whether it's the more questionable movies made by Damon and Affleck or the very hand that feeds him: Miramax Pictures, whose Dimension division has distributed this movie.
It's sad to think that there will be no more films with Jay, a model of arrested emotional development, and Silent Bob. Protected by their blustery ignorance and self-confidence, they're almost blessed. Jay is the world's dirtiest stoner-angel. And there's no one more devoted to a friend than the bearded, baseball-capped Silent Bob, who says nothing but speaks volumes with his eyes. But if you have to say farewell to these creations, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is probably the best way to see them out.
JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (R, 99 minutes) – Contains nudity and lewd, graphic remarks designed to offend almost everyone. Area theaters.
