Another DVD from Sam, this was one of those lighthearted choices. It was a fairly formulaic take on the underdog/community-building genre but very funny. I eventually (but still during the course of the movie - maybe my movie brain is improving...) worked out the title. It's the same as the name of the video store in which it's set, and the video store is called that because all video stores want their customers to be kind and rewind the videos before returning them. Of course, that's lost on the DVD generation. I'm still trying to work out if there's a hidden meaning for the plot or an underlying theme or something, as the movie was released in 2008.
So, themes and good things about this movie:
I must admit, a lot of the time I was thinking of Marge Simpson: "This town is a part of us all. A part of us all!" And, when a lot of places are struggling with community, the lack of it, and the problems that follow from that, the ideas in this movie are good. Fairly early on, Jerry (Jack Black) is asking Mike (Mos Def) why he doesn't get out, what's so good about this place, and Mike replies (like it should be so obvious), "The people". It takes a whole movie to convince Jerry otherwise, of course. But when they need the whole community to come together, they involve the whole community in this project, and make them feel a part of this neighbourhood.
Which is also a part of the other side of this movie, the validation of self worth. When Mike is left in charge, and he can take control and solve the (rather drastic) problems himself, he feels good about himself and his place there. When Mr Fletcher (Danny Glover) returns and negates all the good work Mike has done, he feels worthless. So, just like Winona Ryder's character in Girl, Interrupted, when we are appreciated and valued by others then we feel like worthy human beings.
Music - ah, music. Much of the sub-plot is derived from Mr Fletcher's lies to Mike regarding Fats Waller (Mr Fletcher has told Mike that Fats was born in the building in which they live and work, so that Mike might feel more pride in where he lives). If you're not familiar with Fats, find some on Youtube. I grew up listening to Fats Waller, so the soundtrack was all old favourites. Well, mostly. Hearing Jerry singing his version of the Ghostbusters theme... different! One huge surprise for me was hearing the young kids singing - when asked to sing, they broke into a version of the song Fuzzy Wuzzy. I was surprised because this was one of the songs we had to learn for summer school, and I did not think of it in any context other than teaching! (Good to know the songs we learn are not all obscure).
The blokes, with token female/love interest Alma (Melonie Diaz) make some really funny movies, and the whole thing highlights necessity being the mother of invention. Not to mention, science being quite useful in the everyday world... Although it was a great choice for me for last night (a bit brain dead), it might not get a second viewing. Unless I need a great laugh, of course.
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