Madness in the Method

I'm not really sure the film's central premise about the star turning to method acting gets explored very much. It's more of a traditional murder mystery. I think if the method acting premise got more of a look-in the film would have been more interesting but because of that the film doesn't have much of a plot, if any. There are some cult classics that manage to pull this off but I don't think this has enough substance to be considered a classic. It's funny at times, it did make me laugh, which is something, although I don't really know a lot of the references as the films referenced are not really my bag. Sone of it is also shot in Derby, where I work, the plot could have made more of a play on that, like maybe he had to come to Derby to get acting work. There are a few cameos from well-known stars like Dean Cain, Vinnie Jones, Terri Hatcher, even Stan Lee and Danny Trejo steals the show in a bit of a departure from his normal roles but it feels like they could have got more from all that acting talent. Ultimately it feels like a good idea not fully realised.

If you are a fan of the Kevin Smith universe, you can expect to enjoy this film tremendously. A little shakey, but never uninteresting, there are 4 or 5 laugh out loud moments for Jay and Silent Bob fans and enough chuckles to make you feel like watching it again. I give this a 6 overall, but a solid 9 for View Askew folks!!! Congrats Jason Mewes, you made a real movie.

I've enjoyed Jason Mewes' body work since I first saw him in Clerks; I've laughed at his antics, his catchphrases and his overall screen persona. I firmly believe that Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back would have been nothing without him, he is one of the main reasons it's one of my favourite comedies of all time. Naturally, I'm impressed at how much he has grown through the ups and downs in his life, and how his friendship with Kevin Smith and being part of his cinematic universe has shaped him up into this person now ready to break through with his own art in order to make a name for himself. Of course, he had help to be able to craft his creation, which instinctively deals with his own persona, a mixture of his artistic and real self, trying to be taken seriously as an actor in Hollywood. His film deals heavily with aspects of his very own life, like his addiction to drugs, his silly catchphrases and his long-time friendship with Kevin Smith, whom as expected, performs in this film as himself, having two or three scenes, one of which has an apparently enormous closeness to reality when he and Jason find themselves arguing over hidden bitter resentments.

Following advice from Fernando (Jaime Camil), whom lends him a book on method acting, Jason decides to pursue this business so that he can be believable as a serious actor, but in ends up driving him insane. Acting-wise, Jason is quite solid in his rendition; it's obvious he's dealing with a fictionalized version of himself, but is a good one, considering he is not a professional actor. His debut as a director, however, is not met without flaws, but as someone without any filmic experience it's not a bad production, it's quite decent as a resulting product.

When it comes to the plot, there's some sillyness to it, but it's a sillyness I can understand, it's not even goofiness related to Jason's character in Kevin Smith movies, but one that it's fitting with the comedy/crime tone that Mewes tried to conduct. So overall, if you're a Jason fan, and understand where he's coming from, you'll sure get a kick out of this.

I was going to buy this movie no matter the reviews as I am a fan of Mewes and think he is under appreciated. So much more fun when the plot of the movie is that he is under appreciated. This movie is not an Oscar candidate but it was really fun to watch. I dug it. I laughed.

It felt like there was a lot of potential in this film. Jason Mewes plays up the whole famous for Clerks bit up. Even Vinne Jones is good in this film and that is a genuine compliment. It just felt very amatuer. I am not sure if that was intentional but if it was then it doesn't work. It really is just famous people playing themselves up and a plot that involves an unintentional murder and buying a comic book off Ebay. Its a good film to watch but it just felt like it could have been much better. Maybe you need to be a Clerks groupie to fully appreciate it.