The 4:30 Movie

It sucks! It doesn't JUST suck, it's actually kinda bad and I LOVE Kevin Smith! Like I get legit excited to see his stuff but Im super disappointed - do without spoilers, the entire first act is essentially talking about sneaking into an theatre, and idk if he's trying to explain a very simple concept to people born after 2000, or it's just 'Chuffa' ( 1. See Kevin I am a fan! I remember your Bruce Willis story when you directed him in Cop Out and 2. Shout out to Bruce Willis, thank you for the years and years of entertainment) - but take that in addition to flagrant attempts at manipulation of human nostalgia (which has become a way to leaned upon crutch after it hit big with Stranger Things) and it comes across as very desperate and simplistic in a very, almost offensive way - and oddly enough it was billed as" Kevins most personal film to date " (well it sure has enough of his friends in it ffs) (who can't act I might add, but it isn't endearing) but yet it's not autobiographical either soooo.... And yes I spoke directly to Kevin earlier cause I know he's gonna read this, I KNOW this because having read the day one reviews here on imdb, I can see that several of them are made from, let's say... 'inside the Smith camp' if u get my drift - and again listen I love the guy and have enormous respect - I WAS 16 in 86 so this has extra meaning to me and I should be susceptible to the nostalgia draw - but it's not enough and I think he knows it - I'm sorry, I expected better from such a genius.

It seems Kevin is afraid of himself.

Let me explain, we got a bit of the old Kev back in Clerks III, with great dialogs, tons of laughter and an elegance and profoundness to the lines that rivaled his early work.

It wasn't Red State (by far Smith's undefeated Magnum Opus) but at least it looked like he was starting to come back.

And then we get this movie that while cute, it felt like it was afraid of having an edge. 3 or 4 jokes cut through but the rest? Geez...

There's only so much that cameos can do if you don't have anything to say. And Kevin Smith does t seem to have anything important to say... or he's afraid to say anything at all.

Does he think they're going to mock him? Does he think the audience will not "get it"?

He was on his way to be a great writer and a great filmmaker, and for the most part I think he still can be. But he needs to get out of his own way, dig deep and say what he really wants to say.

That or he ran out of things to talk about because he has been podcasting for more than a decade.

Watch the movie for completionism. But that's about it.

Brian David is in love with Melody Barnegat and asks her out to catch a 4:30 show of Bucklick, an R rated comedy film. He hadn't spoken to her for an year after he had got too scared while making out with her in the pool. She has decided to give him another chance but Brian's best friend Burny is not at all happy with this development as he along with Belly wanted to do theater hopping all day. Things take a turn when Belly is banned for life by egotistic theater manager yet they sneak him in. Their day's plan gets to be reshuffled to accommodate Melody but things take the worse turn when all 3 get banned. How does Brian and Melody's date turn out to be on this messy day? How does the friendship triumph over the egotistical manager? How the movies play an impactful role in all of this, forms rest of the story.

Kevin Smith has once again reached out to his actual comfort zone to deliver yet another film that is instantly relatable. For someone who loves movies, sharing that emotion with his audience and connecting with it, isn't much of a challenge. This might not be Clerks or Mallrats, the characters still drive the story and they do the trick. Belly eats his up his big moment and it works really well. All the nostalgic film references and ofcourse overly repetitive jokes about films and celebs' future while knowing the predictions turn exactly opposite, are still fun. The simple story of theater hopping and the aim to make it to the 4:30pm show with constant challenges thrown in the form of the theater manager while emphasising on the friendship as well as first love, Kevin Smith is at ease in terms of making. In the end, that little conversation between Brian and Usher, is what truly stayed with me - we are filmmakers, we just haven't made our movie yet. For all movie lovers, it is worth catching The 4:30pm Movie.

Iconic writer / director Kevin Smith's '80s-based autobiographical "The 4:30 Movie" (prequelling his "Clerks" trilogy) spans a pivotal day in teen Austin Zajur's life that doesn't run smooth after he planned spending it with buds Reed Northrup & Nicholas Cirillo (and crush Siena Agundong) at douche Ken Jeong's cinema. Its light dramedy is laced with ample movie-nerd references, fun fake film trailers, and cameos from Smith faves like Justin Long, Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Jason Biggs, & Harley Quinn Smith (his daughter). While not matching the similarly themed "I Like Movies", Smith fans (including all fellow cinephiles, right?) will for sure adore it.

"4:30" is Kevin Smith's latest addition to his filmography, and it presents an interesting mix of elements that might leave audiences divided. The film revolves around its leads, who, while undoubtedly central to the narrative, come off as insufferable at times. It's a shame that Smith seems to struggle with creating truly likable characters, especially when compared to his earlier works where his characters resonated deeply with audiences.

In contrast, where "4:30" truly shines is in its side characters. These supporting roles inject much-needed charm and depth into the movie, saving it from becoming a complete letdown. It's in these moments and interactions that the film finds its rhythm and provides some enjoyable and watchable scenes.

While "4:30" may not reach the same heights as some of Smith's earlier classics, it still manages to surpass the last few lackluster entries in his filmography. There's a sense of improvement evident in this movie, a glimmer of the filmmaker revisiting his strengths and rediscovering what made his earlier works so beloved.

Despite its flaws, "4:30" offers a glimpse of Smith returning to form, albeit with some hiccups along the way. The pacing, dialogue, and character development may not be as polished as fans would hope for, but there's a raw honesty to the storytelling that is hard to ignore.

In conclusion, "4:30" is a mixed bag. While the leads may come across as insufferable and the writing lacking its past charm, the film is buoyed by strong performances from its side characters and an overall improvement in quality compared to Smith's recent endeavors. It might not be a perfect movie, but it shows promise and hints at a potential return to form for the filmmaker. With a rating of 5/10 stars, "4:30" is worth a watch for fans of Kevin Smith, but it may leave some wishing for more of the magic that defined his earlier works.