Review of Be Kind Rewind

True film love

Audiences have been anticipating Michel Gondry's latest feature with baited breath, and the wait has been worth it. Be Kind Rewind is a spirited and moving homage to the pleasures and pains of being a movie lover.

Mos Def stars as Mike, a beleaguered long-time employee of the Be Kind Rewind video store, a run down, VHS-only rental shop in a run down neighbourhood in a run down city. When his best pal Jerry (Jack Black) accidentally erases the collection of tapes following an aborted attempt to sabotage the local power plant, the two decide the only solution is to re-shoot the films as best they can, affording a day of shooting time and a few scrap props for each.

Of course, the entire set-up is ridiculous, but if you have any taste for the magical world of Gondry, you will thoroughly enjoy the ride. The homemade costumes, sets, and effects are beautifully playful. The remade movies are tremendous fun to watch, and they ramp the sentimentality up to a high peak by Be Kind Rewind's conclusion, but without becoming pap. Watching this film in the wake of my own beloved neighbourhood video store, Suspect Video, having burned to the ground in Toronto just yesterday, I found myself particularly moved watching the devotion to the craft and community that seems to grow around great films and their like minded fans.

I assume this is one of those films where everyone already has their mind made up as to whether or not they are going to see it, so I don't have much of a job to do other than letting you know you are in for a treat. Be Kind Rewind is Gondry's best.

Aaron.
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Posted on 02/22/08 by: Aaron 01:43 AM