Be Kind Rewind

Jack Black and Mos Def re-enacting the classic “Ghostbusters”

“Be Kind Rewind” is a pleasant and occasionally LOL movie. Director Michel Gondry set this movie on earth. But otherwise, the movie happens in a world you’ll never see. Not because there are weird monsters or cool sci-fi gadgets. It’s simply because of the pure simplicity (or stupidity) of the people in it.

The movie is a funny one. At least for the first half of it. Correction: The first half of the movie is hilarious beyond explanation. If it maintained that momentum throughout the 102 minutes running time, I would name it one of the best comedies ever. Unfortunately, it lost heat. It lost ideas. The originality faded.

In Passaic, N.J, on a street corner, a shabby VHS store exists. This belongs to Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) who has convinced himself (and everyone else) that it was the birthplace of famous jazz musician Fats Waller. I don’t know who he is. Because Mr. Fletcher is behind in his rent, so his store is on the brink of being closed down. For what? Starbucks, KFC?

He’s going undercover. To another DVD store nearby which has gained ‘inexplicable’ success. I’m guessing that’s because they rent out DVDs, not VHS. Mr. Fletcher not knowing this is a sign of his unawareness of his market. Of the modern world for that matter. His loyal clerk Mike (Mos Def) is left in charge of the store while he’s away.

The store has a loyal visitor/nuisance Jerry (Jack Black). He is paranoid of a power plant nearby and decides to sneak it on night. With the effect of him being zapped by super-charged electricity. He doesn’t die. He maintains minimal injury. Instead, he become magnetic and upon coming in the store, erases every single one of them.

Mike is angry. He’s worried too. How can he fix this problem before the boss that placed all his trust onto him comes back? He doesn’t have the money to replace them all. And how hard is it to find VHS tapes these days? Spark of brilliance: they will re-enact each movie and rent them out to unsuspecting customers like Miss Falewicz (Mia Farrow). How is this not brilliant?

This is what makes the movie as funny as it is. They re-enact movies like “Ghostbusters” and “Rush Hour 2” with a girl they ‘found’ named Alma (Melonie Diaz). Jack Black is a real and consistent comedian. He uses his manic personality to full use here, and never seems to overdo it. Until the second half arrives. The originality and freshness of the concept is gone. Suddenly watching them re-enacting the movie isn’t as fun anymore. And the movie’s plot fails it. It reduces into trying to be emotionally worthwhile, and fails. The final act has a human touch, but doesn’t seem to have the space to make it all work

Now, I recommend “Be Kind Rewind” simply because it is very funny. At least for the first half it is. You’ll enjoy Jack Black, Mos Def and the beautiful but relatively unknown Diaz here. But that’s about it. It’s an affable movie that tries to craft itself to something more, but falls short. The humour saves it.