Chasing Amy

Plot synopsis:
Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) are comic book artists and lifelong friends. Holden is the calmer, more reasonable of the duo; Banky, meanwhile, is the caustic and short-tempered half. The story opens at a comic book convention in New York City where the two are promoting their latest comic series 'Bluntman and Chronic'. During a panel discussion, they meet Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams). She is a struggling comic book writer whom is friends with the African-American comic book writer and activist Hooper (Dwight Ewell) who puts on this militant image to hide his flamboyantly gay personality.That evening, the four go out for drinks together at a local bar where Holden is attracted to Alyssa based on their conversation during a dart game. Through Hooper she invites Holden to a get together at a bar she frequents. Banks comes along and while there Alyssa is asked to sing a song. During the song Banky notices that they are in a female gay bar and that Alyssa is singing the love song to a woman in the audience and not to Holden who thinks the song is for him. The four of them end up at a booth and Alyssa and Banky have an involved conversation about sex with women and Holden is visibly upset about Alyssa being a lesbian. However, they have discovered they are both from the same area of New Jersey and the two begin hanging out, and a deep friendship develops. During their discussions it is clear that Holden has a very narrow heterosexual view on male female relationships and sex in general. The new friendship does not sit well with the homophobic Banky, who dislikes and distrusts Alyssa and is bothered by the relationship that develops between her and Holden. Holden and Banky's business relationship suffers as well -- the two had been on the verge of signing a lucrative deal to turn Bluntman and Chronic into television show and Banky feels that Holden is no longer taking their combined efforts or the TV show seriously.Eventually, Holden is no longer able to contain his feelings, and confesses his love to Alyssa. She is initially angry with him and walks away.Holden follows her and they have a heated discussion about their relationship and she walks away again. Holden is confused and while returning to his vehicle Alyssa runs up, they embrace and that night the two begin a romantic relationship. Banky walks in the next morning and finds them together sleeping on his couch in the studio. This new development worsens the tension between Holden and Banky who distrusts Alyssa and that his friend is going to be hurt when the relationship fails. Banky runs across an old friend who grew up with Alyssa who tells him a sexual adventure story from Alyssa's past. Banky reports to Holden that Alyssa participated in a threesome with two guys during high school, which earned her the nickname "Finger Cuffs" for getting it from both ends. Holden is deeply disturbed by this revelation, having believed based on their conversations about love and sex that he is the first man Alyssa had ever slept with.Holden asks advice from Hooper who tells him that if he wants his relationship with Alyssa to work, he must be honest and truthful as to put whatever is bothering him behind him by being up front with her about it and then put it behind him. Hooper also tells Holden he believes the issues with Banky is that Banky is jealous and in love with him and that his macho sexual banter is a disguise for his true feelings.The following evening, Holden confronts Alyssa while attending a hockey game and he clumsily attempts baiting her into confessing in the stands. During a tearful argument in the parking lot, she tells Holden about her youthful sexual experimentations involving men. She apologizes for letting him believe that he was the only man she had been with but justified it by saying she could see that he took pleasure in the thought. However, she refuses to apologize for her past, and Holden leaves feeling angry and confused.Later, during lunch at a local diner with the local stoners and drug dealers Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith), who were the inspiration for the Bluntman and Chronic comic book characters, Holden gives them their monthly residual pay for sales of the comic book. Here he confides in them about his troubled feelings and relationship with Alyssa. Speaking more than one line for the first time, Silent Bob mentions chasing Amy and reveals that he was once in a relationship "a couple of years ago" which was similar to Holden's. Despite the fact that he was in love with his girlfriend, Amy, his insecurities about her adventurous sexual past caused him to sabotage the relationship and leave her. Angry at himself for letting her go, he has "spent every day since then chasing Amy".Inspired by Silent Bob's story, Holden devises a plan to fix both his relationship with Alyssa and his fractured friendship with Banky. He invites them both over and tells Alyssa that he would like to get over her past and remain her boyfriend. He also tells Banky that he realizes that Banky is in love with him... kissing him passionately to prove the point. Holden suggests that the three of them should have sex with each other in a threesome so he will no longer be envious of Alyssa's broader experiences and it will resolve Banky's issues with them as a couple. Banky reluctantly agrees to participate. Alyssa is appalled and refuses, at which Banky expresses his relief. Alyssa tries to explain to Holden why his plan is so wrong. Before leaving, she states that she will always love him but her past is in the past and she will not be his whore and slaps him across his face. Banky then leaves without saying a word.One year later, the story has Banky busy promoting his own new comic book at a convention in New York. It is revealed that Holden has dissolved their partnership over Bluntman and Chronic, leaving the viewer with the assumption that he sold the publishing and creative rights over to Banky (which is corroborated in the beginning of 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'). Banky looks over and sees Holden at a distance, who silently congratulates him for his success on the new book. Banky gestures over to a booth hosted by Alyssa, and provides wordless encouragement with a hand gesture implying a coming together to Holden to go talk to her. Holden has a brief tender emotional conversation with Alyssa, and gives her a copy of 'Chasing Amy', his new comic based on their failed relationship. Holden asks her to contact him. After Holden leaves, Alyssa's girlfriend (Virginia Smith) comes back to the booth and asks who that was. Alyssa feigns indifference,casually tosses his comic on the floor behind her and replies, "Oh, just some guy I knew." She then turns to sign the next fan's material.

Tags: cult, entertaining, romantic

Review:
"Chasing Amy" is a clever and engaging urban love story that just exudes with Kevin Smith's gritty humour.
It's not everyday we get a story of a heterosexual man falling in love with a homosexual woman, and although the concept could easily have resulted in a disaster of a movie, "Chasing Amy" manages to layer everything almost flawlessly.
So is the case with Kevin Smith's wonderful film Chasing Amy.For anyone who thought that Ben Affleck couldn't act, watch this movie and enjoy how he plays Holden.
Also cast perfectly is Joey Lauren Adams as his girlfriend and Jason Lee is so good as Banky, his best friend and business partner that I really could have seen him with an Oscar nod that year.Kevin Smith's strength is that he knows how people talk and he is honest in his assessment of his characters.
Note****  If anyone is a true fan of Jaws ( and I, like Smith think it is the greatest movie ever made ) then watch for the scene in Jaws where Hooper and Quint compare wounds to be parodied hilariously in this film..
Chasing Amy is, in my opinion Kevin Smith's best movie (Clerks 2nd, Dogma 3rd) and I really don't know where to start the praise.Traditionally, Hollywood romantic comedies are...
Miles away from his usual low level comedy, in Chasing Amy, Kevin Smith manages to deliver a great rom-com with some serious undertones.There are the standard Smith jokes throughout the film, but this time they take a backseat to the touching tale of Holden and Alyssa.
It's not some glossy Hugh Grant/Julia Roberts production, instead it's filled with characters that feel more like real people, which is a nice relief.The film manages to be both moving and funny, and the cast do their best work to date (Affleck and Adams at the hockey game must rank as one of my favourite scenes of all time).
The Plot: Holden McNeil(Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards(Jason Lee) are two long time best friends and the co-creators of their successful comic book Bluntman and Chronic.
As loved as it may (deservedly) be, Clerks is remembered for the crude humor rather than the plot, while Mallrats, which was meant to be a smart, amusing teen movie, turned out to be little more than a vehicle for Jason Lee's comedic talent.
Chasing Amy is radically different: combining Smith's trademark superb dialogue, believable characters and a heartfelt story, it is one of the best, most insightful romantic comedies of the '90s, and the director's most satisfying picture aside from Clerks I and II.Whereas his first two movies kept referencing other films as soon as there was time to do so, Chasing Amy centers on Smith's second great passion: comic-books.
Afterwards, they hang out with fellow artists Hooper X (Dwight Ewell) and Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), and while Banky spends all of his time arguing with Hooper over the racism in Star Wars (one of the funniest things Smith has ever written) or the gay subtext in Archie comics, something clicks between Holden and Alyssa, and soon enough they start seeing each other almost every day.
Chasing Amy, on the other hand, is good because it really cares for its characters and whatever crudities there may be never feel excessive or out of place, but on the contrary they manage to convey the speaker's emotions more correctly (this is particularly true for Jason Lee's foolproof, energetic performance).
The central love story is honest and touching, two characteristics that are evident in the realistic dialogue and acting: Adams, who hasn't managed to find a decent role ever since, portrays Alyssa as a human being, not a stereotype, and that's what makes her scenes with Affleck, always at his best when working with Smith, compelling and almost painful to watch.Most of the time, Chasing Amy is a perfect balance between gross-out humor and tender romance, something the director kept toying with on the underrated Jersey Girl (where the jokes were less sweary than usual) and perfected with his masterpiece, Clerks II.
Overall, though, this feature remains one of the most hilarious, moving, revealing films of the '90s, with its best moment saved for the director himself: halfway through the movie, the mandatory Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith) make their appearance.
This time, Bob breaks his silence and gives a long, thoughtful speech that explains the film's title and has more to say about love and relationships than certain movies do in their entire running time.
"It's not who you love, it's how" is a great tagline for the movie.Affleck's character cannot deal with Lauren's character's past and that's the main reason why they can't maintain a serious relationship.Silent Bob in a very important scene talks about "Chasing Amy" and that's when everything makes more sense.
Smith brings his own experience to the movie and it's told in an interesting manner.SCRIPT "Chasing Amy" has a clever fast-paced script filled with funny lines and intelligent discussions related to love relationships.
Creative script that works as a comedy, a drama, or a romantic comedy with Smith's personal touch.CAST Ben Affleck gives a totally believable performance as the lead male character; Joey Lauren Adams was simply great in her role, and what can I say about Jason Lee?
He stole the show whenever he was on screen.Supporting characters like Jay and Silent Bob were a good addition and the movie asked for them.FUN FACTOR It's very high.
Overall, however, I was left with mixed feelings.Holden (Ben Affleck) is the co-creator of a popular comic strip named "Bluntman and Chronic." One day at a New York City Comicon Convention, a friend of Holden's introduces him to Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), a free-spirited, adventurous girl whom Holden instantly takes a liking to.
Joey Lauren Adams has been severely underused since "Chasing Amy," starring in undeveloped romantic roles in comedies such as "Big Daddy." Her character Alyssa in Smith's film is three-dimensional, and her outburst towards the end of the picture is heartfelt and honest.
By the time this "explanation" occurs in the movie, I had already assumed Banky was gay; Smith's desire to put it into words seemed anti-climactic and ruined the speculation.That best sums up the entire film, really -- "Chasing Amy" has its good parts, but the finished product is messy and contradictory and just too damned wordy.
She has had a lot of sex, but she says she has never with a man...so she is the ultimate fantasy woman in this movie.This is why so many young guys love this movie, it has a variation on the ultimate male fantasy (that few men would even admit to themselves, because this fantasy is so illogical).Basically the movie is full of people I wouldn't want to hang out with in real life, so why would I want to watch them on the screen.
The dialogue is incredibly forced, the acting (even from the capable Affleck) is very bad and the story is so silly it's insulting.Ok, Affleck plays a Comic book artist who falls in love with another artist who - oh by the way - happens to be a lesbian.
Tonight I watched Chasing Amy for the first time in about 4 or 5 years and realized that it's really a cheesy, cliché, predictable movie.I almost wish that I hadn't seen it again, because I remembered it as a good piece of film that was really deep and meaningful, well put together and tightly written.
Ben Aflek's performance is wooden (as usual) and Kevin's best characters (Jay and Silent Bob) are in one scene and then the appearance is wasted there is hardly any comedy there.
I know a lot of people love this film and my views are controversial, but watch Kevin's other films (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike back) and you will see why Chasing Amy is such a Disappointing film.
"Chasing Amy" tells of a guy (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Adams).
The plot: Holden Mcneil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) find their friendship spiraling downwards when Holden falls in love with lesbian Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams).
The comedy includes the hilarious Lee with his witty, unmatchable dialogue delivery and a scene with Jay and Silent Bob which is, although their shortest appearance in a View Askew movie, one of their funniest.
The dialogue here is, like all Smith's movies, laugh-out-loud-funny (Intergalactic Civil War?) to subtly weird (In one scene, Alyssa Jones mentions that she once had a relationship with Gwen Turner, who she, uh, kind of played in Mallrats).
They now work together on a comic book called "Bluntman and Chronic", which is basically Jay and Silent Bob as superheroes (Note: It's probably best that you've seen Clerks and Mallrats beforehand, as this is the third in his interconnected Askewniverse series, which refers to characters, places, and events throughout each film and has the one constant of Jay and Bob in it.)  One night, Holden falls in love with Alyssa Jones while playing darts after a comicon.
However, they become friends and and he soon enough falls in love with her, and they start a relationship, much to Banky's disgust, throwing their friendship into the trash.This film not only is a great story and a meaningful message about friendship, love, and accepting the past, but an allegory for the years before he made this movie.
Holden writes the comic in the end as an apology to her, just like Smith made the movie as an apology/Valentine to Joey.
Chasing Amy was a great Film by one of the most unheralded directors of the new generation of Film Kevin Smith.
I had no objection to the whole movie but I would have liked to have seen more of a resolution between Alyssa and Holden besides him giving a the comic entitled 'Chasing Amy' a term coined by Silent Bob in the coffee house.
Kevin Smith sure does deliver with this top film, it passes Clerks to be the best of the trilogy.
It's also my favorite Kevin Smith's movie but it's also the one that is the least like his other works despite the appearance of Jay and Silent Bob. The writing is wonderfully sharp, sounds true and is full of insights.
Holden (Ben Affleck) and "Banky" (Jason Lee) are two young NYC comic book artists who happen to be bachelor best friends.
"Chasing Amy" is an anomaly in Kevin Smith's filmography because his standard slacker characters are not in similar positions to where they are in most his films, but are in a very confused place, mentally, physically, emotionally, and sexually.
Even as a red blooded male who enjoys lipstick-lesbian content as much as the next guy, I found myself wishing that Kevin had managed to resist the urge to skip the casting couch and just cast his squeeze of the moment.Ben Affleck brings another problem to the party, and here I can quote writer/director Kevin Smith's own words (from Mallrats): he looks like a date rapist.
Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy is quite touching, quite romantic, but to be honest, I didn't find it that funny, excluding the few scenes with Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith).
But still, Smith can still evoke a few laughs here and there.Ben Affleck stars as a Comic Book artist who falls in love with Joey Lauren Adams, which is fine except for one thing- she's a lesbian.
But instead of using the typical plot line the usually goes something like: "boy meets girl, boy likes girl - girl likes boy,girl and/or boy have some deep dark cliché skeleton in their closet that isn't leaked out till the last 45 minutes of the film so then boy and girl break up , boy and girl whine and pout till the last 10 minutes where boy and girl reunite ,resolve conflict and live happily ever after(cue sappy love song)."He used sexual confusion which lets face it is a highly touchy issue with most people so when viewers realized Holden was chasing after a lesbian thats all the film became known as.These viewers will watch every single love-lorn drama where it's the same story different characters and call it poetic genius ,but the minute some real live and in your face relationship issues are discussed and also are poked fun at they can't hack it.So to these people my advice is to watch the movie again and instead of dwelling on the gay/lesbian innuendos , try to view it as a romantic comedy with dramatic undertones of self-doubt and people's perceptions and how they alter relationships and people's lives..
However all these are toned down for a love-story complicated by the couple's sexual past.Affleck plays a comic book writer who falls for lesbian Alyssa Jones (Adams).
Smith doesn't quite pull off the drama of this relationship and some of it falls flat, it's almost like Smith doesn't really know what should happen and the conclusion is a little unsatisfying.The strongest point of this film is again the humour and the exaggerated characters in this story.
Jason Lee is again the high point for me, even though he has a small role, be it swapping "giving-head" stories, explaining his love for porn or getting into a fight at a comic book convention he carries himself with the same madness that he gave to Brodie in Mallrats.Affleck is better than he was in Mallrats and brings an element of maturity to the proceedings but Adams is only so-so as his lover, although maybe it's her squeaky voice that causes me problems.
Or if you are gay, congrats, you can watch it with anybody.That said, "Chasing Amy" is a hard-hitting sex comedy from writer/director Kevin Smith who brought us "Clerks", "Mallrats", "Jay & Silent Bob" (who make a brief cameo here), and "Dogma".
Chasing Amy (1997) **** (out of 4) Comic book artists Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee) have their friendship tested when Holden strikes up a friendship with Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) who just happens to be a lesbian.
I think the film is one of the better love stories in recent decades and it just has a certain rawness that really makes you feel the passion, humor and pain of the characters.Another major plus are the performances.
There's great support from Dwight Ewell as well as several returning characters from previous Smith films.CHASINGN AMY contains the perfect mix of raunchy dialogue, comedy, romance and drama.
Chasing Amy is the third, and arguably weakest, of Kevin Smith's series of 'Askewniverse' movies, and is quite a departure from his first two offerings, Clerks & Mallrats.
When Holden (Affleck) falls for lesbian Alyssa (Adams), his relationship, both with her and with his best friend Banky (Lee) change irrevocably.
The Joey Lauren Adams character is absolutely unique in modern film: she is a sexually, emotionally, and affectionately adventurous woman who makes no apologies for the fact that she is continually exploring what she wants out of life and human relationships.
Ben Affleck was very good, and Jason Lee was hilarious.Overall, this is a very good movie for anyone that wants to see a different kind of romantic comedy, but if you're looking for a Mallrats/Jay and Silent Bob type film, this isn't it.7/10.
I think it is because I saw some aspects of the relationship between Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams) in my own past relationships."Chasing Amy" is about comic book artist Holden falling in love with a fellow artist, who happens to be a lesbian.
Affleck and Adams show great screen chemistry, which makes their pain that much more realistic and personal for the audience.Of course, a Kevin Smith movie wouldn't be complete without a visit from Jay & Silent Bob, albeit a brief one.
Add to that the unique dialogue that is the best thing in all of Smith's films and we have a real pearl of a movie.
Personally, I think Ben Affleck is not that good of an actor, but in Kevin Smith's films he really shines.
The story is about a comic book artist (Ben Affleck) and his tracer (Jason Lee) who likes to think of himself as an "inker".
Though, Kevin Smith gives a very surprisingly long speech to Ben Affleck's character explaining to him, once you find the woman you love, never let her go!
I think It shows how talented Smith is and all of it's actor are great,especially Joey Lauren Adams and Jason Lee's..
This is not the funniest one that position is held by "Clerks" however I liked this one because it was original and I loved the way characters from the other Kevin Smith movies are mentioned in this one as well as "Mallrats".
No matter what happens, I will always love Kevin Smith for this film....
This movie made me love Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams, and Kevin  Smith, long before the aforementioned actors hit it BIG.
Amy tells the story of Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck), a New Jersey comic book artist, who meets a lesbian named Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams).
Kevin Smith is the director of Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back is a pure slapstick comedy from what I believe but Chasing Amy is the best movie.
One thing I like about this movie is that Kevin Smith made this a soft movie unlike his other great work (Clerks, Mallrats).
This is by far Kevin Smith's best movie.
Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee have great chemistry, bringing to life 3 of the most unforgettable characters I've ever seen.
If I were Holden would I feel the same way?Of Kevin Smith's four movies this is visually beautiful.
After the extremely entertaining comedy of the first half of the film Kevin Smith takes his film into more serious territory as Holden's (Ben Affleck) relationship with Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) develops.