FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Do you read Archie? (Okay, did you?) What do you think his relationship with Jughead is? Are Archie and Jughead lovers? Or, is Archie really just trying to get Betty and Veronica into a threesome? If these images make you laugh and wonder about everyone at Riverdale High, Chasing Amy is worth checking out.Meet Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee), lifelong buddies, and now partners with their own cult comic book. At a comic book show, they meet Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) and Holden thinks he's found the girl of his desires and dreams. Surprise... Alyssa is playing for the other team. Chasing Amy explores the boy-meets-girl, not-sure-what-to-do-now story in a way other films wouldn't. It doesn't take the three boring, predictable paths of: a) making it cute, b) getting a macho guy to straighten this woman out or c) steering clear of subjects that affect box office receipts.
Writer / director Kevin Smith delivers the same realism and sarcasm he did in Clerks. The characters are people you know and some of the places they're going might be familar territory. Jason Lee plays a convincing Banky as the hardened-know-it-all friend. We know he's not going to like Holden chasing Alyssa and will be the friend who says: "This is all wrong." But how much love advice should we take from a friend who carries a stack of porn magazines on a trip because he wants his reading material to suit his mood? Just like in real life - why do we take our best friend's advice when our brain says "no!"?
The film takes on subjects that most would prefer to sweep under the rug (like the fact our best friend has a big porn collection) and brings them out for discussion. Not in the mood for things you think belong under the carpet? Relax, it's funny and doesn't take a stand. When was the last time you went to a film where the characters talk about oral sex? Banky and Alyssa have an uninhibited, frank discussion that you can't help at least giggle at. At the same time, Smith's script asks the characters and audience to visit subjects they say they're open about, but never thought they'd have to go to personally. It's refreshing (and amusing) to see a film that throws open questions about relationships and sexuality without taking the politically correct road to the box office. But if you didn't like the Archie bit, maybe you should stay home and watch a nice, pabulum love story.
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