This is the not-so-classic love story. It's that kind that could only exist as of a couple of decades ago at the most.
Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) are comic book artists and best friends. Through a friend, the two meet Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams) a fellow comic book artist whom Holden becomes immediately smitten with. But this is where the guy-meets-girl love story falls to pieces. Guy meets girl. Guy falls in love with girl. Guy is shocked to find out that said girl is a lesbian. Or, to extinguish categories, a woman who is attracted specifically to women.
All of the classic staples of a Kevin Smith film are present, particularly the impressively long-held shots that really showcase the actors abilities, as well as the witty and always hilarious banter between said characters. The quality of the dialogue, of course, is only a positive force in the films overall scope. Using the term 'exploration' with relation to themes is always a tricky business because it can often mean going into minute detail about the dullest of things in order to try and squeeze something barely profound out, but Chasing Amy doesn't fall into this trap. Rather than being dull, Smith looks at specific aspects of a relationship when emotional tolerance is drawn thin and when people really do have a tendency to shout. Often times I found myself watching a scene, specifically one containing a conversation between two or more characters, eventually to realise on more than one occasion how long this films scenes go on for, although it isn't necessarily a crux, but rather an upside. It reminded me to no end of just about every film in Tarantino's filmography; Smith goes for drawn-out and precise quality rather than throwing a series of allegedly hilarious conflicts in the way of the characters as so many rom-coms have a tendency to do.
Supporting the story and dialogue, the chosen actors really do shine in their roles. Affleck's portrayal of the lovable but conflicted comic book artist Holden is spectacularly complimented - as well as contrasted - by Jason Lee's portrayal of colourist Banky, who has no shortage of judgemental opinions and explicit jokes. With Banky in mind, the film is not just an examination of a romantic relationship between a man and a woman; it also examines the toll that such a relationship can take on a friendship, as Banky has an infinite number of negative reservations about Holden and Alyssa's relationship, convinced that it can only end badly. Joey Lauren Adams portrayal of the girl, Alyssa Jones, is overwhelmingly powerful at times. She really doesn't hold back in the more pivotal scenes of the film that decide the outcome and state of her relationship with Holden. All of the primary actors push their performances to the point of being painfully honest.
Of course, a Kevin Smith film wouldn't be complete without an appearance from Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith). Their appearance in the film is paramount to the films events, as Silent Bob shirks the restraints of his title in order to tell the story of his own romantic failure, that he was once 'Chasing Amy'; pining for the affections of another lesbian who he still can't forget. This idea particularly correlates with the central concept of the film, that being that the world of the post-ending kiss just doesn't exist in real life.
Smith tells a story that doesn't cop out on the painful details of love; it is messy, people's feelings can get smashed to pieces, and a lot of the time people don't always end up together. Chasing Amy is just that. It surmises a real, honest message about love that you won't find in many other places.
4/5
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