Another Pass at Another Pass at Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Case and Sam are looking back at the earliest episodes of the show! Check out their thoughts on this classic episode when Case sat down with Geoff Moonen and chatted about Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back!

 

Overview

• Episode dedicated to Kevin Smith's influence following his recent heart attack, underscoring the importance of his work in nerd culture.
• View Askewniverse detailed as an interconnected film universe that began with Mallrats and culminated in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
• Jason Mewes faced significant personal challenges during filming, impacting production due to substance abuse issues.
• Film characterized as having a weak overall plot with awkward transitions, relying on 'and then' storytelling.
• Subplot regarding animal rights deemed problematic and outdated, particularly in post-9/11 context.
• Noted lack of diversity in casting and representation, with a predominantly white male ensemble.
• Humor criticized for not aging well, featuring outdated jokes and problematic themes reminiscent of early 2000s comedy.
• Suggested structural improvements include framing devices and varying visual styles to enrich storytelling.
• Interview with Sam introduced new perspectives while affirming original hosts' critiques of structural flaws in the film.
• Overall legacy reflects a blend of quotability and cultural relevance, highlighting Kevin Smith's early comedy style compared to current film pacing.

 

Notes

Episode Context & Background (00:05 - 07:17)

• Another Pass at Another Pass podcast episode featuring hosts discussing a previous episode about Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
• Episode prompted by Kevin Smith's recent heart attack, wanting to honor his work and influence on nerd culture.
• 49-minute brisk episode with good audio quality featuring Case Aiken and Jeff Moonan discussing Kevin Smith's filmography.
• Discussion positioned as 'most meta episodes' - an episode about an episode about a movie that references many other movies.

Kevin Smith Universe Analysis (08:40 - 19:26)

• View Askewniverse explained as interconnected reality starting accidentally with Mallrats, tying together story elements from previous films.
• Movie served as intended conclusion to the View Askewniverse with Jay and Silent Bob as main characters after being minor characters in Clerks.
• Jason Mewes struggled with substance issues during filming, drinking heavily while trying to get off drugs, making production difficult.
• Film positioned as 'greatest disc two of some other movie ever made' - ultimate bonus feature content rather than standalone film.

Film Structure & Content Issues (21:58 - 48:37)

• Movie suffers from awkward transitions and 'and then' storytelling rather than consequential plot progression.
• Light plot structure with random elements, particularly weak animal rights terrorist subplot that feels dated post-9/11.
• Racial and gender representation problems - almost exclusively white cast with limited female characters in meaningful roles.
• Film's humor hasn't aged well with numerous gay jokes, misogynistic elements, and dated comedy style reminiscent of Austin Powers era.

Proposed Improvements (24:51 - 42:01)

• Restructure with framing device - open with Jay and Silent Bob at diner with Suzanne the orangutan, telling story in flashback.
• Jay as unreliable narrator would allow for cutting awkward transitions and explaining absurd elements as his perspective.
• Blues Brothers structure suggested - characters piss off everyone along the way, leading to massive chase sequence at climax.
• Different visual styles for Jay's version vs. Bob's version vs. reality to distinguish narrative perspectives.

Kevin Smith's Evolution as Filmmaker (12:18 - 42:01)

• Smith writes about his current life experiences - Clerks while working retail, Mallrats about studio experience, Chasing Amy about creative ownership.
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back represents Smith dealing with internet trolls and fan expectations in nascent online era.
• Zack and Miri Make a Porno mentioned as better examination of filmmaking process, with Jason Mewes delivering strong performance.
• Smith's limitation as visual director acknowledged - focuses on dialogue and character interactions over cinematography.

Cultural Context & Legacy (07:17 - 17:45)

• Film represents early 2000s comedy style with extended gags and slower pacing compared to modern rapid-fire editing.
• Miramax studio system comparison made to classic Hollywood, allowing for cross-pollination of actors and characters.
• Movie's quotability exceeds its actual quality as a complete film experience.
• Clerks cartoon praised as superior Kevin Smith work with only six episodes but high quality content.

️ Sam's Perspective (New Co-host) (58:03 - 01:02:25)

• Sam agrees with original hosts' assessment - movie is quotable and fun but structurally flawed.
• Acknowledges problematic elements while noting they're not mean-spirited but reflect era's comedy standards.
• Harold and Kumar comparison resonates - better execution of similar stoner road trip concept.
• Kevin Smith's wife's involvement in diamond thief subplot makes misogynistic elements slightly less problematic but still problematic.