Be Kind Rewind (2008) User Reviews (265)

A mixed bag

[cherold · 6/10 · 3 June 2009]

For the first half hour, Be Kind Rewind is a fairly dull little comedy. It improves markedly when the central premise kicks in, in which two dopes wind up filming shoestring remakes of famous movies. Then it becomes very enjoyable in a silly sort of way, and sustains that for much of the next hour.

The last half hour of the movie relies less on humor and more on the good feeling the characters have engendered during the film. This last part is kind of nice, but it's not all that funny and I never felt strongly enough about the characters to really connect with the final part.

In the end, I feel the problem with Be Kind Rewind is (and this is not something one says often) that it is not a one-joke movie. Because the one joke is really funny, and the problem is all that stuff meant to make that one joke part of a genial movie that attempts to say something about community and making films for love and that sort of thing.

It's a very well-intentioned, sometimes very amusing movie, but I found it way too uneven.

Fun film, though script is lacking

[mrtimlarabee · 6/10 · 25 February 2008]

Michel Gondry is a very talented filmmaker especially when it comes to visuals. His music videos and films go beyond simple video marvels into a world of simple visual trickery. This is something Gondry is very good at. Furthermore, he has a do it yourself mantra when it comes to filmaking. He's not into the marvels of CGI. He's more into what you can do without it.

But it takes a little more than visual trickery to make a film a success. Be Kind Rewind is a prime example. The film starts off well enough. Mos Def helps run a video store owned by Danny Glover's character. The store is probably one of the last remaining stores catering to VHS. Jack Black is Mos Def's left of center friend who works at an electrical plant. Through some plan to sabotage the plant, he becomes magnetic, erasing all the tapes.

Our heroes are forced to re-record the movies and do it through a process called "sweding," producing 10-15 minute versions of the film, using a wide array of do it yourself techniques that Gondry himself has utilized in his work. An example is a simple trick where filming through a fan makes the film look old. All of this is fun. The way the guys try to truncate the film's stories into a little time or their lack of knowledge regarding some films like Driving Miss Daisy. the crude effects are fun and are prime examples of why we love Michel Gondry.

The downside to the film is the script, penned by Gondry. Clearly, the film is built around the sweded films. But I was starting to think that watching the sweded films would've been more fun than watching Be Kind Rewind itself. Gondry never fully fleshes out his characters or resolves some of the subplots. The visuals are fun, but when Gondry's forced to wrap up the movie, it becomes a little sporadic and we start to realize the the film doesn't go much beyond its rich concept.

There is something great to take away from this film. And while I have some reservations about the film, my recommendation for the film is based on Gondry's filmaking vision. That is to say, there is clearly a joy of filmaking associated with Gondry that will have me continue to look forward to his work. If you're not sure what I mean, take a look at his promotional materials or at his other short films. The man loves filmaking and has fun with this movie. However, I'd recommend he build an alliance with some good screenwriters that would help his visions become fully realized, and not just good natured diversions, as this film is.

Gondry lays out another visual feast

[come2whereimfrom · 7/10 · 26 February 2008]

This is the latest brainchild of Michel Gondry the one time video maker turned director of 'Eternal Sunshine..' and 'The Science of Sleep' and once again there's a visual feast on offer. On many levels this is just a clever comedy but on many others its much more than that, it is a homage to film-making as a whole, the death of artistry in the face of technology, the sense of community that cinemas can bring in a world where cinema is struggling against the internet and apathy. Jack Black and Mos Def play at odds friends who have an outlet running the local video store 'Be Kind Rewind', with the huge DVD emporium down the road the business is struggling and in danger of being pulled down to make way for condos. After a freak accident wipes all the tapes in the shop the pair decide to remake all the films rather than get caught and lose the shop and this then is where Gondry et al step up to the mark and let their imaginations run wild with hilarious consequences. The first film they make is 'Ghostbusters' and it sets the premises of what is to come as they do their own versions of 'Robocop, Lion King, Rush Hour 2 and Men in Black to name but a few. Black and Def play off each other really well but it's the ingenuity in the sets and lo-fi costumes that make all these little twenty minute 'Swedes' (The tapes are described as having come from Sweden as an excuse for higher rental fees and longer wait times) brilliantly funny. They are even available to watch online and you're also encouraged to make your own! The story is for want of a better word silly and my only criticism I have is that Gondry tends to be too whimsical and over idealistic at times but that said he is portraying a fantasy world where he can play like a child with bits of old rubbish and sticky back plastic and come up with stunning arty creations that shine on screen. With so much subject matter to work with Gondry picks films that he is sure most people will have seen, although I hadn't seen 'Rush Hour 2' and so struggled to find all of that section funny, so on the off chance you haven't seen any of the films being Sweded you may wonder what the hell is going on. Be Kind.. is not a new story or even a new idea but it has new things to say about the state of the industry, copyright law and ownership that hide subtly below the comedy and it is so full of visual ideas it's a film you could quite easily watch again. Not as dark as 'Eternal Sunshine' and slightly better than 'Science of Sleep' Gondry is proving he can do aesthetically great lo-fi films without the lure of CGI or the Hollywood big budget. Like the war between VHS tapes and DVDs Gondry is taking on the big boys and coming out relatively unscathed.

An Excellent Tribute To The Video Cassette Generation and Film-making

[Chrysanthepop · 5 September 2008]

'Be Kind Rewind' has already become one of my favourite films of the year. It's funny. It's charming. It's nostalgic. It's awkward. It's unique and it's moving. The entrance of DVDs to our lives have lead to the rapid extinction of video cassettes but does one remember the days of renting, collecting and watching those big tapes? Rewinding them and forwarding them? Something small but one that I find fascinating. While 'Be Kind Rewind' pays respect to that generation, it's also a wonderful tribute to film-making in general. All the classic movies and blockbusters this film refers to are some of the most memorable movies that played during the VHS days and, in a way, 'Be Kind Rewind' is a superb homage to those films. Just watch all the sweded 'refilming' of, for example, 'Driving Miss Daisy' with Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, 'Ghostbusters' and 'Rush Hour 2' with Jack Black and Mos Def...and so many more hilarious surprises. 'Be Kind Rewind' also explores what it is about cinema that fascinate the ordinary man.

Gondry's writing is just as great as his direction. Everything fits together excellently. The comedy and drama blend smoothly. Michel Gondry's screenplay is impeccable. The dialogues are laugh out loud and never out of place. The characters are genuinely heartwarming, goofy and lovable.

The performances are heartfelt and fantastic. A wacky Jack Black, an endearing Mia Farrow (who's a science fiction fan), a very impressive Mos Def (I was very impressed by his comic timing), a humbly naive Danny Glover, a vivacious Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver as an inspector in charge (with a touch of comedy) and many more talented actors make a terrific ensemble.

Gondry has tackled a lot of themes like a strong sense of community, people's love for movies, people being accustomed to old technology (as a result to which they sometimes have difficulty moving on to more updated sources), reviving loved artists who have vanished into oblivion and the overall sense of doing something great together (like the last movie on Fat Waller's life). He tells the story skillfully. I liked that it ended on a bittersweet note but somewhat ambiguously. I was having so much fun and laughing out loud so many times that I didn't even care if it bothered other people.

Many people seem to have trashed this movie because it wasn't like 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind'. I'd like to tell those people to get over it. How can people even begin to compare too totally different films and then call one of them trash for not being like the other? I love both movies and to me, with 'Be Kind Rewind' Gondry proves to be a versatile director and my appreciation for him as a filmmaker has only increased.

Black and Def are excellent, but the rest of the film is just disappointing

[DonFishies · 7/10 · 26 February 2008]

Just reading a brief synopsis got me fairly hyped for Be Kind Rewind. The film was written and directed by Michel Gondry, who directed my favourite movie in the last five years, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, so it was a no-brainer that this would be a movie I would want to see. But unfortunately, the idea seemed to be a whole lot better than the final product.

Mike (Mos Def) works at an aging video rental story in New Jersey run by Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover). Despite the advent of DVD, the store only carries VHS tapes, and rents them to local customers at a fee far cheaper than the usual rental store. The store is apparently a landmark, so Mr. Fletcher does not want to give into local developers looking to turn the block into a nice piece of real estate. He leaves Mike in charge for a few days, but leaves specific instructions for him to not his friend Jerry (Jack Black) into the store. He does, and after a rather amusing accident, Jerry manages to erase all of the tapes in the store. To help cover this up, Mike and Jerry begin to film their own versions of the films.

It sounds creative on paper, but Be Kind Rewind is too muddled in subplots to really take advantage of its outrageous idea. The entire landmark dispute becomes rather boring and annoying right after it is mentioned, and the frequent mention of jazz musician Fats Waller loses its sentimental and nostalgic touch far too early on in the film. It just lacks the focus of Eternal Sunshine, and lacks the daring scope of The Science of Sleep, another film by Gondry. While Sleep was not all that great either, it seems to have had a much better grip on the point of the movie than Rewind does. It mopes around far too much, and I found myself more bored than I ever thought I would be watching it. I wanted to be interested, but the film did not make for many interesting moments. It has a sense of purpose and clearly knows what it wants to accomplish, but allowing it to seems to be an issue the film can never overcome.

One of these reasons may be the lack of depth in the characters. We learn very little about Mike or Jerry, and their pasts and motivations seem to never come up. We just know the basics, and that seems to be enough. Ditto for Mr. Fletcher, the frequent customer Miss Falewicz (Mia Farrow) and Alma (Melonie Diaz), who seems to get thrown into the mix rather randomly half way through the film, and never seems to fully materialize as anything other than being a female in a primarily male dominated main cast. Gondry clearly has a point for these characters to be here interacting (and a couple of curious supporting characters like Irv Gooch's Wilson, who lend the film a lot of its laughs), but he does not seem to want to make them be anything more than near one-dimensional cut-outs. I do not want to make them seem as simplistic as that, but more often than not, I really found myself not seeing anything other than that.

When the film actually gets to its key drawing point, the re-filming of the VHS movies (or sweding as the film refers to it as), it does bring in a lot of that creative depth Gondry is known for. Using many different angles and stylistic devices, Gondry remakes specific scenes out of these movies with ease, and brings a lot of humour to them as well. Watching Def and Black redo Ghostbusters is absolutely hysterical, as is their redoing of Driving Miss Daisy, King Kong, We Were Kings and 2001: A Space Odyssey. But unfortunately, these scenes are really short and sweet, and many of them are never lingered on. Frequently, they are only mere seconds long before the next sweded movie scene comes in. At one point, there is just a scrolling list of movies that are being redone, but barely any are shown on screen. It is a little disappointing, but I did really like the footage that is shown.

While the film's storyline is a little winded, and the character development is a little off, the actors themselves do really well.

Def continues to impress, and helps carry this film from beginning to end. I am never really impressed with his work, but he seems to have a knack for making his characters enjoyable and very human in their design. He just seems to have that natural acting talent that every young actor tries to have, but never can truly create for themselves. Even in its most boring sections, Def delivers a great performance that is insightful and more introspective of what the film could have been had Gondry put more effort into it.

The same goes for Black, who continues to redefine himself as an actor. On one hand, he does his usual screwball schtick to its finest degree, and gets plenty of laughs for it. But on the other, he really develops his dramatic side, one that is seen only in the likes of King Kong (where his performance is not nearly as well liked as I think it is) and pretentious fare like Margot at the Wedding (which I doubt many people will ever attempt to see). It is a fine balance, and Black walks it perfectly throughout the film, and gives a solid performance for one of the film's most undefined characters. Kudos to him for really making something of it.

While the rest of the supporting cast does fairly well for themselves, none ever match the charisma or the chemistry that Def and Black share. And in a film that is disappointing already, that makes it all the more worse.

7/10.

Charming, intertextual tribute to the cinematic arts

[pyrocitor · 7/10 · 2 March 2008]

Considering the vast array of films whose subject matter introspectively deal with the nature of their medium in itself, it should come as no real surprise that few films paying tribute to the film industry itself boast more than a smile or two in terms of quality. After all, how could such self-serving Hollywood love letters come across as anything more than pretentious and self-congratulatory? It would seem eclectic director Michel Gondry has found the answer, by crafting a film with charm, but not Hollywood glitz, with humour but not generic sight gags, and with heart, but no mainstream sap - Be Kind Rewind is the end result, and a truly laudable feat as consequence.

If taken at face value, Be Kind Rewind may appear simplistic to the point of appearing patronizing at times, but Gondry is too shrewd to operate on directorial autopilot, and instead allows the form and cinematics of his own feature to mimic the unassuming homemade feel of his protagonists' shorts. Indeed, upon closer examination there is much to appreciate, as the structure of the film itself can be taken as allegorical for the development of the film industry itself and its ups and downs: a couple of men fooling around with cameras with no real idea what they were doing impulsively deciding to make movies, which steadily become more streamlined and mass produced (a montage sequence joyfully alludes to the days of "assembly line" Hollywood studio production) as they increasingly become less about art and more about making money. The film also makes witty references to the scare of video pirating in today's culture as well as an examination of the changing home viewing technologies, and the inevitable transition from more nostalgic days of video cassettes to DVDs. But Gondry's film also celebrates the enormous cultural significance of film, and glimpses at the joy of producing them and the heart-warming reaction of viewer enjoyment. Quite simply, Be Kind Rewind can be taken in a nutshell as a movie about loving the movies, which, although potentially coming across as too schmaltzy for some, is surprisingly touching as opposed to dissolving in a mess of Hollywood glitz.

Although the film is without question not without its faults, they scarcely detract from a film so unpretentiously touching and charming. Yes there are certain prominent lapses of credulity, logic, and even some paltry special effects (whether intentionally so or not, they do stand out). Yes some parts do undeniably drag or appear to be slightly off track, and the script carries the "improvised low budget feel" a bit too far in certain segments. But such concerns are easily forgiven when the final product is so earnestly enjoyable, and the "remake" sequences (as Black and Def lampoon such films as Ghostbusters, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Boyz 'n the Hood and Rush Hour 2) are comedic gold, and feel disappointingly rushed, considering their being the primary draw of the film. Similarly, the film's genuinely moving finale is a triumph - one feels transported to the earliest days of audiences screening silent films in a flickering theater with only a whimsical solo piano accompanying, and it hard to resist giving in to the sweeping feeling of genuine nostalgia and heart rather than typical Hollywood tear-jerking. And perhaps this exemplifies the film in itself: one gets the feeling the film could have reached and easily succeeded loftier or more profound aims, but ultimately the film doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is: a celebration of the art of creation and a parable for the love of film-making and its cultural significance.

Gondry's cast similarly light up the screen with enough infectious enthusiasm and good natured quirkiness to easily sell an occasionally rocky concept. The boundless charisma of Jack Black is put to perfect use as the irrepressible Jerry, taking a bumbling, attention seeking anarchistic character and still effortlessly capturing the hearts of his audience. Mos Def's offbeat comedic talents also perfectly compliment the film's quirky tone, and while undeniably funny, Def is given a chance to shine dramatically in several understated emotional scenes, and he rises to the challenge. Backing up the two charismatic leads, Danny Glover brings class and authority to the role of the gruff video store owner Mr. Fletcher, and Mia Farrow brings dignity and offbeat comedy simultaneously as an eccentric video rental patron. Melonie Diaz makes a lovably bizarre addition to the inspired pairing of Black and Def as an aspiring actress roped into the duo's movie-making frenzy, and a delightful cameo from Sigourney Weaver is priceless, especially considering the earlier Ghostbusters spoof.

For whatever faults or shortcomings, Gondry's film boasts such low key, unassuming heart and charm that it is almost impossible to dislike. While not as overall funny as one might hope for, it is exceptionally hard to resist a smile creeping onto one's face throughout, and the film proves surprisingly moving, despite the noticeable lack of Hollywood emotional showiness. Be Kind Rewind is somewhat of an anomaly in its unpretentious refusal to be anything apart from what it intended to be - a movie about celebrating the joys of making and experiencing movies it hard to resist, and Gondry's film is just cute and unassuming enough to pull it off with considerable skill.

-7/10

A Charming tribute to the art..

[richardwworkman · 7/10 · 16 January 2022]

..of American cinema.

A lovely little film that is a celebration of cinema.

Yeah so it's a little bit hokey and a reminder that Jack Black is as 2 dimensional as Mickey Mouse, but we sometimes forget the cultural contribution of American film making over the past 120 years.

A feel good movie that's not quite Cinema Paradiso, but is rooted in a community which now no longer exists: the video store.

Better than I remember

[PsychoBeard666 · 7/10 · 4 May 2021]

I remember it falling off towards the end but I enjoyed the whole movie.

Lovely, charming, original and not too sweet

[shomethemovie · 8/10 · 22 February 2008]

I missed this film at Sundance, caught it as soon as possible, and I wasn't disappointed. Despite being privy to the exhaustive fine-tuning of an indie film with an improvised feel, watching "Be Kind" I could absolutely believe it came together as quickly and spontaneously as the snippets of "sweded" films. This was part of its charm and I think Gondry's intention.

All the actors were engaging, and genuine heartfelt emotion - most definitely by the surprising, naturally pitch-perfect Mos Def - transcended the dialog, plot points and general wackiness.

The Fats Waller thread was just random enough and very skillfully and satisfyingly woven into the story from beginning to end. This and many other details - including touches like lovely Mia Farrow's curiosity about supernatural films and Sigourney Weaver's brief take-charge turn - convinced me that Gondry put quite a bit of thought and skill into perfecting the film's endearing awkwardness. It might not be to everybody's taste, but I think it was a great idea, executed and seasoned just right.

Fast forward through the beginning and you have a great movie here...

[simonparker1990 · 7/10 · 20 February 2008]

Remember the days when the VHS dominated the market, the days you had to sit for ages rewinding or fast forwarding the damned things just to find the moment in the film you wanted. I know it seems like a lifetime ago, DVD quickly saw an end to that tedious routine. However, there is still something nice about a VHS, I don't know what it is but it just feels a bit more homely. That's the way that Be Kind Rewind seems to have gone, sure it isn't as nice looking, it isn't as memorable, and hell it even gets a bit tedious after a while, but it has a nice feel to it. Be Kind Rewind in essence appears to be nothing more than a string of amateur movie clips strung together by a plot, that's what the trailers make it out to be. But when you watch the film and you peel back the surface you find something more, a good natured storyline that actually is genuinely heart warming. Unfortunately however the movie takes a while for an humour or heart warming to kick in. The film for at least twenty five minutes verges on boring. But once you get past the dull part, and the movie remakes kick in the movie just becomes hilarious, and when the movies true moral kicks in at the end, despite it at times feeling forced, the movie at least does seem to suck you in still. The performances are pretty top notch and the script is witty. Sure it is not even in the same league as Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but the movie is well written and will leave you feeling that little bit warmer inside once you leave the cinema.

So let me get onto the performances. Jack Black is obviously the major star of the film, now I'll be honest I approached his performance with some caution. I admit that Jack Black is an incredible talent, School of Rock and to some extent even Tenacious D the movie confirmed this, nevertheless when given the wrong material he is pretty awful. Nacho Libre, one of the biggest disappointments in recent years, left me horrified that someone had made me dislike a Jack Black performance. And then at Christmas I had to endure The Holiday, the less said about that the better. Thankfully Black is at home in this movie, he has the opportunity to be completely manic, he does a classic Jackie Chan impersonation and he also has a genuine heart in the film. He also works superbly alongside Mos Def, who is admittedly quite dull at the start of the movie, but when he has some weight in the script he delivers a great performance. Danny Glover finally proved he could act in this movie, in recent films he has been on auto-pilot, but here he seems to like the movie he is in. Mia Farrow makes a welcome, if admittedly pointless appearance. And Sigourney Weaver pops along and almost steals the movie in way too brief screen time.

I suppose however that Be Kind Rewind's biggest selling point has to be the remakes of the movies. Well I was quite surprised not to see too much of them, in fact one of my biggest complaints is that we say way too little of them. The Ghostbusters sequence is a classic, in fact in years to come I'm sure I'll love that scene as much as I do today. The driving Miss Daisy scene is priceless, but apart those and the Rush Hour 2 scenes, we get brief glimpses at the other films. I'd have loved to see more on Men In Black, the Lord of the Rings remake that we see the case of, 2001 and all those others. They're the best bits of the film yet they flash past way too quickly. Matters are never helped that too much time is focused on the making of a Fats Waller movie, sure those scenes are extremely touching, but the characters waffle way too much about the man and you get sick and tired of it by the end. Thankfully the movie does have genuine heart, the final fifteen minutes just make you feel happy and make you smile. The ending is very abrupt, but the scenes proceeding it are pitch perfect.

Be Kind Rewind is a decent movie that could have been an all time classic, alas the movie just has too many mediocre moments for it to ever be something you can endlessly watch. The remake scenes are priceless and it is a nice movie to watch, but a very slow beginning and a lack of memorable moments make this something to rent or watch once.

Interesting Ideas... Dull Screenplay

[iamthebeatles · 1/10 · 4 July 2008]

I respect Michel Gondry's work in every aspect of the word, whether his innovativeness in music video making or his film work. He has definitely a unique style, some whiz, excellent film techniques, and a generally good sense of humor. However, Be Kind Rewind, which I have been waiting to see for some time... was a huge disappointment. And I don't mean to be harsh... but the film is really badly written. Yes, it has good ideas, but it has no believability of character... and it's extremely dull. That film should have been co-written with someone like Charlie Kaufman per se.

I don't recommend Be Kind Rewind. It's hardly funny. And it's not worth watching. Yes, it has cute ideas, but I prefer watching plot less art films than this trying-to-be-commercial unentertaining flop.

Funny and endearing movie from Gondry

[bard-24 · 8/10 · 21 January 2008]

The trailer really said it all about this film, and the film delivers everything it promises! What a great concept and how great a story we got from Gondry this time. Very accessible (unlike Science of Sleep) and entertaining from beginning to end. Jack Black and Mos Def play their parts well and the aforementioned is actually funny in this one, unlike a lot of his recent work. At the core of it all, Be Kind Rewind tells a great story about how you don't really need high-tech equipment to make movies. Who needs film-school when you've got your friends and a cheap camera?

I really enjoyed this film.

Quirky enough to be above average

[gregeichelberger · 6/10 · 24 February 2008]

While I don't usually comment on other reviews from this site, I was struck with one person who included "Another thought-provoking film by Jack Black" in the headline. And while everyone has a right to their opinion, I'm trying to figure out what "thought-provoking" film Jack Black has made lately.

Was it "Shallow Hal"? Was it "Nacho Libre"? Was it "Orange County"?Could it have been "King Kong"? Or maybe it was "Tenacious D" or "Holiday."

Might have been "Hi-Fidelity," which I did like, but then again, that was made almost 10 years ago.

His pictures have been cute, funny, stupid and interesting, but never "thought-provoking." Even this latest release, "Be Kind, Rewind," directed by Michael Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Dave Chappell's Block Party"), isn't so much a thinking man's movie as it is a quirky, goofy, silly, genre-bending mish-mash. It isn't bad, at all-but it certainly is not up there with either of Gondry's other two efforts.

In fact, it was Jack Black who forced me to give this movie a 6 rather than a 7. He can be a bottle-rocket of superheated energy and passion when directed correctly (like in "School of Rock") or he can be an embarrassing loose cannon of buffoonery (such as "Libre").

Here, he plays Jerry, a junkyard worker who lives in a trailer beneath a huge electrical transformer. Jerry believes the transformer-and the power company that owns it-is trying to melt his brain. He enlists the help of boyhood friend, Mike (Mos Def-real name Dante Terrell Smith- "Dave Chappell's Block Party," "16 Blocks"), who works in Mr. Fletcher's (Danny Glover) video-only store in Passaic, New Jersey, to sabotage the contraption.

There's really no back story on why these two people-seemingly polar opposites-are friends, and no demonstrative reason on earth why anyone would hang around the obviously demented and anti-social Jerry.

Mike, who has much more sense (but still talks like a dimwitted character from a "MAD TV" sketch), thinks better of this insane idea and takes off; leaving Jerry to get suspended in a cartoon-like electrical current and become magnetized.

This results in the erasure of every tape in Fletcher's establishment. This forces the two imbeciles to re-film (or "swede") such movies as "Ghostbusters," "Rush Hour 2," "The Lion King," "2001: A Space Odyssey," "RoboCop," and others.

Patrons at the store seem to like these productions better than the originals, despite the fact that Jack Black is the star of them and they are only about 20 minutes long.

Meanwhile, Fletcher-who has told Mike he was off on a week's celebration of the life of blues great, Fats Waller-is instead spying on another, more popular video outlet in an effort to increase his own sales. Another plot complication occurs when Sigourney Weaver appears as an uptight film studio lawyer demanding the two cretins cease and desist the impromptu film-making enterprise.

Facing millions of dollars in fines and hundreds of years in jail if they continue, the two meatheads decide to complete a black-and-white version of "Fats Waller Was Born in This Building in Passaic, New Jersey," which is duly finished and shown to the entire neighborhood. Mia Farrow ("Rosemary's Baby," "Broadway Danny Rose") also makes a small cameo as a woman who urges Fletcher to declare his building a national historical landmark.

Gondry tries to walk several lines here, he wants the film to be taken as a serious drama, a slapstick comedy, and a parody of popular cinema. He should have stuck to the latter category. When Jerry and Mike are making their ridiculous remakes, the movie shines with truly funny situations.

These scenes, however, are few and far between, as well as way too short (for example, the "Lion King" takeoff lasts only a minute or two). A tepid love story is thrown in between Mike and a local cleaner-turned-"actress," Alma (Melonie Diaz, "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints," "Lords of Dogtown") for no reason other than to throw a tepid love story into a movie like this.

Mos Def is fine in this picture; and despite his willingness to go along with the ludicrous antics of Jerry, he knows when to draw the line. Glover does a nice job, as well, torn between pleasing his customers, making himself happy and earning enough money to save his livelihood. His devotion to Fats Waller, while bordering on the obsessive, seems genuine and heartfelt.

Black has his moments, but continues to milk the crazy, wild-eyed lunatic that people in "reel" life think is cute and eccentric, but folks in "real" life would not tolerate for more than 15 minutes. He is rude to people in the store, a jerk to Mike and is a general nuisance to anyone he comes in contact with.

Overall, however, this is just interesting enough to check out. It's certainly nowhere near a perfect 10 movie (like so many reviews on this site seem to rate it-maybe the writers have never seen pictures like "Citizen Kane," "Casablanca," "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Godfather," "Raging Bull" or "GoodFellas," among others), but it has it's Jarmuschian charm.

And sometimes-especially in these dark cinematic times-that's good enough.

Are you kidding?

[scream1863 · 1/10 · 18 March 2008]

I don't understand how this movie is getting all these good reviews saying how "charming" and "intellectual" it is. This was probably the worst movie I've seen in my life.

This movie was so poorly written, acted, and directed that it made me sick. The plot is so forced and dull that the audience doesn't care. How cliché is the fact that they need to save the old building? And the whole paranoid eccentric Jack Black character is so overdone. The dialogue felt like bad improv (did they even have a script?). The first 30 mins dragged on like nails on a chalkboard.

I love a good stupid Jack Black movie as much as the next guy (loved Nacho Libre), but this movie is so ridiculously stupid that I think I lost brain cells. The fact that Fatts Waller actually wasn't born in that building but then they decide that they can make up their own story and completely fabricate the past because Mia Farrow says "hey, our past is ours so it can be whatever we want". WHAT IS THAT? What kind of message is that?? As for the performances, I can't say there was anyone who stood out. Jack Black was playing typical Jack Black, Mos Def was bland, Danny Glover was ehhh, Mia Farrow was so unlikable and stock, and that Melonie Diaz made me want to stab out my eyes. I've never seen such a poor performance before. All her lines seemed like she didn't know what she was saying and was just ad libbing. I've never wanted to punch an actor for their work like I want to punch her.

The only good part of this movie was the Ghostbusters homage, which wasn't funny because we'd already seen it in the previews a million times.

This movie is a disgrace to cinema.

The Purple Rose of Passaic

[Benedict_Cumberbatch · 2 March 2008]

Michel Gondry's new film is NO "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", but it's better than "The Science of Sleep" and doesn't deserve the negative reviews it's been getting. Without Charlie Kaufman writing, Gondry's script might be a little less original, but his visual creativity (no one else knows how to make art out of cardboard boxes like him!) and passion for his story makes "Be Kind Rewind" some kind of special.

Mos Def and Jack Black work at Danny Glover's video store and, after Black gets "magnetized", he unintentionally turns every tape in the store blank. They have the brilliant idea of remaking the customers' favorite movies (from "Driving Miss Daisy" to "Last Tango in Paris"), and they suddenly become the local sensation. Some moments are very funny, others not so much, but this is not supposed to be a Farrelly Bros. kind of flick. With a simple but very compelling idea, Gondry created a story about people's love for movies, the sense of community, the compulsion for memories, the oblivion of old-time artists (the Fats Waller subplot) and old-fashioned technology (should Glover finally adhere to DVDs?). Gondry said in an interview: "I am not against modern things. I use technology, but what I am against is when the technology creates a system that makes you believe you need to use it". I couldn't agree more. By the end, even though not being a masterpiece like "Eternal Sunshine", "Be Kind Rewind" leaves you with the bittersweet feeling of other movies about our love for film-making, more notably "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (by the way, Mia Farrow plays the video store's most loyal customer) and "Cinema Paradiso". Definitely worth seeing. 8/10.

Cheery entertainment

[tubby1 · 7/10 · 27 September 2008]

Michel Gondry the director of the splendid 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' has produced another highly original film, this time in the form of 'Be Kind Rewind'.

It is a cheery and entertaining watch and I had a good giggle at the frolics of Black and Mos Def as they attempted to re-create Ghostbusters. Although the film struggles at times to keep the momentum which it ascertains early on, it does enough to keep you to its pleasing conclusion.

This is an original idea with a simple plot and it works very well. It is a shame that Gondry did not give more running time for Black and Mos Def to act-out further films, and that he did not go for more commercial material. Nevertheless, a very good camera-pan which incorporates many Black/Mos Def re-enactments of other films, which obviously was more efficient for the films running time is well-crafted.

Decently acted and well directed - Thumbs up!

Well-Behaved Comedy (w/Elegant Properties)

[vinnybode · 7/10 · 1 January 2009]

During the course of this movie, storied New York jazz musician Thomas 'Fats' Waller emerges as its patron saint. Highly fitting since the making of 'Be Kind Rewind' must have represented a boon for the art of improvisation.

It is a fresh comedy with good dialogue and quips that is playfully acted, has an original and genuinely funny idea at the center of its plot and is thematically unified by the not insignificant insight that "our past belongs to us" (Miss Falewicz, played by Mia Farrow). The movie hums along nicely and is steadily humorous, first in a Clerks (without the vulgarisms) kind of way, before the protagonists acquire a purpose and the movie enters go-for-broke-on-the-pipe-dream mode.

The movie has some hilarious moments (a pizza serving as brain-splatter, Glover insisting on "just a brief conversation" with Jack Black after he has face-painted himself minstrel-style and the ensuing visual demonstration of certain shameful vaudeville antics and the 'Fats Waller was born "here"' sign come to mind)and is visually appealing, albeit in a very low-key/lo-fi way.

I was also impressed by the creativity of the director and the attention to comic detail, both spoken and visual, which made this movie, to me, highly watchable.

Unique and Funny

[Bob_the_Hobo · 7/10 · 19 November 2012]

Following his magnetic polarization in a freak electrical accent, Jerry (Jack Black) ruins his friend Mike's (Mos Def) video store by erasing all the existing tapes. Now forced with the threat of an angry store owner (Danny Glover), Mike and Jerry team up to re-shoot their inventory and market the films off as their own.

Jack Black is undoubtedly one of the funniest human beings ever to act in a movie, but he does so by also being a good actor. It's rare to see that combination in a comedian, the last time it was so clear was with the late John Candy, may he rest in peace. The thing is, I could see John Candy in a film like this were he still with us.

This film sees the return of Michael Gondry, the immensely talented director who brought us "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Human Nature". This offering is different than his previous work. The script is less spunk and more soul. The friendships made by these characters feel as real as if the actors themselves were just as good friends.

"Be Kind Rewind" is a funny film with a genuinely unique concept. The performances were spot-on and the plot kept me watching. Well done.

Not what I expected, but a pleasant surprise.

[wink568 · 7/10 · 25 February 2009]

When my boyfriend rented this movie, I was really unsure of what to expect. I didn't know what it was about, and the beginning really started slow. There were a couple things in the beginning that made me chuckle, like Jack Black and Mos Def's camouflage. A scene that occurred between Jack Black and a Power Plant left me thinking "Seriously, did they really try that?" However, because of the impact that scene had on the rest of the movie, I was able to throw my skepticism aside.

The charm of the movie was the remaking of various Blockbusters by the two main characters. There is something for everybody, and I'm sure they touched on at least one film you yourself had enjoyed. The film subtly takes a shot at the advancing technology, and Hollywood's tendency to make movies to sell (ie: action/comedy being the only two genres carried by the big competitor); rather than making movies that break the mold, and tell a story. The film also shows the coming together of a neighborhood because of a jazz legend, and the ending leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Three stars (out of five), because I went in expecting a comedy, and while it provided some laughs, it wasn't as funny as expected. However, what came out of it was something slightly more enjoyable. Heck, 3.5 stars because they made reference to The Lion King.

Skillfully Directed, Decent Acting, and A lot of Fun

[sUrf_wAX_AMeRica55 · 10/10 · 22 February 2008]

OK let me start off saying that i loved Eternal Sunshine and had pretty high hopes for this film. Michael Gondry did a more than exceptional job to capture the tone of this film which i'll describe as old-school, and scraggly. Jack Black once again played the same part he usually does just a funny weird dude, Mos Def did a real nice job a lot better than I expected after seeing him in Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy. Danny Glover was really great. But the thing I loved about this film is that it was so different from the usual cliché comedy. The movie does have some flaws but what the heck, just go see it and relax. Its not supposed to be a Citezen Kane. Overall the film was real fun and actually a little touching, so go see it. I recommend it for sure. Real Fun!!

Funny, heartwarming, light but clever DIY comedy

[pbholmen · 7/10 · 5 November 2008]

Why not more stars?

I gave this comedy 9 stars because I wholeheartedly believe it deserves it. I pondered on whether I should give it a ten. What puzzles me, though, is that it didn't get more stars, and why there are so many negative reviews on this site (though most are positive). I have a feeling it may be because many of those who gave it negative reviews did not get what they expected. Either because Gondry reached the wrong audience, or the reviewers are comparing it to predefined templates it does not, and should not try to fit into. In other words, they do not really SEE the movie, and complain about "flaws" that could have been relevant if the movie was a completely different one.

Most of the negative reviewers, even many of the positive ones, compares it unfavourably to another Gondry movie, "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind". I saw it got an amazing reviews on IMDb and gave it a shot. I thought it sucked, the story/casting was that of a standard Hollywood romantic-comedy-drama, though the visual part was inspiring and creative. What this means is just that Eternal sunshine and Be Kind Rewind are two very different kinds of movies, probably suited for different kinds of audiences too - though Be Kind... is very accessible and probably will amuse and entertain viewers from most camps.

Therefore, let's look at what the movie will NOT give you:

* Strong, character-driven, tear dropping interpersonal drama, with Hollywood's traditional dose of love and passion, of the kind that Eternal sunshine was.

* Wacky, lighthearted brainless humour like School of Rock.

Some of the reviewers complain about lack of character depth. Perhaps this mantra that all- movies-must-have-character-depth has something to do with the extreme focus on the individual that we have in the western world, and USA especially. The movie is not about individuals or characters, so don't deride it for that. What the movie is about, I'll get back to.

Other negative reviewers complain that it's not quite like "School of Rock". They probably saw Jack Black on the cover and expected something like it. Apart from the ultra-light wacky humour of the opening, this movie is not like that.

---

So what does the movie HAVE?

It is a lightheaded comedy about serious things like poverty, capitalism, staying together, how people use art and history to construct their collective identities, and above all, how the perfectionism and glitzy effects of modern film-making takes the joy and creativity away from the people and makes us passive consumers. It's about taking the joy and power of creativity back to the people, and the communities where it belongs. A bit like the punk revolution in the music scene brought tons of kids out in the garage to start their own bands, just far more inclusive and accessible.

But here's the GREAT part: The movie doesn't TRY so hard to be smart, political etc... Don't expect high- brow humour because you won't get it here! It is all packed into a light comedy frame, and almost exclusively looks at the bright side of life, with a heartwarming belief in the good of people and the strength of people staying together. It's hilarious, but slightly cultish, those in love of cult movies and seeking and alternative to a Hollywood machine drenched in dollars will absolutely love it. Others will have a great time too.

Watch it. But watch it for what it is, not for what it's not.

Shockingly Terrible

[actormichaelo · 3/10 · 23 March 2008]

Me and my friend went to the movie's, too see the new Michel Gondry movie. I am a huge fan on Jack Black and love him in School of Rock, however this was not his best work.

Me and my friend had heard the movie was very average but however i was sure i would like it.

I was shocked and stunned at what i saw, the point of the movie started around 35 minutes into the movie, it was unfunny, bad script, bad acting on some parts (not Jack Black, Mos Def or Mia Farrow) the point of the movie was overlooked and people were getting restless.

People began leaving the movie after 40 minutes or so and at the hour mark I done the same.

After being shockingly disappointed, i proceeded to ask for my money back after i paid £5 for the ticket, the wouldn't let me have it back.

The film was shocking and I wouldn't advise anyone to go and see it.

The promos, FALSE ADVERTISING! Just Plain Bad!

Film is terrible!

Pleasant, Feel-Good Flick

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 20 April 2009]

This is a silly but harmless fun piece of fluff, guaranteed to put some smiles on your face and give you somewhat of a feel-good feeling when it's over. I'm sure that was the intent, and very little more. It wasn't made to astound anyone or provide huge laughs. Yet, it has a lot of charm and subtle humor.

It's a ludicrous story, so you just can't take anything seriously. The premise is unique: two guys converting a dying video rental store into a success by taking blank tapes of famous movies and making their own 20-minute versions! The new "movies" are so bad, they're good and the neighborhood starts making requests and renting the new "sweded" movies like hotcakes. Goofy? Sure. Tons of plot holes? You bet......but a nice movie.

The more films you know, beginning with "Ghostbusters," the more you'll enjoy this as the guys make these cheap knock-offs on budgets of about a hundred bucks! In addition, Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow were all fun to watch.

It's no award-winner, but you could do a lot worse.

A film that's meant to be fun.

[Mr_Censored · 7/10 · 3 February 2009]

Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Mia Farrow star in "Be Kind Rewind," the fourth feature film directed by Michel Gondry. Gondry, who is most notorious for directing one of the best films of 2004 -- "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" -- has his own unique visual and story-telling style, and it serves him well in bringing to life a hard-to-buy modern-day story about a run-down video store that only sells VHS tapes to people who have never seen or even heard of such titles as "Ghostbusters" or "Driving Miss Daisy." So, to re-cap, not only is the store's owner (Danny Glover) out of touch, but so is the town in which he runs his business. Up and down the aisles of 'Be Kind Rewind' (conveniently, the name of the store in the movie) are box after box of blockbusters and cult-classics, all readily available on the now-defunct VHS format. To those who may miss the glory days of the independent video store or, God forbid, VHS tapes (browse through the "Formats" section on IMDb's message board and you'll run into a few), the world in which the characters in this film inhabit is a virtual paradise.

The story is rather plain and innocent, and since there is no real villain, we have to assume that Jack Black's character, as he inadvertently erases all the tapes due to being highly magnetized (don't ask how), is the antagonist. But that's not quite right. In fact, he's the catalyst, as he joins forces with the store clerk (Mos Def) in creating abbreviated, low-budget, home-made remakes to replace the now-useless video tapes. It fools the customers, who are told that the films are "Sweded" versions (imported from Sweden), thus explaining why they look so low-budget. The "Sweded" versions become a phenomenon in town, as the store owner is out-of-town, researching in hopes of switching to the DVD-format, which is funny, as even now, DVD is being slowly pushed aside by a new format in the form of Blu-Ray. Even a pending lawsuit doesn't stop the two from re-creating everything from "Men In Black" to "Rocky" to "2001: A Space Odyssey".

The overall plot and tone of the "Be Kind Rewind" is pretty simple and wholesome, and it's hard to tell if it's meant to be a valentine to the home-video lover, or if it's just a eulogy or a tribute to the long-lost VHS. As it stands, though, it's a solid yet mellow film that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's got an unlimited appeal, as it seems aimed at just about anyone who loves movies. There's nothing ground-breaking, and direction-wise, Gondry takes less risks than he did in "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" and keeps the visual flare to a minimum. Jack Black is Jack Black, while Mos Def delivers another solid performance, another notch in the belt of a truly gifted and rising actor. Danny Glover is great in everything he does, and seeing him back in action in the film is a treat, as well as Mia Farrow, who plays the loony, out-of-touch customer all too convincingly. The real star of the movie, though, is the video store and the tapes that line it's wall. It's a simple film that is simple and easy to enjoy. A nice way to kick back on a Saturday afternoon, much in the same way as you probably did when VHS was still around and renting videos from the local video store was a pleasure.

the previews were the best part

[Tek-Jansen · 1/10 · 25 February 2008]

I always thought eternal sunshine was way overrated, yes I was pretty entertained by it but it was a little too uneven and relied too much on fantasy to make up for serious script problems. Then came science of sleep, an artsy fartsy wet dream for those people who think radiohead has taken music as a whole to a new level. once again, it had its moments but so uneven and the characters were just boring.

now we get be kind rewind. the most boring, unfunny comedy I've seen in a long time. I went into it hoping to see some great movie spoofs, not learn about fats waller. I'm pretty sure only about 5 things happened in the movie, the rest was just ad libbed nonsense that went nowhere. OK:

1. jack black gets electrocuted UPSIDE DOWN? in a power plant 2. He erases all of the tapes because of said electrocution 3. friend and him reshoot tapes to appease customers, they like it 4. but wait, for whatever reason they are going to tear down the building (because oh yeah its old and worthless) unless they come up with some large amount of money 5. make a biography about whatever danny glover thinks about fats waller, charge people to watch fake history???!!

THE END.