JAY AND SILENT BOB; THE ORIGINAL DUO OF COMEDY GENIUS
Jay and Silent Bob are two characters played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith respectively. They are essentially the epitome of two 90s American stoners. However, they stand out from other typical characters and add something different to the screen; bringing laughter to the audience through Jay's over running mouth, saying everything that comes into his mind, no matter how crude and Silent Bob's... well, silence.
The duo are in several films from the 90s and early 00s and the majority are as followed, in chronological order. J&SB aren't necessarily the main characters in each of the following films, however, they do star in every film.
All the films below were written and directed by Kevin Smith; genius, I know.
CLERKS
Bronte's Rating: 8.6/10
Genre: Comedy
Release Year: 1994
Also Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Marilyn Ghigliotti
J&SB Screen Time: Low/Moderate
Plot: The film follows the life of counter clerk Dante Hicks including hockey on the roof of the store, selling cigarettes to four-year-olds, complicated romance and the two potheads that won't stop dealing outside the front of the store.
Review: It's a very low budget film and one of Kevin Smith's first films but it is still brilliant. It's lighthearted and different, whilst still being amusing. One of the best aspects of the film is it's realness; almost every member of the audience would be able to relate to a character or scene in the film which makes it even funnier and enjoyable.
MALLRATS
Bronte's Rating: 8.6/10
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Release Year: 1995
Also Starring: Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck
J&SB Screen Time: Moderate/High
Plot: Two best friends hit the mall to seek solace after being dumped by their girlfriends and end up facing one crazy scenario after another including comic books, extreme munchies and sail boats.
Review: Hilarious. Jay and Silent Bob are at their absolute prime in this film. Despite the plot sounding like a typical American rom-com, it is almost a mick take of all films like it. The humour is simple, original and creative. This must be one of my favourite films of all time, I mean, it's even got Stan Lee in it.
CHASING AMY
Bronte's Rating: 8.3/10
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Release Year: 1997
Also Starring: Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck
J&SB Screen Time: Minimal
Plot: Two best friends, Holden and Banky, are comic book artists. They meet a fellow artist, Alyssa, who is a lesbian. Holden falls madly in love with Alyssa which, as you can imagine, presents some difficulties.
Review: The most serious Jay and Silent Bob film ever produced. It tackles a lot of important social issues as well as self-acceptance issues and is a well produced and overall, beautiful film. It also stars Silent Bob talking more than you will see in any other movie.
DOGMA
Bronte's Rating: 8.2/10
Genre: Comedy
Release Year: 1999
Also Starring: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Alan Rickman
J&SB Screen Time: Moderate/High
Plot: Two fallen angels intend to reenter heaven. An abortion clinic worker is enlisted by God to stop them, who is blessed with the prophets Jay and Silent Bob to help her along the way. Yep, that's right.
Review: It's certainly an odd film. It combines some of the world's most complicated ideas with two potheads and abortion and it's all a bit confusing as to how the idea of the film came about. However, Kevin Smith being the genius he is, pulled it off and created an unusually hilarious film.
JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK
Bronte's Rating: 8.7/10
Genre: Comedy
Release Year: 2001
Also Starring: Chris Rock, Ben Affleck and Jason Lee
J&SB Screen Time: High
Plot: The comic based on Jay and Silent Bob, Bluntman and Chronic, has been made into a movie and the boys haven't got their cut and are being slandered all over the Internet. They decide to go to Hollywood to try and stop the film from going ahead but things don't go too smoothly.
Review: If you want to watch a hilarious film about two potheads, then this is just the epitome of your perfect film. It is the first film that focuses on J&SB and shows the immense crudeness of Jay whilst showing a deeper side to him as well. A film full of laughs from beginning to end.
CLERKS II
Bronte's Rating: 8.4/10
Genre: Comedy
Release Year: 2006
Also Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Rosario Dawson
J&SB Screen Time: Moderate/High
Plot: Dante and Randall are back but this time, they're working at Mooby's; a fictional American fast food chain. Randall is still the same immature, care free guy but Dante is trying to settle down and get a fresh start and a new life.
Review: A real heart-warmer. Not only does it bring Dante, Randall, Jay and Silent Bob closer together, it also brings back to old love felt in the original Clerks. It's funny and a bit awkward at times but overall, a classic Jay and Silent Bob film.
If you actually read this far, well done. If you're skipping to this part after skimming over the above, you're a cheater. Yet, I know reading can be a lot of effort for many people today, so to accurately sum up pretty much every Jay and Silent Bob film, here is a clip from the start of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Image sources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109445/
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/kevin-smith/images/70798/title/jay-silent-bob-photo
http://sibatmedia.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/mini-review-mallrats/
http://my.spill.com/profiles/blogs/chasing-amy-review
http://www.joblo.com/movie-posters/jay-and-silent-bob-strike-back-02
http://cinefiloeamae.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/o-balconista-clerks-1994-dvdrip.html
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