Dick and fart jokes. These are the basis for a Kevin Smith film. Whether one finds these funny or not will decide whether one can appreciate Smith’s work as a whole. It’s a shame then that when he attempts to produce something with a little more depth, it’ll generally be written off as more of the same by people who don’t really know the subject matter.
Now don’t get me wrong, Chasing Amy still has dick and fart jokes. Not as many as Mallrats or Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, but they are there. However, it’s the rest of the content that makes Chasing Amy a considerably stronger film than anything else Smith made before it and everything that he has done since.
The story itself is a simple one. Holden, a comic book writer (Ben Affleck) meets and falls in love with Alyssa, another comic book writer (Joey Lauren Adams), but hits a small snag in his plans when it’s revealed that she is a lesbian. Now while this premise may be somewhat simplistic, the sequences that carry the film through to its conclusion are far from it. While you would expect a film with this setup to follow the usual romantic comedy standards, Chasing Amy makes a point to subvert them.
The main advantage this film has over others of its type is the depth that it allows for each of its characters. Most would just be content to offer depth to Holden and Alyssa, and relegate anyone else into a minor supporting role. However, in Chasing Amy, the other characters are also given their chance to shine, most notably Banky (Jason Lee), Holden’s best friend, and Hooper (Dwight Ewell), who is probably film’s first comic book writing, homosexual African-American.
Throughout the film, there are a number of standout scenes. Most of these are the ones overflowing with raw emotion, like the wonderful speech Holden gives Alyssa to tell her that he loves her, or the confrontation between Holden and Banky. During these scenes it becomes easy to forget that we are just watching actors in a film, something that doesn’t come across enough in film.
Unfortunately, the film does tail off slightly during the final act. It appears that Jay and Silent Bob are brought into the film merely as an act to please the fans rather than serving some greater meaning, despite the excellent speech Kevin Smith himself provides as Bob. The resolution also isn’t without its flaws, but I suspect that may be more personal opinion of how I wanted it to end differently. Despite these minor quibbles at the end though, the film still remains one of the funniest as well as successfully dramatic that I have ever seen.
A lot has been made of Smith’s lack of directing ability, with complaints that he seems to have an inability to be dynamic with the camera. In the case of Chasing Amy, this technique works in its favour. With a lack of flashy camera gimmicks, we’re allowed time to just watch and listen to the characters, with nothing to distract away from that. This is a concept that a number of directors seemingly need to learn.
Of course with this I will mostly be preaching to the converted. Those that love Smith will continue to do so, and those who don’t aren’t going to be this easily convinced. If ever a non-Smith fan would sit down and give one of his films a chance, this should be the one. They may even end up being pleasantly surprised.
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Production Year: 2003 - Comedy - Director: John Crowley - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Colin Farrell, Shirley Henderson, Cillian Murphy, Colm Meaney, Rory Keenan, Laurence Kinlan
(+) Because of the new series the box set isn't complete, which means it will be cheaper! (-) It isnt the complete box set so you'll have to buy the new dvds seperatly or wait for the new set!
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Great review... Thinking about seeing this one, still sounds decent after reading your review... Cheers dave
LR_17 02.08.2004 19:57
Great review. I'm not tempted to watch this as I hate films where the ending is weak! It just spoils everything for me! Leila :)
ralfschumacher 27.07.2004 18:23
Excellent review! I've also got this on DVD but have to admit Mallrats is my favourite Smith film. Still this is a great watch and the scene with Jay and Silent Bob is a great bonus. Also one of my fav scenes is where Dwight Ewell's character says that there are no good black people in Star Wars or something along those lines and Bankey says, what about Lando Calarision? Hooper responds with 'F*ck Lando Calarision'!!!!! A classic scene. --Chris--
Writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks) makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong ... more
story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relati...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Writer-director Kevin Smith (Clerks) makes a huge leap in sophistication with this strong ... more
story about a comic-book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams) and actually gets his wish that she love him, too. Their relati...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
When successful comic book artist Holden meets Alyssa a fellow comic book artist he ... more
falls head over heels in love with her. Holden gets the shock of his life when he finds out she's not interested in him. She has her romantic sights set on another......
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Outrageously sexy and frankly hilarious, Chasing Amy is the hit comedy from Kevin Smith, ... more
the critically acclaimed director of Clerks & Dogma. Holden's been looking for the perfect woman - funny, bright and attractive. When he finally meets Alyssa, ...
Advantages: Very Funny, Hooper X, Jason Lee Disadvantages: The main music of the film is truly awfull best describes as 'plinkey plonkety', lack of Jay and Silent Bob
danm2 05.08.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Chasing Amy (DVD)
Advantages: hilarious, character centred, very witty dialogue Disadvantages: The story doesn't really come across as appealing. Possibly bad word of mouth with the lack of success at the box office
danm2 29.07.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Mallrats (DVD)
![Chasing Amy [DVD] [1997]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78530360.jpg "Chasing Amy [DVD] [1997]")
Jun 27th, 2004
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