The Case for VHS

A crowded Embassy Cinema full of festivilians sat down to watch a film all about videos. Strange to think that video is a dying technology (from a rental perspective anyway), and so it is now with nostalgia that we can look upon the quirks of the medium (the need to rewind for one; the variable image quality for another) which at one point seemed to threaten the viability of the movie industry.

But Be Kind Rewind is not a deep metaphysical pondering on the changing nature of the “cutting edge”, but much like The Science of Sleep (by the same director) is a sentimental and off the wall look at people and the world in which we live.

The story is fairly simple: after a magnetic accident, the rental videos are erased, and only the quick improvisational skills of Mos Def and Jack Black and an RCA video camera can save the reputation and existence of their store. That simple premise lets the film be inventive and creative without a huge budget, in a charming and well meaning way.

Obviously, the films The Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind gave the Director Michel Gondry a huge amount of respect, as the star wattage lighting up the screen during the film is impressive. Besides the two leads, Danny Glover shows up in his greying but otherwise unaging visage, Mia Farrow stars as the mother of a United Nations brood, and Sigourney Weaver shows up to destroy the remake of Ghostbusters. The rest of the cast were unknown to me, and some of them may have been unknown to acting classes too, but overall the whole cast work well together to give the impression of their greater New York suburb as a poor yet pleasant and community-minded place to live.

It’s hard to say too much more about the film. It is sweet, amusing, and Jack Black is Jack Black (take that as you will). It’s heart is very much on it’s sleeve, and there are no outright villains. There are just people, each with their own foible and idiosyncrasy. In the end, everyone seemed to enjoy seeing this film, which is not a bad recommendation then and there.

Verdict: Light and pleasant with a good heart. Be Kind Rewind is not hard hitting, not action packed, not special effects laden, and not a huge amount of anything. It is what it is, and is very happy with that. And I liked it too. 7 rewound cassettes out of 10.