Be Kind Rewind

C+

Directed by Michel Gondry

Michel Gondry, erstwhile music video director and Charlie Kaufman collaborator, likely has more creative and unique ideas come to him in a few seconds than most people do their entire life. Indeed, a lack of creative vision is something that Gondry's films will probably never be accused of. Unfortunately for Gondry, making a good film is not simply a question of rolling out an endless stream of whacky ideas loosely tied together to form a mildly cohesive story which appears to have been the game plan with "Be Kind Rewind."

Rap star/television actor/film actor Mos Def stars as Mike, an employee in a small video rental store in beautiful Passaic, New Jersey. When his boss Elroy (Danny Glover) leaves for a few days and leaves Mike in charge horror strikes as Mike's friend Jerry (Jack Black), recently magnetized following a failed attempt to sabotage a nearby power plant, erases the entire contents of the store (they're still rocking the VHS, by the way). Facing the wrath of the store's handful of clients who want to watch such classics as "Rush Hour" and "Ghostbusters" but cannot due to Jerry's bungle, Mike and Jerry set out to make their own, home made versions of these cinema classics in hopes that their clients either wont know the difference or will be impressed enough to let it slide. The result is a process Jerry dubs "sweding," which consists of crude, homemade remakes starring himself, Jerry, and local dry cleaner Alma. The "Swedes" quickly become a hit and Mike' s store starts pumping out numerous more VHS hits for its new and adoring public.

Gondry's ability to come up with truly original concepts for his film's is undeniable and watching Mike and Jerry "swede" such classics as "Driving Miss Daisy" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" is a hilarious experience. However, beyond the "sweding," there really isn't too much here to recommend. None of the relationships in "Be Kind Rewind," from the father/son bond between Mike and Elroy to the best buddy relationship between Mike and Jerry or the budding romance between Mike and Alma, are given anything more than a cursory glance by Gondry who seems more interested in showing us how active an imagination he has. The result are frustratingly semi-three dimensional characters that lack little depth or development. "Be Kind Rewind" also suffers from a porous script and a sloppy denouement that not only lacks a satisfying resolution but also fails to capitalize on some of Gondry's most interesting concepts. Mos Def and Jack Black, although both good actors in their own right, don't make a very efective pairing either, Black's off the wall excitability mixing poorly with Mos Def's simple, quit incarnation of Mike.

There are some great moments in "Be Kind Rewind" but for a film like this, one that obviously wants to celebrate the importance of community and the creative process, to have such an obvious lack of soul is disappointing.