Be Kind Rewind (2008)

I was initially a little reluctant to see "Be Kind Rewind" after Gondry's 2006 disappointment, "The Science of Sleep." Having been a fan of Michel Gondry's work for years, "Eternal Sunshine," and several of his early music videos, I finally decided that the artistry of Gondry films typically outweighs anything negative about them. Though I felt the plot of "Science" was heavily flawed, there were moments in the film of sheer beauty and exquisite design.
Upon entering the theater, I had little idea of what to expect out of this film. I was a bit unsure about the casting of Jack Black, Mos Def, and Danny Glover, and thought that Gondry had maybe given in to a pop culture comedy as a means of "bouncing back." The trailers all seemed to genuinely creative and funny, so I decided to give the film a try.
"Be Kind Rewind" follows Jack Black and Mos Def, two young guys who work in a VHS rental store for the aging Danny Glover. When Black's character accidentally erases all of the tapes, they have to recreate the movies themselves to help the store and their aging friend survive.
I was amazed not only by the plot of "Rewind," but also the way Gondry wielded his own influence over the film. By tactically putting well-known actors in his film, Gondry was able to draw in a diverse crowd of viewers into the box office--those who enjoyed the comical antics of Jack Black and those who followed Gondry's often thought-provoking work. I think that the film worked well on both levels, while there were moments of comedy between the leads Black and Mos Def, other scenes, especially the "Sweded films" (you'll just have to see it understand this term) were funny, yet full of artistic integrity, as Gondry used urban junk to help recreate costumes and settings for the films.
The ending, which I will not give away, was very thought provoking and really had a heavy impact on me when I left the theater. It was the kind of feeling that stuck around with me for days and something inside of me would not let it go. I can't say that I have never been emotionally impacted by a film, but "Rewind" touched me in a way that no other film has to date; it's a definite must see.

3.75 out of 4