DVD review (region 2)
Directed by Michel Gondry
Starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz
Release date 30 June 2008

After Jerry (Black) is zapped by electricity he becomes magnetised – which has the effect of erasing all of the videos in his friend Mike’s (Def) store. The pair decide to make their own versions of classic titles, which soon become a big hit with the locals…

Be Kind Rewind is the second time that eccentric French director Michel Gondry has worked from his own script after 2006’s The Science of Sleep. Like that film, the result feels as if it’s been oddly translated at times (the process of remaking the videos is weirdly dubbed ‘Sweding’, while there’s a rather carefree approach to plotting), but it only adds to the charm of this willfully unconventional comic fantasy.

As with The Science of Sleep, your appreciation of Be Kind Rewind could depend on how much whimsy you’re prepared to stomach. But there’s something genuinely sweet about the brand of romantic whimsy Gondry specialises in, partly thanks to his talent for bringing to life such likeable oddball characters. Jack Black, as the lark-prone Larry, and Mos Def as his slightly slow-witted friend Mike, have a natural rapport that quickly makes them feel like old friends, and they’re surrounded by an array of gentle supporting characters like Danny Glover’s ageing video shop owner and Melonie Diaz’s drycleaner Alma (though an early romantic sub-plot between her and Mike is rather abruptly dropped). Many scenes are filled with real life Passaic locals, helping to emphasise the movie’s message about the importance of community spirit.

It's also a very nostalgic movie, whether it’s characters discussing the city’s jazz history (Fats Waller is rumoured to have lived there once) or the loving ‘remakes’ of the videos themselves. And of course, these DIY productions are one of the movie’s big draws. While a couple of the choices are bizarre (Rush Hour 2 is far too recent – and not particularly fondly remembered – to be associated with the video age), for the most part the productions don’t disappoint, with hilarious lo-fi interpretations of Robocop, Ghostbusters and Driving Miss Daisy amongst others.

Equally hilarious are the improvised ‘movie songs’ that Jack Black and Mos Def attempt in one of the DVD extras, providing great alternative theme music for the likes of Carrie and 2001: A Space Odyssey. In fact (as usual with Gondry movies) it’s a decent DVD package all round: there’s an affectionate documentary in which Passaic locals chat about how the town has transformed over the years, another featurette that sees Gondry recording with jazz legends, a jovial two way discussion between Black and Gondry and much more. Matt McAllister

VERDICT: 8/10
A delightful celebration of creative freedom, community spirit and the video age.