KEA Productions: DVD Movie Reviews

from the archives of NuReel.com, The Berkeley Daily Planet, and Alameda Sun- written by Kamala Appel
ratings: Plus (highest)-Neutral (okay)-Negatives (pass & omitted from archive)
J: John Q, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

JOHN Q (NEUTRAL)

When I see a film with a huge cast of A-listers with a first quarter release date, I always get a little suspicious: Why would so many stars who can pick and choose their material, select a film that the studios would see as a risk (as indicated by the release date)? The answer: to support a cause, a film with a message. The film criticizes the current health care system in the United States.

Denzel Washington plays JOHN Q, a decent, hard-working, blue collar man who will do anything to save his son's life. As if having a sick son were not enough, John Q's financial situation leads him to take desperate and drastic measures. John Q decides to fight the system by holding a few people hostage at the emergency room at the hospital where his son lay dying. He hopes to use the hostages as leverage in bargaining for a transplant for his son, but he ends up with more than he bargained for, including crazed patients (David Thornton, Eddie Griffin, Laura Harring, and Martha Chaves), a frustrated doctor (James Woods), a hard-nosed hospital administrator (Anne Heche), and a determined Chicago Police force (represented by Ray Liotta and Robert Duvall).

Although I commend the cast and crew (Director Nick Cassavetes, Writer James Kearns, and Producers: Mark Burg, Oren Koules, Michael De Luca, Richard Saperstein, and Avram Butch Kaplan) for taking a position and voicing an opinion about health care and the disparity of wealth in the US, I cannot compliment the filmmakers based on artistic merit or production value. The film has moments of suspense, but for the most part, JOHN Q goes overboard and becomes sappy. The decisions to use parallel editing do not successfully establish concurrent events, but instead extend time and create excessive melodrama. The cast, other than Kimberly Elise, who plays John Q's wife, all give believable performances.

JOHN Q certainly deserves a place in history because it captures a sentiment specific to our country at the present time, but as a film in terms of entertainment and technical achievement, it falls short and will probably fade from memory. Unfortunately, what the film tries to do and what it actually achieves are two very different things. JOHN Q opens wide starting February 15th.


JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (NEUTRAL)

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK is yet another road trip/ buddy adventure film done in the goofy spirit of DUMB & DUMBER and BILL & TED'S MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK is both a spoof of and tribute to the pop culture of the 1970s and 1980s, the time when Lucas' STAR WARS trilogy, including THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, hit theaters (and when most of the cast and crew were children). Jay (played by Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (played by writer/director, Kevin Smith) go on a trek to Hollywood to prevent the comic book representation of them from hitting the big screen. Along the way to Hollywood to shoot the stars, they encounter a number of distractions including: a give-em-what-they-want hitchhiker; Scooby and the gang; Charlie's Sirens the animal rights activists; a bumbling, fanatical animal ranger; a cuddly fugitive from Planet of the Apes, and a lot of Hollywood hot shots.

The parodies that Smith and the rest of the filmmakers create will appeal to the nostalgia of many Gen Xers (the same age group of most of the cast and crew). The film also host a long list of cameo appearances by some of Hollywood's hottest past and present including: Mark Hammil, Carrie Fisher, George Carlin, Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Seann William Scott, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, Chris Rock, Judd Nelson, Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, Jules Asner, Jon Stewart, Morris Day, and Shannen Doherty, among others. Again, their appearances will make audiences laugh and cheer, especially Gen Xers since they will remember the stars in a similar context as the filmmakers. Even though a lot of Gen Xers and Gen Y will probably appreciate the angry and humor, I do not think JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK will appeal to many Baby Boomers because the "fart and dick" jokes along with the foul language will probably be a turn off to people over forty.

I suspect that JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK will have a large following by Gen Xers who enjoy in-your-face humor for the rebellion it represents. Furthermore, the trip back to the 1970s and 1980s through appearances of pop icons will also put a smile on those who are under forty. Yet, I doubt that the film will appeal to a large audience. This movie would be equally enjoyable on video and will probably do quite well during its after-market release (DVD and video). JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK hits theaters August 2001.


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