Chasing Amy Review by Thom (4.5 Stars)

Chasing Amy Review by Thom (4.5 Stars) | MatchFlick

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Movie Details

All Movie Info

Starring:
Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Matt Damon, Ethan Suplee, Casey Affleck, Guinevere Turner, Brian O'Halloran

Directed By:
Kevin Smith

Written By:
Kevin Smith

Chasing Amy (1997)

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Movie Review by Thom
August 29th, 2007

Still Chasing Amy

While the camera work and cinematography is obviously low-budget fair, Chasing Amy clearly proves that good story and great acting overcomes these deficiencies and easily shines through as Writer/Director Kevin Smith's best, even if it doesn't look as professional as his higher-budget, more recent, and better publicized work.

Chasing Amy features the friendship and business partnership of hound dog Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and he-man-woman-hater Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) that suddenly has a wedge thrust betwixt it when Holden meets and attempts to seduce Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams). Though Alyssa rebuffs Holden's attempt at courtship the two become friends. Holden begins spending all his time with her and none with best bud Banky.

While I don't desire to give away much more than that, I will say that in addition to this being Smith's best display of directing and writing, it's likewise a high point for Affleck, Adams, and Lee's acting careers (from the standpoint of performance). The movie also has one of the better lessons of which any rom-com could ever boast and tackles some controversial subject matter.

It also features one of my favorite on-sceen female personas in Adams portrayal of Smith's Alyssa Jones character (as well as one of my favorite female performances ever). In a parking lot argument Holden says to Alyssa about her past promiscuity, "they used you!", to which Alyssa declares, "NO! I used them!" thereby taking ownership and responsibility for her past decisions, be they good, bad, or ugly.

I think a lot of people never got this movie, and I think that's sad. When people say Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is their favorite Kevin Smith movie (and they've seen Chasing Amy) I just smile, nod, and never talk to that person about movies ever again.

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