Be Kind Rewind

Release Date: 2/22/08
Starring Mos Def, Jack Black, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz
Written and Directed by Michel Gondry
Rated PG-13
My Rating: 7/10

Michel Gondry is a confusing filmmaker. There is really no denying that in a visual and all around aesthetic sense, he is one of the more off kilter, exciting filmmakers currently working. Be Kind Rewind is Gondry's 4th feature (5th if you count the Dave Chappelle concert flick Block Party), and it is his second foray into writing (after 2006's The Science of Sleep). While I have personally yet to see Science, his newest film has led me to believe that Gondry is perhaps better suited to simply stick to directing. I think Be Kind Rewind is a very good movie. It has a lot of heart to it, and it should put a smile on the faces of all but the most cynical viewers. It is, however, tonally unbalanced to say the least, and lacking the focus of Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, which I consider to be one of the best movies of the past few years.

The premise at least is extremely promising. Be Kind Rewind is a video store in a bad neighborhood of the industrial town of Passaic New Jersey. A developer is attempting to gentrify the neighborhood and the owner, Mr. Fletcher (Glover) is faced with a choice between making necessary repairs to get his building up to code, or leaving his building to get torn down in favor of condominiums. Determined to save his store, he sets out on a mission to observe a West Coast Video and find out what he could be doing better.

In his absence, he leaves his loyal live in employee Mike (Mos Def) in charge and gives him a stern warning to keep his well meaning but destructive friend Jerry (Black) out of the store. Sure enough, due to a bizarre, poorly explained accident suffered while attempting to sabotage the local power plant, Jerry becomes magnetic and accidentally erases all of the VHS tapes in the store. (What year is this movie supposed to be set in anyway? It appears to be present times, but I almost feel like a non-DVD video store in current times is a little TOO anachronistic. Hell, video stores in general are on their way to becoming a thing of the past.)

Rather than admit defeat, or go buy some new tapes for about 99 cents from a swap meet or something, the duo, with the help of an attractive dry cleaner named Alma (Diaz), begin making their own truncated versions of movies, starting with a truly memorable interpretation of Ghostbusters. It is here that the movie really hits it's stride, with Jack Black exhibiting the kind of pleasant, loosey goosey charm he can have when he's working with a director who reigns him in a bit and doesn't let him go completely crazy. Unexpectedly, the neighborhood folks begin clamoring for more of their homemade films, and almost overnight, the lines at Be Kind Rewind start winding out the door and down the block.

Things obviously start to go sour, and while I don't want to spoil it, the movie doesn't go for any sort of magical happy ending, which I think was probably the right choice. In terms of tone, the movie takes several shifts. It begins as sort of a slice of life taking place in a neighborhood that time seems to have forgotten. For the segments of Jerry and Mike making their films, it turns rather slapstick. In the end however, the movie pays loving tribute to the independent spirit, be that in terms of an independent video store, independent filmmaking, or anything else. It's these scenes that truly left a good taste in my mouth despite the bittersweet ending, and it is because of these scenes that I most recommend Be Kind Rewind.

Gondry doesn't seem quite sure what kind of movie he's making here and it shows. Overall, the script seems like it could have benefited from another rewrite or two. (the sudden abandonment of a romantic subplot between Mike and Alma is particularly jarring) Despite it's flaws and overall lack of focus, however, I feel this movie is worth seeing. It's a great, strange, feel good movie with an interesting concept and some good things to say. I wouldn't call Be Kind Rewind a complete hit artistically, but it's definitely an interesting, worthwhile near miss.