Chasing Amy turns 25: Bonus Cinematic Throwback

Kevin Smith in the 1990s was a HUGE deal. Clerks in 1994, Mallrats in 1995. These were HUGE movies for me, and were massive movies for my friends as well. Constantly referencing these movies every day at school. 

So here comes his third film, Chasing Amy. Myself and a couple friends cut out of school early one Friday to go catch the first showing.

It's hard to describe what it felt like to experience this film for the first time. I loved it instantly, of course, although at the time I'm not sure if I immediately placed it higher than his first 2 films.

Like Clerks, this film has a whole lot more going than just vulgar comedy. It's no mystery why these two are the ones that have most endured. 

So, just the quickie plot. Ben Affleck (Holden) and Jason Lee (Banky) are a couple of comic book artists. They meet a fellow artist, Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), who Holden falls hard for, only to soon discover she is a lesbian. It's a sly riff on the romcom formula where there is always some kind of obstacle keeping the leads apart. 

The first act is right in line with Smith's movies up to that point. Tons of laughs and pop culture references. Tons of lines that I quote to this day. Just a trace of seriousness, but mostly this is a very cheerful movie. 

But in this case that's just Smith softening us up for the turn. The turn comes during a rain-soaked declaration of love from Holden to Alyssa, arguably the best written scene of Smith's career (and Affleck nails it). They embark on a relationship, which causes major problems between Holden and Banky, who also winds up digging up information on Alyssa that eats away at Holden.

Now, when this film came out I was but a mere high school geek with no dating experience. But I wound up relating to this film in a big way as the years went on. I kinda lived this movie once. But this film is actually very insightful about guys insecurities in relationships with women who are more experienced. Holden is a character who presents as very open minded but then is presented with some dirty secrets about Alyssa and can't handle it. I've been there. For a movie that does classify as romantic comedy, it is vastly more real and messy.

And because this stuff only clicked with me later, this is a film that only has grown in stature with me. Same thing happened with Clerks.

Amidst that very serious back half of Chasing Amy, we get an appearance by Jay and Silent Bob. It's my favorite scene ever with them. Bob tells a personal story that lends the film its title. It is easily the best acting Smith has ever done btw (it sucks how all he ever does now as the character is mug shamelessly).

And it sets up the finale, where Holden unveils his very stupid plan to get over his drama with Alyssa and Banky. It's a ludicrous plan but he gets called on it instantly, and the scene ends on just as sad a note as possible. As does the very last scene which takes place a year later. It's such a bittersweet ending. 

Later View Askew films brought back these characters for a few cameos. Holden has a great scene in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, in which Banky has a key part. And the best scene in Reboot put a great bow on the Holden-Alyssa relationship.

I came out of this film changed, as cheesy as that sounds. I was not exactly mature back then when gay people were the topic. A certain F word was one of my go-to insults. But seeing that kind of mentality reflected back at me with Banky woke me up. This didn't hit one of my friends the same way. He was just mad the movie didn't have more Jay and Bob stuff.

Chasing Amy was very successful. It got Smith's career back on track after the box office and critical flop of Mallrats. The movie only cost 250k to make but made some of that good 90s indie money. It got great reviews. It won some awards.

Easy to forget now, but at this point Affleck was only really known for playing douchebags in Dazed and Confused and Mallrats. This was his 1st lead, and led into Good Will Hunting, then Armageddon, and he was off. Sadly Joey Adams never got that bump. She is phenomenal in this film, but never got another lead in anything anyone saw, and barely got into anything period. I get that the squeaky voice may have been a roadblock, but come on. She deserved better.

This stands with Clerks as easily my favorite Smith films. I don't have a firm top 10 of all time but Chasing Amy is either in it or close. Smith remained one of my favorite directors for a while after this, but he never again found this balance between comedy and heart.