Amateur hour

>> Be Kind Rewind is a disappointing tribute to the DIY spirit from director Michel Gondry

TAPE HEADS: Jack Black and Mos Def

by MARK SLUTSKY

It keeps showing up in pop culture, this idea of inspired amateurs who remake Hollywood blockbusters on limited resources for the pure joy of it. There was that Vanity Fair article about the kids who did a shot-by-shot adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark in their backyards, which is now heading to the big screen and the soon-to-be-released, and hilarious, Son of Rambow, by British duo Hammer & Tongs. Add to that Be Kind Rewind, a disappointing new film from French music video genius Michel Gondry.

The film is set in the town of Passaic, New Jersey, supposedly the hometown of jazz musician Fats Waller (this is entirely made up, as the movie more or less admits—Waller was born in New York City). It opens with a short homemade movie about the musician’s life. Seems that Mike (Mos Def) lives with his older friend Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) in a run-down house that Glover claims Waller was born in. They run a thrift shop and video rental store out of the building, though a developer wants to turn the whole block into condos.

Mike and his buddy Jerry (Jack Black) take over the store, only to panic when Jerry, who’s become magnetized as a result of a ridiculous attempt to break into a power plant, accidentally erases all the store’s tapes (you just have to go on faith that people would still be renting VHS tapes). So, to keep their customers satisfied, they make the movies themselves with an old video camera, recreating flicks like Ghostbusters, Rush Hour 2, Driving Miss Daisy and The Lion King. And wouldn’t you know it, but people just love their wacky creations, and pitch in to make the Waller biopic that opens the movie.

The recreated films are definitely the funniest part of this comedy, which otherwise suffers from a sore lack of gags and two ill-defined main characters. But you get the sense that Gondry is a little too proud of his fictional creations’ creations, especially as the whole town goes nuts for them and comes together in celebration. It can’t help but seem self-congratulatory. Be Kind Rewind feels like Michel Gondry’s heartwarming tribute to the creativity, passion, ingenuity and community spirit of… Michel Gondry.

Be Kind Rewind OPENs this
friday, february 22

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