CCC Reviews

Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back

Kevin Smith, the infamous writer/director/producer of the New Jersey Trilogy, is finally bringing his saga to a close. The Jersey trilogy, which consisted of movies Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy & Dogma has been both applauded and slandered in it's brief existence. Yes, it would seem that the trilogy is more than three movies but it's still the New Jersey Trilogy. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back is the finale to Smith's cult classic.

Directly spinning off the sub-plot of Chasing Amy, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back is about how the two stoners find out about a movie being made based off of the comic book, Bluntman & Chronic. Bluntman & Chronic is the comic book that, in Chasing Amy, Holden MacNeil (Ben Affleck, Chasing Amy) & Banky Edwards (Jason Lee, Chasing Amy) are the co-creators of. However, when Banky gets sole rights to the series, he sells out to Miramax to allow them to produce a movie. The background of the comic is that Jay (Jason Mewes) & Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) were the basis of creation for the characters and thus, they claim likeness rights and get to share part of the profits.

Upon receiving a tip about the movie being created, the duo seek out answers at comic-book aficionado, Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee, Mallrats). Brodie informs the two that after the box-office success of X-Men, movie studios were snagging rights to any comic book they could get a hold of, Miramax picking up Bluntman & Chronic. The two decide to pay Holden MacNeil a visit, upon which he informs them that Banky is solely responsible for this current deal.

So the pair set off to Hollywood to stop the production of the movie. Unfortunately, much like in Dogma, while they have one goal, they get involved in something that they didn't plan on initially. This time around, they are to help liberate animals used as test subjects with a girl named Justice (Shannon Elizabeth). However, Justice, Sissy (Eliza Dushku) and their gang are planning to use the pair as a distraction while they steal a bag of diamonds from the building next door.

The two are now blamed for the kid...err...chimp-napping and diamond heist because Missy frames them by making them talk about a made up organization, claiming them as the leaders. Now the pair is running towards Hollywood, from Federal Wildlife Marshall Willenholly (Will Ferrell), FBI and the police.

All in all, while the plot is thin, this movie is much more slapstick comedy than Smith's other pieces. Partially because the movie is about the comic relief's of the Jersey Trilogy. But the comedy is great in the typical style that only Silent Bob's facial expressions and Jay's loud mouth can carry out.

What shines in this movie other than the duo and Smith's usual self-promotion of his other films by referencing to them constantly, is the long list of actors who signed on to have small roles and cameos. Also, characters are recycled from his other movies beyond Holden, Brodie & Banky. Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams, Chasing Amy), Tricia Jones (Renee Humphrey, Mallrats), Hooper LaMont (Dwight Ewell, Chasing Amy), God (Alanis Morissette, Dogma), Steve-Dave Pulsati (Bryan Johnson, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma) & Walt Grover (Walter Flanagan, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma) all have small appearances. Also, the pair that started it all is constantly harassed in this film. Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran, Clerks) & Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson, Clerks) are both back as the push-over employees of the Quick Stop and RST Video stores. There are also hosts of appearances by other big name stars. Shannon Elizabeth, Seann William Scott, James Van Der Beek, Jason Biggs, Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, George Carlin, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hammil, Wes Craven, Judd Nelson, Gus Van Sant, Steve Kmetko & Jules Asner all have small parts and cameos. Finally, it's wonderful that Smith lets his very own family in to the film. His wife plays Missy the jewel-thief (Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith) and his own son plays the baby Silent Bob (Harley-Quinn Smith).

What a wonderful way to sum up a series. To include the major players in this movie from his past, tie in everything together and let it all out with a bang. That's jungle love baby.

Scores for Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
Slacker711 - - "Great finale to the Jersey Trilogy. Snoogans?"

Cast
Jay Phat Buds - Jason Mewes
Silent Bob - Kevin Smith
Federal Wildlife Marshall Willenholly - Will Ferrell
Holden MacNeil / Himself / Chuckie - Ben Affleck
Brodie Bruce / Banky Edwards - Jason Lee
Justice - Shannon Elizabeth
Suzanne the Orangutan - Tango
Sissy - Eliza Dushku
Dante Hicks - Brian O'Halloran
Randal Graves - Jeff Anderson
Chrissy - Ali Larter
Missy - Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith
Hitchhiker - George Carlin
Nun - Carrie Fisher
Brent - Seann William Scott
Reg Hartner - John Stewart
Sheriff - Judd Nelson
Pumpkin Escobar - Tracy Morgan
Miramax Studio Security Guard Gordon - Diedrich Baker
Himself - Steve Kmetko
Herself - Jules Asner
Willam Black - Scott Mosier
Himself / Will Hunting - Matt Damon
Himself - Gus Van Sant
Himself / Clark - Scott William Winters
Herself / Scream 4 Victim - Shannon Doherty
Himself - Wes Craven
Himself / Bluntman - Jason Biggs
Himself / Chronic - James Van Der Beek
Chaka Luther King - Chris Rock
Himself / Cock-Knocker - Mark Hammil
Steve-Dave Pulasti - Bryan Johnson
Walt Grover, The Fanboy - Walter Flanagan
Tricia Jones - Renee Humphrey
Alyssa Jones - Joey Lauren Adams
Hooper-X LaMont - Dwight Ewell
God - Alanis Morissette
Jay's Mom - Ever Carradine
Bob's Mom - Amy Noble
Baby Silent Bob - Harley Quinn Smith

Crew
Director - Kevin Smith
Director - Scott Mosier
Writer - Kevin Smith
Producer - Scott Mosier
Line Producer - Laura Greenlee
Executive Producer - Jonathan Gordon
Executive Producer - Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer - Harvey Weinstein
Original Music - James Venable
Cinematography - Jamie Anderson
Cinematography - Billy Clevenger
Film Editing - Kevin Smith
Film Editing - Scott Mosier
Casting - Christine Sheaks