Be Kind Rewind Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)February 26th, 2008
"Be Kind Rewind" - Sweet Simplicity
by Homer Yen
(c) 2008
This is one of those types of films that appear
real, but at the same time, can't really happen.
The set up is too over-the-top. The comedy is
just too goofy. The energy seems unjustified.
And, it introduces the audience to the New Word
of the Season, which is "sweded." It means, I'm
guessing, a customization process from Sweden.
And, the shenanigans and the scheming seem more
diabolical and adroit than the two main
characters are actually capable of conjuring up.
And yet, there it all is unfolding on the big
screen. How it manages to hold itself together
is beyond me. But, happily, it does.
"Be Kind Rewind" is about a VHS video store whose
time to fade into the sunset has come. All
videos, as sparse as the selection is, can be
rented for $1 a day per video. Owned by Mr.
Fletcher (Danny Glover), it borders on the
dilapidated. The owner just can't make enough
money for the store's most basic upkeep. And,
developers want to condemn it to make way for
luxury condos and high-end retailers.
Mr. Fletcher's ability to save the building is
kept alive by his long-suffering employee, Mike
(Mos Def), and his trouble-making friend, Jerry
(Jack Black). In an extended but pretty funny
setup, a daffy customer (Mia Farrow) wants to
rent out "Ghostbusters." Compelled to make the
customer happy, for reasons that you'll see when
you watch the film, this crazy duo are forced to
create their own home-made version.
Surprisingly, the customized version becomes a
local hit, and demand swells for membership to
this downtrodden store as well as for more
"sweded" selections.
Mike and Jerry begin to shoot their own version
of well-known Hollywood blockbusters. Never mind
that the re-imagining isn't done very skillfully
(although, I did like the "Men in Black"
representation). And forget about the fact that
the new and improved versions are only 20 minutes
long. Each "sweded" video commands a $20 price
tag to create. And soon, they have created over
300 titles. Hmmm...that still puts the enterprise
about $54,000 short of the needed money to save
the store, but we won't get too caught up on
this.
The film illustrates, in an insouciant way, the
crass encroachment of American enterprise.
Tearing down this video store would be like
ripping down the storefronts of the main
thoroughfare of the Adams Morgan neighborhood (in
Washington DC) and putting in its place a Cold
Stone Creamery, a Chipotle, and a Starbuck's.
Damn the cost-efficiencies of large numbers.
Small-time-but-hungry-talents need to stick to
their guns while trying to stick it to The Man.
It's a great little sentiment that keeps this
film pleasant in tone.
A film like "Be Kind Rewind" not only benefits
from the easy-to-digest script but also from the
timing of its release. It's not a summer
blockbuster with mega-effects. It doesn't try to
wedge itself among the heaviness of the Oscar
wannabees. It doesn't feel like a leftover film
stuck in limbo and then released in January along
with the other usual-rejects. It is the first
really genial movie experience of 2008.
Grade: B
S: 0 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
