Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Review

Michael Gondry writes and directs Be Kind Rewind, his latest film since The Science of Sleep in 2006. Both films are unique in that the are the only auteur films so far from Gondry. The Science of Sleep was a touching film and played up to Gondry’s visual strengths that make him unique as a filmmaker. This sort of makes Be Kind Rewind a strange irony.

The premise is certainly appealing. Mike(Mos Def) is taking care of an aging video rental store while his boss, Elroy (Danny Glover with an odd speech impediment), tries to prevent the store from closing down. While working the store, Mike’s friend Jerry (Jack Black) has somehow become magnetized and accidentally erases all the tapes in the store.

With all the tapes erased, they try to cover up the blunder by remaking the film themselves with no budget but a lot of love. I love this film’s premise and it sounds like something perfectly suited to Gondry’s own strengths. Be Kind Rewind does have that Gondry style but I felt that it was watered down so that that it would appeal to a wider audience.

Though the acting is not something really worth pointing out (everyone does their job adequately) I have to say the writing of the characters is a little flat and I think all the big names and faces in this movie actually detract from the film.

The ’sweding’ as Jerry calls it,  the verb used to describe their method of remaking, was what I was hoping would stand out in the film, and they do. It felt though most of the sweded films and their constructed were fast forwarded via montage yet somehow Be Kind Rewind runs 102 minutes (and it felt longer as it failed my watch test) with weak predictable sub-plots.

I really wanted to love this movie. Be Kind Rewind is a great concept and I have the feeling that had I seen Be Kind Rewind as a low budget independent film made in Paris with no recognizable actors. I just think if the film had have been constructed via similar means to the sweding it may have had a whole new charm of its own. I know it’s a lofty expectation to hope for another Cinema Paridiso experience with Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind but I can’t help but think of Be Kind Rewind as a tragedy for what could have been.

Still even with my visibly negative opinion of Gondry’s latest film, I still would recommend it as a rental. The worst of Michel Gondry is still leaps better than the very best of someone like Michael Bay.

REVIEW SCORE
[Rating:2.5/4]

Related Posts:

1. Michel Gondry Directs New Motorola Ad
2. The Brothers Solomon (2007)
3. Variety attacks Jim Carrey’s acting… for shame!
4. Wall-E (2008)
5. Actually the kidney line is across the street…

Tags: be-kind-rewind, Danny Glover, DVD, Jack Black, Michel Gondry, Mos Def, Review, Sweding