Jack Black Stars in Be Kind Rewind
Michael Gondry Directs Mos Def, Danny Glover and Black in Comedy
Be Kind Rewind is the story of two close friends: one a consistent disaster, and the other shouldered with the significant responsibility of running the video store in his boss’s absence. Contrary to the usual pitfalls and miscreant activities one might expect from this scenario, most of the movie is centered around an attempt to replace the store’s inventory with homemade interpretations of classics such as Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy, and Rush Hour 2.
A Perfect Showcase of Black's Humor
Jack Black delivers his usual energy and retains his mix of the obnoxious and the loveable. He is also dealing with some excellent writing in this movie, and has a great character to work with, so most of the funniest moments were his. However, Mos Def holds up his side of the duo with no problem, once again proving himself just as capable as he was in Hitchhiker’s Guide. As if this weren’t enough, Danny Glover plays the store manager, and adds his own comedy to the mix as he tries to find ways to keep his business.
An Offbeat Beginning to Be Kind Rewind
The introduction to the movie is somewhat unexpected, at first seeming like a complete non-sequitur to the rest of the film. Hang in there – it will tie in later. This is not a documentary, but learning about Fats Waller, jazz musician, is a pleasant surprise.
Is This Typical Gondry?
Be Kind Rewind was both written and directed by Michel Gondry. His best known project, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, was a collaborative effort with screenwriter Charlie Kaufman in 2004. Be Kind Rewind is obviously a very different film, but several trademarks remain.
The storyline here is much more deliberate and linear than that of Eternal Sunshine, but there are a few elements of the ridiculous. A considerable suspension of disbelief is required of the audience in both films. At times the technique is like the children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon: Gondry does not waste effort on logic that could be better spent toward comedy or bettering the plot. See a problem? Draw the answer. The audience is clearly expected to simply come along for the ride, which is always worth it.
Also present in both films is a definite positive vibe, or to put it more simply, a slightly unconventional happy ending. For a movie that manages to be so wonderfully silly at times, it ends with some goose-bumps and a bit of a moral.
