Rent Be Kind Rewind (2007)

VH Yes! - Be Kind Rewind review by griggs

Be Kind Rewind might be an old-school pick now—VHS tapes feel like ancient relics—but its scrappy charm still holds up. It feels like something you would’ve thrown together in a garage—wonky costumes, dodgy props, and all. The homemade film remakes are pure joy: daft, messy, and full of heart. Jack Black’s in full chaotic mode, and while the plot’s thin, the DIY energy and sweet nostalgia make it a real treat.

If you liked this, try Superboys of Malegaon—same joyful, handmade spirit.

Great idea, disappointing execution. - Be Kind Rewind review by CP Customer

When local whack job Jerry manages to get himself magnetised in a freak accident sabotaging a nearby power substation, the entire stock of a rundown independent video rental store is accidentally wiped clean by his strong magnetic field. The assistant store manager Mike, left in charge while the store’s owner is out of town, teams up with Jerry in attempt to re-film the movies themselves. Surprisingly the homemade 20 minute long remakes become a huge hit with their customers and Jerry and Mike inadvertently create and new cult genre of film which they name "Swede", soon it’s not long before people are queuing around the block requesting for their favourite movies to be "Sweded". The first 20 minutes of ‘Be Kind Rewind’ starts off with great promise with Michel Gondry’s unique surreal style, and the remake of Ghostbusters was pure genius and had me laughing out loud. Sadly the film rapidly tails off into a dull Woody Allen type story with a schmaltzy ending. Overall this is a film with a clever and original story which is ruined by a half baked script and poor execution. If you’re a fan of Michel Gondy it’s worth a look but chances are you’ll be disappointed.

A Series of Shorts - Be Kind Rewind review by CP Customer

Another promising idea not fully realised by the talented Michel Gondry. There are some really funny and inspired moments in Be Kind Rewind. Just like most of Jack Black's back catalogue of work it is very hit and miss. When Rewind hits the spot it can be very refreshing. The short films that the amateur team creates on a limited budget are wonderful, very imaginative. For some reason they've tried to implement a back story to snare these novellas into one coherent piece and failed. A couple of short films don't make a decent movie!