403 - Chasing Amy, United States, 1997. Dir. Kevin Smith.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

403 - Chasing Amy, United States, 1997.  Dir. Kevin Smith.

Holden McNeil inks comic books.

His best friend Banky Edwards draws them.

Together they make Bluntman and Chronic.  And they are successful enough to sign autographs for adoring fans at the latest comic con.

Adoring fans who make fun of Holden for inking.  Who claim that he is a tracer.  Who get into arguments with him about it.

Suckering him into reacting and fighting back.  Until security is called.

Oh well, what did that guy know anyway?

Holden and Banky have been best friends forever.  So Banky feels a little threatened when Holden meets a girl--fellow comic book artist Alyssa Jones--and falls for her.

No, her name is not Amy.  It is Alyssa.

Amy is the girl Silent Bob once loved.  But he lost her by feeling intimidated by her prodigious past.  Her experience.  And then he spent every day since then chasing her.  Chasing Amy.

Silent Bob later tells Holden his story.

And Holden remembers it.

And appropriates it.

Because he will need it.

At first Holden loves Alyssa.

But Alyssa bats for the other team.

And has a lot of experience.  Which intimidates Holden.

What should Holden do?

His heart is in conflict with itself.  And his friend is struggling.  He makes a decision that makes sense to him but not to anyone else.  And things unravel.

He was trying.


Kevin Smith poured his heart into this, his third movie.  In the 1990s, when A View Askew was on top.  He wrote an essay in 2000 where he explained his inspiration and humbly expressed his ignorance and Joey Lauren Adams' influence on him.

At the time of its release, the film found an audience among critics and fans who appreciated its sincere efforts to explore sexuality honestly.

In the years since, as society has become more experienced and knowledgeable, some have found the film dated.

What do you think?