2001, Running Time, Rated R for nonstop crude and sexual humor, pervasive strong language, and drug content.�Dir: Kevin Smith. Cast: Kevin Smith (Silent Bob), Jason Mewes (Jay), Jason Lee (Banky/Brodie), Shannon Elizabeth (Justice), Eliza Dushku (Sissy), Ali Larter (Chrissy), Jennifer Schwalbach Smith (Missy), Seann William Scott (Brent), Will Ferrell. (Cameos include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, James Van Der Beek, Jason Biggs, Shannen Doherty, Joey Lauren Adams, Carrie Fisher, George Carlin, Mark Hamill, Jon Stewart, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, Jules Asner, Steve Kmetko).

I could use some silliness today. Goodness knows, I felt silly enough asking for a ticket to a movie called Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Waking up Friday morning I still wasn't sure I'd see it, that is until I started to read reviews that called it dumb, but funny.

This is a flick I expect many of you to ignore. Then again, maybe some of you will sneak in anyway. Inexplicably, a blue hair was sitting in the row next to me. I still think she meant to go to Captain Corelli's Mandolin next door, and was too embarrassed to get up and leave, admitting her mistake. But the crude humor and very very bad language still would've driven anyone else from the theater, so maybe she was related to the key grip.

Even still, I have to admit that this movie is many times pretty expletive-deleted laugh-out-loud hilarious.

Director Kevin Smith (Dogma, Chasing Amy) reverts to Mallrats form, but this time with a bigger budget he gets to blow stuff up, rip every clich� in Hollywood and has fun at everyone's expense, including his own. There's a lot of self-depricating humor among the cast, notably Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, and the whole Miramax family.

Never fluid in his direction, Jay and Silent Bob is made up of several little parts pieced together by a silly plot - the easiest one to do, a road trip. Supporting characters in every Smith film, this time the title characters start off at home in New Jersey before setting off on a cross-country adventure across America to prevent a film being made about them.

Smith reprises his Silent Bob role, as the wise pothead who rarely speaks, but when he does it is profound. Jason Mewes, as Jay, is like a windup toy that never stops. The only other real character is by Shannon Elizabeth, who is muy caliente, but even more the cutie when trying to look nerdy.

Otherwise there are lots, and lots, and lots, of cameos. All of which are humorous, save one. Chris Rock needs another bit. Constantly bemoaning being a black man in Hollywood is getting tiring, and he's run the gamut of that being the least bit funny anymore.

So if you like Clerks and/or Mallrats, then you'll probably have a good time. If you've never even heard of those movies, then maybe you should pass.

Snootchie bootchies!

The verdict:

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