DVD
REVIEW: BE KIND REWIND
06/05/08
SYNOPSIS:
From the fiercely imaginative mind of
Academy Award®-winning writer/director Michel Gondry
(Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) comes Be Kind
Rewind, a tale of two childhood friends who inadvertently
get caught up in a scheme to rewrite film history and, in
turn, save their beloved video store from extinction. What
results is a heartwarming story featuring a sharp-tongued
elderly woman who befriends her chauffeur, an investigation
by a team of spectral analysts hunting down ghosts in New
York, a heart-pounding adventure about a Hong Kong detective
and his foul-mouthed partner, a coming of age story set in
South Central Los Angeles, and a genetically re-engineered
cop fighting criminals…all rolled into one.
Jerry (Jack Black) and Mike (Mos Def) are childhood friends
living in Passaic, New Jersey, trying to make ends meet.
Jerry is the neighborhood mechanic and lives in a trailer
near the power plant which he swears is slowly killing him
with its “microwaves.” Across the street, Mike lives and
works in the local video rental store, “Be Kind Rewind,”
struggling to keep the ailing business owned by his boss,
Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) financially afloat and,
physically, in one piece. Mr. Fletcher stubbornly refuses to
modernize his store to the standards of the local chain DVD
rental stores nearby.
REVIEW: What a predicament! But talk about
desperation, imagination, and determination, these guys
really worked hard to create these “sweded” (remade) movies
with very limited resources in an attempt to save the store.
It’s been a while since I’ve laughed so hard while watching
a movie. There were a couple of scenes that brought me to
tears of laughter which is a plus in my book. There were
also some moments that almost brought me to tears of
emotion. This movie is an interesting blend of a unique
concept with lots of humor and a touch of drama. Not what I
expected, the dramatic part that is. The comedy, on the
other hand, was pretty much as I expected: silly, random,
cheap, physical, and even stupid sometimes. What makes this
film charming is its concept and the story that surrounds
it. Even though it starts out slow and silly, it picks up
nicely once the swedeing begins. And even though the acting
was not all that great, you will find yourself being drawn
to the characters and even the store itself. Heck, I wanted
to get into the picture and rent a movie myself.
Survival of the fittest is the name of the game and the Be
Kind Rewind Video Store was not in good shape both
structurally and financially. The historical look of the
building was exactly what the humble owner, Mr. Fletcher
(Danny Glover), wanted to preserve. Store employee Mike (Mos
Def) and neighbor Jerry (Jack Black) were also determined to
preserve the landmark. These are simple characters with
their own quirks and oddities, especially Jerry who is
practically a walking catastrophe but is also one of the
most determined people in the bunch. Jack Black steals all
the attention in most of the scenes he’s in but this was not
his best work. Mos Def was pretty good too but he has a
knack for making his characters a little dull. Danny Glover
was delightful as always, but not his best work either. This
was the first time I see Melonie Diaz and I was pleasantly
surprised. She held her own in the scenes where she appears
which is not very easy when up against Black, Def, and
Glover. The rest of the supporting cast helped give the
movie realism.
Even though the general storyline was really quite typical,
the simplicity of the way the story was laid out is what
makes this film special; from the hilarity of the remaking
of the movies to the power of the community coming together
to support a common cause. The dialogue matched well with
the characters and the story . . . it was just as simple.
The cinematography was just breathtaking and the “special
effects” were mesmerizing, especially during the making of
the “swedes”. Of course you know I’m being sarcastic in that
last sentence, but it’s supposed to be that way.
Writer/Director Michel Gondry has a thing for the bizarre as
is evident, for example, in his work with Eternal Sunshine
of the Spotless Mind. Although this movie is not as bizarre
as Eternal Sunshine, you got to give him credit for making
another movie that is off the beaten path. If off the beaten
path kind of movies interest you, or you are willingly to
take it as it is, you will enjoy it.
Movie
Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
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VIDEO:
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
1.33:1 Full Screen
AUDIO:
English,
5.1 - 2.0 (Dolby Digital).
Subtitles - English Spanish - Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Passaic Mosaic:
An interesting featurette tribute to the people and
places of Passaic, New Jersey. (10:28)
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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