If you've found yourself at a moment in time where you're about to sit down and partake in the newest entry into Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse, the extremely meta and self-parody heavy Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, you're doing so for a very particular reason and set of expectations, that Smith's ode to the good old days of his independent career will most certainly deliver on.
Reboot, to be clear, is not a great movie in itself, it's hastily put together, has a painfully long in the tooth finale and features a bare bones story that is not worth much discussion but with a new, more sentimental life view driving star, writer and director Smith, Reboot is somehow still highly likable in a way in which only this well established brand and set of characters can do.
After recovering from a very serious and near fatal heart attack, you can sense throughout that Reboot has come from a place of good intentions as Smith throws his famous stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob into a Hollywood defacing and musing on parenthood and love tale that sees the well-liked filmmaker in the best state his been in over the last decade after such debacles as Yoga Hosiers and the horrific Tusk.
With so much baggage and background, seeing Jay and Silent Bob back together is like spending time with old friends as Jason Mewes and Smith prove, that despite being now to old for this type of thing, they've still got it, as the duo find themselves on a cross country journey that is pretty much an excuse for Smith to get the gang back together again in what's a star-stuffed affair that is going to have Smith die-hards salivating at the very anticipation of whose coming up next.
From old time Smith creations like Ben Affleck's Holden McNeil, Matt Damon's Loki, Shannon Elizabeth's Justice, Jason Lee's Brodie Bruce and Brian O'Halloran's Dante Hicks, Reboot is absolutely loaded with throwbacks, character beats and even story conclusions as Smith and his leading collection of players set about ensuring Hollywood doesn't go ahead with further adventures of Bluntman and Chronic.
With so much reference and homage present across the entire run-time of Reboot, it makes itself a must-watch for long time Smith fans and while it's by no means as good as Smith's most accomplished and memorable cult hits, there's something about the fact Reboot isn't trying to be anything that it's not in a movie making climate that often tries it's hardest to float downstream, even if it would be wise from here on out for Smith to retire these characters from future solo outings.
Final Say -
Far from cinematic greatness, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is a film for the fans, giving them exactly what they expect in a refreshingly uncompromising manner, making this film a winner for all those that matter.
3 tater tots out of 5
