thePULSEBy Jason Savio
The House of Blues got a little groovier in April, thanks to Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith ~ also known as Jay and Silent Bob from movies such as Clerks, Mallrats, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. This time, the duo brought the funny to the House of Blues with a screening of their new animated film Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie and a live Q & A presentation of their popular podcast, “Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.”
It had been a long seven years since Clerks II, when we last saw Jay and Silent Bob on the big screen, but their return (albeit, animated) is a welcome sight. Staying indie at heart, Smith’s and Mewes’ decision to take the movie on tour themselves, without the backing of a major studio and a traditional release, made the event feel that much more special and exclusive.
Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie is a raucous good time filled with all of the wit, humor and mischief that we’ve come to love about the two eternal slackers. Written by Smith and directed by Steve Stark, Super Groovy finds Jay and Silent Bob back at their home in front of Quick Stop, scoring big off the lottery and using their winnings to fight crime. Their super-hero secret identities? Bluntman and Chronic. What follows is a delightful romp of dirty jokes and pop-culture references in the true View Askew manner, with our enduring heroes pitted against a rogues’ gallery of super-villains only Kevin Smith could concoct, including Cockknocker, the heavy made popular by Mark Hamill in 2001’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Although Hamill didn’t lend his voice, a wide variety of other talents did, such as Ralph Garman, of Hollywood Babble-On. A comic book legend also makes a surprise appearance.
But the star of the evening was Jason Mewes. Groovy Movie is a culmination of sorts for the actor, both professionally and personally. The project marks his first credit as producer (which he shares with his wife, Jordan Monsanto) and is one of the continuing results of his new-found sobriety. After a long struggle with addiction ~ which he has been very open and honest about ~ Mewes has since gotten himself back on the right track, and Groovy Movie is a testament to his dedication and new way of living.
Smith, Mewes’ longtime friend and collaborator, made no bones about it in the live podcast that followed: Without Mewes, there would be no Groovy Movie, Smith declared; Mewes’ motivation set the wheels in motion and made Groovy Movie a reality.
Ironically, a night that included a movie with a villain named Cockknocker proved to be a touching experience. Along with all the jokes and fun, there was a whole lot of heart between Mewes and Smith, both on-screen and on-stage. And with the promise of Clerks III on the horizon, it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of the two best friends in the near future. Now that’s groovy.
For more information about Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, visit seesmod.com/groovymovie.
