**Preface: This is my first write off!! To quote my good friend John Fowler... "WOOT!"! I feel like I'm slowly being accepted into the Epinions enclave. So anyways this is part of the "Many Write-Off" which is to meanit has to deal with men, manliness, etc. This is a link to the website with other awesome submissions (Hawgwyld's is funny!)... http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/mypageontheweb/page9.html . With this in mind I will now say Happy Anniversary to Mr. Wyld and his comrade in arms Joubert!!**



With this all said and done I will get down to my review of Kevin Smith's film "Chasing Amy".

Well first off why choose "Chasing Amy" as a Manly subject? Doesn't it involve the un-manliest of feelings: LOVE? And isn't that dork Ben Affleck in it? Well yes, it does have Ben Affleck in it (although this was a rock solid performance), and yes, it is about love. But why this film? For one I have always seen the biggest crutch facing us men to be our emotions (be them love, fear, anger, envy, etc.), and how they are like dangerous chemical cocktails hen mixed with our testosterone. And this film runs al sorts of emotional gambits in it's relatively brief (111 min.) running time.

Here's the plot: Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) are both really successful comic book creators as well as best friends for the past 20 years. Holden soon falls head-over-heels in love with Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), another comic book writer whom he meets through mutual friend Hooper (Dwight Ewell). At a part soon after thier first meeting Holden is shcoked to realize that Alyssa is in fact a lesbian! He is wierded out by her jovial conversation with Banky about the trials and tribulations of giving a woman oral sex and leaves. The next day she goes to his apartment and talks to him. They soon become best friends, much to the dismay of the seamingly homophobic Banky. After much harassment at the hands of his friend (including the classic "Four-Way" question) on why he hangs out with her if he has no chance of getting her into bed he admits to himself, Banky, and eventually Alyssa that he loves her. He comes clean in a car and is seamingly shot down, but she runs back to him and the two start dating, again much to the chagrin of Banky. But it all falls apart due to the revalations on her sexual history previous to thier very meeting.

The one reason I chose to make this film my write-off submission is it's clear and very true messages about the so-called "modern liberal male". Director Kevin Smith wrote this movie about his own relationship with Joey Lauren Adams, and how everthing that went bad in thier relationship.
And so much of the story brings to light the home truths about men and thier view of homosexuality, commitment, friendship, and love.

For example Banky wanting his friend back and being threatened by the very pressance of Alyssa (mostly what she represents as a lesbian and a successful woman artist). This brings him to seem homophobic when his frustration and anxiety of being replaced leads to vulgar slurs against homosexuals. Much like many American males, Lee's character was brought up to believe that a man is a man's best friend. And his casual slurs bring to mind Eminem's lyrics, they represent so much of suburbia's casual discrimination that white males often perpatrate without seeing anything wrong or evil about it (the "Sega" scene is a prime culprit in the case of men VS. themselves and others). It is a complex role, but Jason Lee manages to pull it all off with ease, which makes one a little nervous. How can one play the character so well unless he or she IS that character. Jason Lee was a suburban skater boarder prior to becoming an actor, so I imagine the character was no real stretch for him. But this character also makes one question himself too (and to a certain degree, herslef), afterall I did just laugh at his jokes, the ones with the naughty language? Am I really that mature? Am I Homophobic? Banky is a broad characterization of the male sexes ability to question, confuse, and anger themselves over seeming stupid things. I know that feeling well.

Another thing that strikes home is the double standards that men (including myself) have in romantic relationships, and how these stupid things ruin love. Holden is disgusted with the revalation that Alyssa had a threesome with two men in high school, and even when she asks him if he slept around when he was young (he did) he still balks at that suggestion and stops short of calling her vulgar names. Isn't it odd how this "independant liberal male" reverts to his friend Banky's ways after a little stupid sex story? Never mind the promiscuous same-sex activitiess, I'm to cultured to be offended by that, but sex with other men?! Now that's just wrong! This is a kneee jerk reaction I'm sure every man has done at least one in his life.
It all really comes down to what Hooper explains is the Napolean Complex that men have, every man is so insucure wit himself that he wants to believe he is the only one that can accomplish something (in this case the first man Alyssa had ever had sex with), that only he can do the job, that he is the best.
But when it comes down to it, this cultured, PC American male that accepts diversity looses his mind over some cheap high school sex, and is forced to realize that he is not only not as accepting as he says he is, and also that he isn't the best man alive.
Ben Affleck as Holden McNeil is not only a good choice (handsome, witty, funny..), but it also displays Kevin Smith's distinct ability for characterization and dialouge. The monolouge between Holden, Banky, and Alyssa at the end as to how they can "save" thier collective failing relationships is classic MAN. So boneheaded and sincere that it is uncomfortable to watch, if only because you know the outcome, you've said stupid things like this before, you see yourself in Holden McNeil.

"Chasing Amy" is a sellar film, but not just because of the messages about men, but because of it's messages about love, and the utter stupidity of men when they are in abosolute love. Just watching Ben Affleck's monolouge with Joey Lauren Adams in the rain sends chills down my spine. It is laguage like this that all at once brings to mind Shakespear's "Romeo and Juliet" and Dashboard Confessional. How stupid we human males are when we are in love!

The film is obviously on a small budget, with no special effetcs, and occasionally bad lighting choices. But it is this D.I.Y. attitude twords filmamaking that makes "Chasing Amy" so special, name one major motion picture with enough gall to have that "Problems with Giving Women Oral Sex" scene? Besides "Eyes Wide Shut" which wasn't that good (much respect to Kubrick though).

I really enjoyed Joey Lauren Adams the most out of every thing about the movie, she is a talent! Plus she is cute as a button. Her eyes and mouth add a venreability and sensuality to Alyssa that I don't think anyone else could have brought to the plate. Bravo to her and Kevin Smith for having the guts to put his ex-girlfriend in a movie based on thier relationship (although she wasn't gay), and playing the character she is based on!

I can dice the philosophy about men around all day, but frankly I'd rather be watching this movie. No matter how you stand on men and thier relationship patterns in the last decade this movie is still good. The acting is just awesome, and I can't say enough kind words about Kevin Smith's ability to write banter that is funny, profane, and sensitive all at once. Plus Joey Lauren Adams is a hottie, bro! And while the lighting and cinematography may not be the deepest part of the film (no montages, just honest conflict and interaction between normal people), the movie "Chasing Amy" is still just absolutely wonderful! It isn't the perfect first date movie, but is good to watch with someone you love (fathers, mothers, and signifigant others) and discuss it afterwords.

Even grown men cry sometimes.
*Sniffle*

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older