Jay and Silent Bob Reboot now has a trailer released worldwide on YouTube and it looks incredible in a way that only 'that guy who made Clerks' can do. So if you haven't watched the trailer yet I highly suggest you do before reading on (its linked below) because I will be breaking this trailer down to the best of my ability and so like the man himself when he reviews stuff, there will be Spoilers galore!
THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING....enjoy.
First off we have The Quick Stop and RST Video (with a new sign in front of it) which is where it all started not only for his films but for Kevin Smith himself. If you don't know his story, the short version is that Kevin Smith worked at the Quickstop, a small convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey. It was here that he made his first film Clerks, and it was here that started off a career of a life time for Smith, as his film career led him into a wider world of pop culture fame as well as leading him to becoming a King of geek fandom which has landed him roles as a writer in Comics, as a Director, Actor, Cameo appearances and he also hosts the IMDb shows where he gets to meet and interview many big name stars which seems to have gained him a lot of friends over the years as this new trailer now shows.
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| The Quick Stop & RST Video from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back |
The sign covering the original RST video store says 'Cock Smokers' which is a popular phrase in the Askewniverse, being often shouted by characters such as Banky, or Jay, not to mention the wordplay on the sign which states 'Cumming Soon'. Also next to the door which Jay soon emerges from, resides the classic 'NAILS' ad poster that appeared in Clerks, but it seems even they have evolved with the times because the ad now shows a vape pen by the looks of it. Also we can just about see that the window shutter to Quick Stop is still shut, which just shows how much detail Kevin and his team really puts into these films!
When Jay emerges from the store, it's not long until the next reference graces our screens, as Jay drops his trousers, and stands in a pose we saw him in during a memorable scene in Clerks 2, accompanied by the same music 'Goodbye Horses' by Q Lazzarus. This is a great nod back to Clerks 2 when we see that Jay is bored and states that Boredom is the first step on the road to relapse. So in this film it seems that Jay and Bob have relapsed after their time in rehab, though it's not surprising after all the stuff they've been through.
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| Jay (Jason Mewes) & Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) Emerge |
We are then taken back to the Mall to visit Brody's comic book store ' The Secret Stash' (also the name of Kevin Smiths own comic book store), and we are shown a great parody image of their comic book alter ego's Bluntman and Chronic which looks very similar to 2016's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Of course this scene wouldn't be complete without Brody almost echoing his classic line from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, which sets the two off on their journey in the first place. Not to mention he still has his cup on him at all times!
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back: "Don't tell me you guys have no idea there's a movie being made about the comic book you two were the basis for!?"
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot: "Don't tell me you guys have no idea there's a new comic book movie being made of the old comic book movie you two were the basis for!?"
This is just brilliant writing right here because this is what the movie is and what the movie is about. Kevin Smith has stated over social media and in interviews that Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is essentially a Reboot of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back with returning cast members, similar if not exact same lines and of course the trip to Hollywood in order to stop this movie from getting made.
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| Brody (Jason Lee) |
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| Melissa Benoist as Chronic |
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| Val Kilmer as Bluntman |
The courtroom scene that we see next shows us a glimpse at some of the new cast members in the Askewniverse with great actors like Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike, True Blood and DCEU's Deathstroke although we may not get to see him in that role again now), as well as the return of Craig Robinson (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hot Tub Time Machine, This is the End), and Justin Long who have both appeared in previous Smith movies though none of them tied to the Askewniverse (Robinson in Zack and Miri Make A Porno, whilst Justin was the victim in Smith's horror flick Tusk and a different character in it's sequel Yoga Hosers).
His previous film appearances for Smith include the lead role in Smith's horror film Tusk, a role as a Yoga Instructor in the follow up film Yoga Hosers (which make up their own universe for Smith known as the True North Trilogy, with the third film yet to be made) and in the stand alone Smith romantic comedy flick Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Due to how he speaks in the courtroom during the short time we hear him, it seems as though Long is using the same voice he used in Zack and Miri so could this be the same character who was called Brandon St. Randy. The IMDb page gives very little info on the cast and their characters for this film so no solid connection can be made just yet, this is just my theory based on what he sounds like in the trailer.
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| Joe Manganiello |
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| Craig Robinson |
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| Justin Long |
Jay and Bob move on to the start of their journey, in what looks to be the exact same van the four jewel thieving women, Missy, Sissy, Chrissy and Justice used in Strike Back. Which in itself is like a reference to say The A Team with their trusty van which was essentially part of the cast. If there was The A Team, there was the van!
Of course this wouldn't be a Smith film (since Dogma) without the appearance of the famous Golden Calf restaurant, Mooby's! Jay and Bob stop off for their road food by the looks of things, perhaps to share with Justice since that's where they first met in Strike Back.
Shannon Elizabeth also makes a return to her previous role from Strike Back, as the love interest of Jay and former member of the all female jewel thief gang. Yes, Justice has come back into Jays life or vice versa, but she has a surprise for him...they have a daughter, who's a teenager. Who better to play Jay's teenage daughter than his best friend Kevin Smith's teenager, Harley Quinn Smith! Also Justice appears to be holding a hockey stick which is both a reference to Yoga Hosers, since Harley used one in that film due to it being set in Canada and you can't have Canada without hockey, and of course a reference to Smiths love for the sport.
Harley has been doing well over the years, as she has made her own mark on the world as a vegan activist and even with appearing in her fathers films like Yoga Hosers, she's also starring in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'. This film however, has her playing a teenager with what looks like anger issues when she threatens Jay and Bob with a knife. Oh and her character name is Millenium Falcon, cos it wouldn't be a Kev Smith film without Star Wars thrown in there somewhere.
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| Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) and Millenium Falcon (Harley Quinn Smith) |
"And on that note, we cue the music"
Another classic line from Strike Back, repeated by Brody himself as the trailer reaches the half way point.
Jay and Bob hitch a car ride once again with Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Smurfs), with this scene being very reminiscent of the time that the late great Carrie Fisher portrayed a nun in Strike Back who picked up Jay and Bob out of the goodness of her Catholic heart, before Jay tries to follow 'the book' before getting kicked out. Maybe he's learned his lesson? Either way this is another big name to add to the list of stars in this film.
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| Fred Armisen as the driver |
Blueprints play a role in this film, which is a great throwback to Mallrats! In Mallrats Jay and Bob are asked to destroy a stage to prevent TS's love interest from appearing on her fathers dating show. Jay claims that he was already going to do that anyway for fun, and that Silent Bob has the blue prints and found a weakness just like the Deathstar. So once again this is a two for one reference as it not only references Star Wars, but also Mallrats. Maybe even three references as Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith released a book in 2014 called 'Jay and Silent Bob's Blueprints for Destroying Everything'.
Oh and this new young group of girls are essentially the rebooted version of the original all female gang that picked up Jay and Silent Bob in Strike Back. The original team was formed of Missy (Jennifer Schwalbach Smit), Sissy (Eliza Dushku), Chrissy (Ali Larter) and Justice (Shannone Elizabeth) and this new team consists of the characters known as (from left to right) Milly (Harley Quinn Smith), Jihad (Aparna Brielle), Shan Yu (Alice Wen) and Soapy (Treshelle Edmond).
A raunchy quick shot scene of Jay getting some role reversal action on what looks to be a News set, whilst hilarious is probably a reference back to Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie' where a female character portrayed by Kevin Smith's wife Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, surprises cartoon Jay by penetrating him with a strap on, instead of Jay penetrating her. It's great to see this hilarious nod to their cartoon movie which ties in to the Askewniverse in many ways of it's own.
Then comes the Dogma references, as Jay gets hit over the head with a Hockey Stick, which could be a reference back to Jason Lee's three demon minions in the film who use hockey sticks as weapons to put God into a coma whilst he was in human form. However the big surprise comes when it cuts to a very big star and familiar face in Askewniverse, turns to the camera, as we see that it's none other than Matt Damon who has played himself in Strikes back but also the character of Loki in Dogma. Though Loki was killed by Bartleby (Ben Affleck) in Dogma, this could well be Loki returned as he seems to have that aura about him, and not to mention it appears as though he's sitting in a church.
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| Matt Damon possibly as Loki? |
Now it is time for my favourite part of this trailer! The part that literally brought tears to my eyes! Ladies and Gentlemen after years of hoping to see him appear alongside Kevin Smith once again, after years of following their stories of being apart and their friendship almost fading into nothing more than someone he used to know, the man himself has returned to play a vital role to this film, Mr Holden Mcneil is back with his new title 'Bluntman Beyond', Ben Affleck is back in the Akewniverse, and I don't want to speak too soon, but I am hoping this means we'll get more appearances from him in future Smith films such as Moose Jaws, or maybe Kev can write a new film for him like he did back when he wrote Jersey Girl!
I teared up when I saw Kevin tweet about Ben before, and when I saw this trailer I was so overwhelmed with joy that it was finally happening, the two were finally in contact again and Ben was finally back in a Kevin Smith film!
Not to overlook the awesome little Batman Beyond reference there but if you have followed Kevin as long as I have or longer then you understand why this was so important.
During Chronic Con we see a line up of odd looking versions of Cock Knocker, the villain played by Mark Hamill in Strike Back, and I so hope he makes another cameo for this film as well to round off all the great cameo's we've already seen. Also in this convention hall we see the many Bluntman & Chronic or Jay and Silent Bob cosplayers gathered for their special Q&A session with cast members, which is where the next two names come into it, but before that we're treated to what looks like an incredible Marvel film reference/parody as Silent Bob enters the hall dressed as prototype Iron Man from the 2008 film Iron Man which kicked of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it. This scene is completed with the visuals of inside the helmet where we see Silent Bob taking aim.
During the next quick cuts we see Justin Long sing part of the Jay and Silent Bob Get Old podcast theme song with "Yay, it's Jay... and Silent Bob", which is followed by Jay and Bob taking on the same fighting stances they used to try and knock out the two actors mentioned before, to stop the movie getting made.
Chris Hemsworth makes a cameo appearance as well, apparently as some form of hologram, during Chronic Con! This continues to show that this film might not just be another cheap Kevin Smith flick because this just adds to list of incredible big name actors we've seen in this film already just in this one trailer!
Rosario Dawson returns as Becky which should mean the return of Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks since Rosario became O'Halloran's love interest in Clerks 2, resulting in the two having a child, and re-opening the burned down Quick Stop under their own management. After all O'Halloran is credited in the IMDb credits but has not yet been shown in the trailer.
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| Jay and Becky (Rosario Dawson) |
If you've seen Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back then you probably remember the goofy scene where Jay and Bob ride in the back of the Mystery Machine, with parodies of the Scooby Gang inside, who Jay and Bob try to get high, but instead get high themselves and pass out. This time around the Scooby Gang are replaced by none other than Method Man and Redman! The scene in which they appear is clearly a reference to their film 'How High'.
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| Method Man and Redman |
And finally we are treated to another famous stoner, mister Tommy Chong of the famous stoner duo Cheech and Chong. Chong appears before Jay and Silent Bob and says "smells like this reboot, went up in smoke". This line is a reference to 'Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke' (1978). This final cameo ends the trailer and what an ending it is to this incredible vision into what Kevin has in store for us all.
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| Tommy Chong |
This could be Smith's End Game and his universe might not have as many films as the MCU but it's certainly been around a lot longer so the anticipation from fans is high, and we can't wait to see what this movie has in store for us that we haven't seen already. Part of me hopes this isn't the end of the Askewniverse, especially now that Affleck is back, but I would also feel okay if it was. Smith stated that after his heart attack, that this was the one movie he wanted to make and would have been his only regret if he hadn't made it before his own life was over, so you know this film has a lot of heart, a lot of love in it, and a lot of what makes Kevin Smith so damn good!
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