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carl_sussman
Reviews
Mallrats (1995)
Good Film, Bad Cast
Most people don't like Mallrats. Some people downright loathe it. But there are a few of us who love it. I love Mallrats because it does the one thing that any comedy should do -- it makes me laugh, and often. Kevin Smith is a gifted comedic screenwriter, and his talents are on full display here. He displays a thorough understanding of the characters he writes, and the audience, or at least his target audience, can recognize them as people we know. Of course the film is written with cartoonish exaggeration, but many great comedies are. If Smith goes overboard at times in Mallrats (which he has acknowledged he did), it is a forgivable sin. The criticism of the major players, however, is fully justified. With the exception of Jason Lee, whom I find one of the most consistently funny actors in Hollywood today, the principals give completely wooden performances. Nor are they aided by Smith's direction, which seems to have consisted of point and shoot. Nevertheless, some of the smaller parts are well played, including those of Ben Affleck and Joey Adams, whose talents were put on fuller display in Chasing Amy. Through it all, the very funny and witty screenplay shines, making Mallrats worth watching.
Two Ninas (1999)
A Very Entertaining (If Predictable) Film -- Mild Spoilers
The plot of Two Ninas is a familiar one, revolving around Marty, a perennial failure with women who wishes he could be more like his player friend, Dave. Marty gets his chance when circumstances contrive to introduce him to two women, who both happen to be named Nina. Marty begins dating them both, and the film traces the progress of the two relationships. All of this is fairly conventional, but the film is very well written, and well executed. The dialogue is generally believable, and there are many genuine laughs. Of course, as is obligatory in such films, it takes Marty far longer than it does the audience -- or any reasonable person -- to realize which Nina is right for him, and, inevitably, his realization comes too late to avoid disaster. The movie falters, moreover, at the ending, which anybody who has ever seen a movie will see coming from a mile away. Nevertheless, getting there is considerably more than half the fun, and the trip is worth taking. All romantic comedy fans should enjoy it.