Chasing Amy (2000, DVD)

Kevin Smith, the writer/director behind Clerks and Mallrats is certainly an acquired taste. His dialog explodes with offensive remarks and profanity and he has a blunt, in-your-face style that is often unsettling to watch.

But, if you can get past the four-letter words, the pornographic conversations, and the occasional trespasses into the boundaries of bad taste, there is actually some clever and humorous magic to be found.

Smith is a comic genius because he is able to directly tap into a generation of young, care-free slackers whose only motivations seem to be rebellion and the relentless pursuit of instant gratification.

I don't connect with that generation, but I can at least appreciate the humor that comes from using deadbeats as character templates for a movie. I think the best heroes are the guys who aren't naturally heroic. Instead, they are flawed people, just like you and me.

After Smith received critical acclaim for his first film and critical bashing for his second, he was ready to make a more mature film (if you can even use the word mature to describe any Kevin Smith film) without fear of critical repercussions. Basically, he made this movie for himself.

At the heart of Chasing Amy is a simple boy-meets-girl story. The boy part of the equation is fulfilled by Holden (Ben Affleck, Bounce), a comic-book artist who is on the brink of success for his creation, Bluntman and Chronic .

Holden's best friend (and comic co-creator) is Banky (Jason Lee, Almost Famous), the comic book's inker who aggressively protests anyone who claims that he is nothing but a glorified "tracer."

Holden and Banky are about to enter another income bracket because their comic book characters are hot enough to be featured in a television series. Nothing can stop them...except for maybe a girl.

As luck would have it, Holden meets a girl -- Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams, Big Daddy) -- a beautiful, charming comic book artist who is not quite as successful. There is an immediate connection and Holden becomes quite smitten. However, he soon discovers that the feeling isn't mutual. Like Holden, Alyssa prefers to date women.

Can a heterosexual male find love with a homosexual female? Well, it is a movie, after all, so anything can happen -- and since this is a highly unpredictable story, chances are anything will happen.

While Alyssa and Holden have a strong bond of friendship, there are many other obstacles that may prevent them from living happily ever after. Banky is outraged with his friend, for starters. He believes that their hard work and subsequent success is going to take a back seat to Holden's new relationship. Additionally, Alyssa's gay friends cannot seem to understand her anymore. If that weren't enough, Alyssa has a controversial sexually-charged past and Holden has to battle his own insecurities.

This is an unusual story, to say the least, but the script is full of humorous moments and colorful characters. The dialog is razor sharp, even when it is flavored with a plethora of obscene banter. Smith offers askew views on just about everything. Nothing is sacred. For example, one character's take on the Star Wars trilogy is that Darth Vader is a Nubian god ("the blackest brother in the galaxy") and that Luke Skywalker is a cracker/Nazi poster boy -- the movie's true villain.

Another one of the film's funniest moments comes when Banky and Alyssa share painful cunninglingus stories (judging from these horror stories, it is not better to give than to receive) in a scene that pays homage to the famous male bonding scene in Jaws where everybody compares scars.

Well, if you aren't offended by anything you have read about so far in the review, then you might be in for a treat. Though the film has its share of bawdy humor, the movie is anchored down well by the low-key nature of the story. It resonates with utter realism. It is easy to believe in these characters, and it is easier still to feel sympathy for them.

The film combines humor and drama effectively, weaving back and forth almost seamlessly. While there are many big-laugh moments in this film, those scenes are usually followed immediately by a tense dramatic moment. The acting is dead-on. There is genuine chemistry between Adams and Affleck. In fact, Adams is so convincing that she was nominated in 1988 for a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.

Jason Lee, who basically plays a comic relief role, provides a lot of depth to a character that could easily have been a forgettable, one-dimensional role. Banky is despicable and likable. He spends most of the movie enraged, spouting off inflammatory and offensive remarks that are mostly aimed at gay people. Yet, he also has charm, and he sincerely cares for Holden...maybe a little too much.

Then there is Dwight Ewell (Dogma), who plays Hooper X -- a gay, black comic book artist (yes, another comic book artist) who spouts off wild theories like the one I mentioned five paragraphs above this one. Though Hooper tells young fans that white folks are evil, he isn't really a black rage fanatic -- the image simply promotes his comics effectively.

Lastly, I have to mention the extremely funny cameo appearance by Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) -- two characters who have actually appeared in all four of Kevin Smith's films to date. (In fact, a fifth one is coming out this summer, as well.) Jay is an anti-politically correct drug dealer buffoon who believes the words "woman trouble" mean that "the b*tch is pressing charges." Silent Bob doesn't talk much (being around Jay, he doesn't have a chance), but he does offer Holden some inspired advice during one of the film's pivotal scenes.

If you are in the mood for a highly original film (that is hysterical and touching), I strongly recommend Chasing Amy. Of course, it helps if you are open-minded and under thirty.