Chasing Amy

              STAR RATING

                   INFO

Year: 1997

Running Length: 1:51

Rated: R (strong profanity, sexuality, and crude humour

Genre: comedy/romance/drama

Cast: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell

Director: Kevin Smith

Screenplay: Kevin Smith

                                                    PLOT

A comic book writer Holden (Ben Affleck) and his best friend and co-writer Banky (Jason Lee ) are about to go into the mainstream with a cartoon of their two super hero slackers Bluntman & Chronic (based on Jay & Silent Bob) . But when they meet Alyssa (Joey LAuren Adams), and Holden falls head-over-heels in love with her, not realizing she's a...lesbian, things get very complicated and Banky and Holden's friendship is challenged. Along with Holden having to deal with his feeling for Alyssa.

                                                  REVIEW

Kevin Smith knows these characters like the back of his hand. It is impossible to watch this film and not think it has to be atleast partly auto-biographical, his characters and the pain of Holden are so real they must have come from personal experiences. I know that this must have been a hard film to make, because I'm sure there was an Amy and I'm sure he chased her.

The film is about people who live in pop culture, but they are not the Gen-X people we see in countless movies where they sit around all day and talk about nothing, or atleast nothing intresting. No, these are some of the most intresting characters I've ever seen. They have the kind of passionate speeches about the sexuality of Archie and Jughead as I do about the contents of the mysterious briefcase in Pulp Fiction, or whether the end of Taxi Driver is imagined by Travis or real. These are people who have nothing better to do than talk about comics....kinda reminds me of me.


Anyway, the story starts off during a comic-con (to those of you who do not know what a comic-con is beware this is not the film for you) as Banky is signing comics and someone calls him a "tracer" now in this world of course that ends in a fight. Which is pretty hilarious, but then I noticed something, look at Banky's face right after this quarrel right after anger he very briefly looks hurt, Smith handles this perfectly and only the most astute watcher will even notice it. And that is something this film handles unbelievably well constantly switching between drama and comedy and pain. "we laugh so that we may not cry" to put it best.

All goes well with Holden and Banky until they are introduced to Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) and Holden falls instantly in love with her...not realizing she is a lesbian. Now this may sound like a another stupid rom-com (Three To Tango anyone?) but I assure you it is not. This is a very intelligent film, and much like Kevin Smiths first film Clerks all the dialogue is smart, funny, and reveals a little more about the characters than they mean to be known.

After this revelation and a brief discussion comparing cunnilingus injuries, (reminiscent of the Jaws scar scene)  and Holden leaves, Allysa decides they can be friends. Holden decides he loves her to much not to be with her, so they become friends as Banky gets jealous. But all cannot be this way for long, Holden loves Allysa and cannot keep it bottled up anymore. And so when we reach the inevitable confession of love (which I'll admit nearly brought a tear to my eye)  Allysa realizes she loves Holden and she won't let sexuality be a barrier, because she became a lesbian in the first place to not half the odds of finding love, just because of the norm.

But there are many problems with this relationship, Alyssa's friends who are all gay, Banky's jealousy and anger at Holden and Alyssa, and Alyssa's past which she has been lying about. I must admit I didn't want them to stay together, because I thought it would be cheating us. I do not believe this relationship would work in real life, and the ending rings true, very satisfyingly and very emotionally powerful.

The performances are some of the best things about the film, they may not have worked without them. Ben Affleck is suprisingly very good in a role that could have gone to many people, but he makes it his own. Dwight Ewell as a gay comic book writer posing as a black militant is very funny. Joey Lauren Adams I gave my Best Actress award for 1997 (in a tie with Pam Grier for Jackie Brown) she is so perfect as Alyssa I almost wanted to reach into the screen and hold her in my arms. But it is Jason Lee who deserves the most credit his performance as Banky is one of the best of the 90's, he can do everything his character requires and then about a million more, you will probably not see a better performance in the year of 1997.

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes again play their Jay & Silent Bob characters, only this time it is Smith who shines with his role. Usually he only has one line but in this he has an eloquent speech in a all-night diner that is beyond words. Kevin Smith is one of the best filmmakers out there, and this is his greatest film.

To check out some cool pics from Chasing Amy click HERE!

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