If you have not seen the first four movies, you will be clueless about many of the jokes in “Jay and Silent Bob.” It also would help to be fairly knowledgeable about the storylines of several other films and TV shows like, “American Pie,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Star Wars,” and of course, one of the all-time favorite cartoons, “Scooby Doo.”
The movie is about a couple of stoners who spend most of their days in front of a New Jersey convenience store talking about nothing and trying to sell pot. Their pal, Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) has sold the movie rights to his comic book series, “Bluntman and Chronic,” which are two characters based on Jay and Bob, which are to be played by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Miramax Productions plans to make a movie about it, and at first the two want a piece of the earnings, but then their attention gets turned to negative comments being made about them in an Internet chat room. They immediately embark on a journey to Hollywood to stop the making of the film, encountering adventures along the way.
Writer, director and co-star Kevin Smith created a film with little plot, that includes slapstick comedy, verbal profanity, non-stop crude and sexual humor and drug content. The use of the “F” word is abused so much it becomes a joke in itself, mentioned over 140 times throughout the 99 minutes of the film.
Although this movie was intended just to make people laugh, it has brought on a negative reaction by groups as diverse as the Christian Coalition and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD.
On a positive note, viewers do get to see many of their favorite stars in short scenes throughout the 99 minutes of chaos, as well as a few cheap laughs. All in all, you can expect your IQ to drop at least 10 points by the end of the film.