Kevin Smith and his famous dooby-smoking duo are ready for another adventure in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. This time Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) — the pot-pushing, Quik Stop-hanging dudes are on a mission to stop Hollywood from making a picture about them. The movie isn't really about them, it is more about the comic book characters based on Jay and Bob. The comic book characters, for all of you guys who are not Smith groupies, are Bluntman and Chronic.
This cameo-laced comedy is a laid back follow-up to Smith's last writing and directing effort, Dogma. Dogma was dogged by Catholics who felt that the expletive-laced movie was way too inappropriate and took too many pot-shots, no pun intended, at the organized religion.
Smith, who is a practicing Catholic, even received several death threats and a ton of hate mail. This time around, he expected no backlash. However, several gay and lesbian groups took offense to some of the crude jokes and lewd acts.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is the third and final installment of the Jay and Silent Bob trilogy. The first two movies, Mall Rats and Clerks, brought Smith and his two characters an immediate cult following. The fact that this is the last movie about the tag-team is a tragedy to some movie-goers.
Some of the supporting cast members include Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie) and Ali Larter (Final Destination) as two bombshell jewel thieves. Also making cameo appearances: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon (both have previous Smith movie parts) Jason Lee (Dogma), Alanis Morissette (Dogma) and Sean Williams Scott (American Pie).
One of the funniest cameos features Mark Hamill as the evil anti-Skywalker, Cock-Knocker. I won't explain any more. You have just got to hear him deliver his lines and see him fight for the darkside.
Other surprise pop-ups include James Van der Beek and Jason Biggs, Chris Rock as a ticked-off Hollywood director and George Carlin as a happy hitchhiker.
Immediate comparisons will be drawn from this movie to other Smith flicks. .
The humor is not much different from that found in American Pie 2, also out this summer. As a matter of fact, Sean Williams Scott, Shannon Elizabeth and Jason Biggs are all from the gross-out sequel, which incidentally remained number one at the box office this past weekend, keeping Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back from having a better opening.
Some of the biggest laughs came as the credits rolled to signal the near-end of the movie. Afro Man's break-out hit "Because I Got High," played and the audience was treated to some lyrical magic.
Run-ins with the cops, sex, child-support and the song itself all fall victim to getting high by the end of the tune. Make sure you stay for the entire movie, including the credits. You never know what or who might pop up at the very end.
Happy indulgence. Just not over-indulgence.
Movie Grade: A
R, 100 minutes
