JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "G-A-C" Review:"Be Kind Rewind"/Jack Black/D.Glover/M.Farrow

"Hey Kids, Let's put on a PLAY!" That premise might've worked for Mickey Rooney a half-Century ago, but "Let's Make Our Own MOVIES" doesn't work half as-well in Jack Black's latest flick, "BE KIND REWIND".

Writer-Director Michael Gondry's Premise IS a FUN One:
Black's Magnetized-Brain erases ALL the Videos in a failing Video Store, so he & Mos Def (Mike) re-shoot 'em with Locals. Then, they mount a last-ditch-effort to Save the Store from Urban Renewal, (again using Locals for Actors), "Let's shoot the Fats Waller Life Story"...

Set in Passaic, NJ, there IS some Great Creativity here...on the part of the Props & Sets folks. The Actors do what they can with a Script that also Brims with Creativity, yet delivers a lot of Big-Name Stars into the Abyss of a Generally-Boring Movie.

While Jack Black's GOOD at playing Jack Black (& does maybe a bit TOO-Much of it in this Flick), Mia Farrow's here mostly for near-elderly Eye-Candy, and Sigorny Weaver does her best as a Bit-Part Attorney. Danny Glover IS decent as the Aging Owner of a near-broke Video Store. Mos Def, as his near-idiot son Mike, coulda used a few more IQ Points to be Funnier & Perhaps-Believable. (Ditto to the Screenwriter.)

Overall, a "5-Outta-10" on the Bo Derek "Viewability" Scale. There WERE some Funny Moments & Sparks of Genius Here; NICE Last-Minute "Twist" almost saved it. Ya can't blame "The Locals" for Tryin', & I'm SURE this Movie's a Hit in Passaic, NJ.

JMO, Keep-or-Sweepit.

Big Hugs,
Stan

That's a brutal (and probably accurate review) there Stan. But why give it 5 stars if it's that bad?

From the previews, I surmissed that a lot of what you said would likely be true. It seemed that it was a fun and clever idea that would be very tough to pull off into a really good overall movie. And you're dead on with Jack Black. He's great at playing himself. Much as Jim Carey is great at playing a freak, but both wear you out after movie after movie of the same old schtick.

Thanks for the review!

Brian

Hi Bri!

IF I thought it'd be a TOTAL waste of time, I'd toss it an Even Lower Number.

For ME, personally, I got a Real KICK outta the 2-Dimensional Photo-Blowups of Antique Cars..the Paste-Ons that turned Diesel Locomotives to Steam-Powered "Pufferbellies"..and the General Creativity behind Something that ALMOST Pulled Off a Decent Flick. I expected a Smarmy-Enough Ending, yet the Twist There was kinda CLEVER!

Some of their "Re-Makes" were also a Hoot. You CAN "Feel The FUN" they had MAKING this Near-Turkey..& it's Contagious-Enough ya just don't feel GOOD about Torpedoing-It...Totally.

So, I didn't. (Totally...)

If I'm Lucky, only 50% of the Readership'll think I'm Wrong! ;-)>
(SOMEONE Hadda LOVE This One to get it Released..after all!)

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan