PRINTTake Two: Be Kind Rewind
February 28, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
At face value, Be Kind Rewind looks like a goofy and heartwarming comedy about a pair of guys trying to do the right thing after making an honest mistake. In many ways it is, but the film’s unbelievable occurrences undercut the serious themes the filmmaker tries to establish during the movie.
Written and directed by Oscar-winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), the film tells the story of VHS rental store clerks who find themselves in trouble when neighborhood weirdo Jerry (Jack Black) becomes magnetized and accidentally erases all of their tapes. In order to appease their most loyal customer (Mia Farrow), who wants to rent Ghostbusters, Mike says, “I’m Bill Murray, you’re everyone else.” Then Jerry and Mike (Mos Def) begin reshooting the movies themselves.
Gondry asks the audience to play along at times but also begs them to take it seriously at others. It unsuccessfully blends goofy humor with more serious themes, which at times makes it hard to follow.
Black acts silly and boisterous and Farrow delivers a solid performance in her supporting role as a sweet old lady. Mos Def seems a bit stiff at times and occasionally struggles to effectively deliver well-written comedic lines.
Jerry and Mike’s recreations are hysterical, but the film doesn’t continue the feel-good antics through the end. It begins to lose its focus with hints of serious urban problems such as gentrification and corporate expansion. What could have been a goofy, heart-warming romp ends up being a mediocre comedy with uproarious moments sprinkled in at random.
Vox Rating:
