Movie Review: The 4:30 Movie
The 4:30 Movie may not be Kevin Smith's best recent film but the comedy lands enough and the cast is engaging enough that it is worth a watch.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0plWVHuSimxQ9syvwkdJJ6?si=c7LeFKIqSVO9QAzCEzkNng
I wouldn't say that The 4:30 Movie is necessarily Kevin Smith's best recent movie (Clerks III firmly has that title), however, there is something reassuring about Smith going back to his past as material for a film. This is one of those classic "mileage may vary" scenarios where the viewer buy-in is contingent on their enjoyment of the dynamic between Brian, Bernie, and Belly but they are engaging enough to make the film entertaining throughout the reasonably short runtime. The two major female characters (Melody and Genesis Rodriguez's "Usher") are a little underdeveloped and could use a little more development, however I do get the sense this will not be the last we see of these characters.
This is more directly autobiographical in a way that Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and his other movies feel autobiographical in the abstract. Considering the role that the usher plays in Brian's life (being the one to open Brian up to the possibility of being a filmmaker) it definitely feels like there are things worth exploring further within Brian's life in his quest to become a filmmaker. There is an easy sequel to make and hopefully it's not just retreading the same ground as Clerks III.
My biggest complaint about the movie besides the underbaked female characters and their role in relation to Brian is that the tape recorder that Brian uses early in the movie is not used as a narration device. Still, the film is enjoyable enough to watch. It can best be described as a really solid pilot for a show I want to see more of sooner rather than later. Check it out if it is playing in a theater near you, otherwise watch it on home media when it comes to that.
★★★★
