Chasing Amy (1997) Review

 

Chasing Amy (1997)

Chasing Amy focuses on Holden McNeil and Banky Edwards, two comic creators, as Holden falls in love with a girl, Alyssa, only to find out she’s a lesbian.

After discovering Kevin Smith, I have yet to be disappointed (that includes watching Yogahosers). He is honestly one of my favorite writers/directors ever, and with Chasing Amy, you can really capture the emotional extent that he’s capable of.  The film is an emotional, gripping, and quintessential piece of 90s cinema, full of sexual discovery for our main characters. Set in 90s New Jersey/New York, it’s full of grunge and comic culture (like most of Smith’s movies) which saturate the background and give each scene it’s own personality, packed with pop culture that I’m an absolute sucker for. It's neat seeing these two people, so perfectly made for each other, not actually work out.  It's almost the opposite of a love story, telling you not to throw away the life you have for one that is unattainable.

Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams all put in great performances that drive Chasing Amy to not just be your classic romance movie, but to be a unique film of discovery, forgiveness, and love, even if in the moment, you can’t see it. Affleck is the middle man, having a friendship with Lee that many of us can understand, half despising and half loving them.  On the flip side, him and Adams also have excellent chemistry and it's nice seeing Smith reuse actors he likes, even if they are virtual unknowns at times.

Like all of Kevin Smith’s early movies, Chasing Amy is a really fun ride and I highly recommend it. The Jay and Silent Bob cameo towards the end is also perfect, not being too much, but being just enough obscene humor and insightful wisdom, that it doesn't feel too out of place.

7.5/10