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Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz ... see more see more... , Chandler Parker , Irv Gooch , Arjay Smith , Marcus Carl Franklin , Blake Hightower , Amir Ali Said , Sigourney Weaver

When a bumbling movie lover becomes magnetized while attempting to sabotage a local power plant and accidentally erases all of the videotapes in the small video store where his best friend works, the ... read more read more...pair attempt to keep the store's loyal customer base by remaking as many of the top-renting movies as possible. Mike (Mos Def) is an employee at Be Kind Rewind, a modest mom and pop video store that is owned by Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover). Mike's best friend Jerry (Jack Black) works in an auto garage/junkyard directly adjacent to a local power plant. Lately Jerry has become increasingly paranoid about the effects that the power plant is having on his health. Convinced that he has developed a brain tumor from working in such close proximity to the power plant, Jerry attempts to sabotage the plant. Unfortunately for Jerry, his brain is magnetized in the process. The next time Jerry goes to visit Mike at Be Kind Rewind, the powerful magnetization emanating from his brain erases every videotape in the store. Now the only way for Mike and Jerry to be sure that Be Kind Rewind stays in business is to remake every film on the shelves before the customers notice. But when word gets out that Mike and Jerry have remade such Hollywood classics as Back to the Future, Robocop, The Lion King, and Rush Hour without permission, the store is threatened with copyright violations and forced to close its doors. In the aftermath of the closing, Mr. Fletcher and his employees discover just how loyal their customers really are when the entire neighborhood pools their resources to transform the junkyard into a legitimate movie studio and produce an entirely original film detailing the incredible adventures of a local jazz legend. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

188,491 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

126 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Michel Gondry

Release Date: February 22, 2008

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DVD Release Date: June 10, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (21,099)

  • cosmo313
    April 11, 2012
    cosmo313
    This is Michel Gondry's delightful ode to handmade DIY craftsmanship at it's finest. The story concerns a bumbling goofball named Jerry who, after becoming magnetized in an unlikely way accidentally erases all the VHS tapes at a declining video store where his friend Mike works. ... read moreTo fix the situation, the two decide to make remakes of all the movies, using themselves and makeshift special effects in a fashion they call "Sweding".

    Surprisingly, their no-budget remakes become a hit and actually start to help bring the store out of decline. There are some other issues being dealt with in the film though, and that's both positive and negative. This film tries to do a lot of things, perhaps too many. Not only is it about Sweding, but it also tackles the economic decline of Passaic, New Jersey, and its multicultural population. It also deals with an original film about Fats Waller that Mike and Jerry and the neighborhood residents are forced to make due to legal issues.

    You can't fault Gondry for trying to be ambitious, but I think the film is a little overstuffed and a bit undercooked in places as a result. The remake scenes actually aren't really the focus, despite what the marketing campaign would have you believe. Those sequences are some of the best in the film though, especially the single take montage wherein a half dozen films get Sweded.

    The film does have his usual, whimsical, quirky touches, and you can really tell this is a film that was designed to strike a chord with anyone who ever tried to make a film regardless of talent, money, or various other factors. This is all about making do with what you have, and that's really why this film works so well. It's just too damn charming not to enjoy.

    Jack Black gets manic, but his performance here is closer to High Fidelity than his usual shtick. Def, despite being somewhat unintelligible at times, is also pretty good, and I really like seeing him work as an actor, even though his music career is his real strength. Danny Glover and Mia Farrow give some really fun supporting roles, as does Melonie Diaz. Of course, a little Sigourney Weaver cameo doesn't hurt either.

    All in all, a good, but choppy little piece of work. Despite its shortcomings, I really do dig this, and definitely give it a solid recommendation.
  • aquateen2
    March 29, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Be Kind Rewind has a decent enough storyline but it's strength is the sweet subtext, it's heartfelt quirkiness and interesting indie stylings. And of course the belly laughs along the way and the obvious ... read moremessage that some forms of entertainment are sacred and as important as reality.
  • phubbs1
    February 9, 2012
    phubbs1
    Strange film this, most probably will become a cult. The plot is straight forward but kinda odd and really daft, not much talent on offer with the cast apart from Black, Def is one of the worst actors around and virtually unable to understand when talking.
    The whole thing is dis... read moreappointing and not as funny as I thought it would be. Its a case of the trailer being much better than the actual film haha the best parts are in my opinion, the remake of 'Ghostbusters' and that's it, after that its just not really funny, kinda stupid, the ending is also very flat, misfire for Black methinks.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    December 31, 2011
    MeetMeinMontauk
    Silly, but pretty cute!
  • CreedsDelight
    June 22, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Harmless comedy that has it's moments!
  • fb535316333
    June 20, 2011
    fb535316333
    The film focuses too much on the idea of preserving an obsolete art-form that has an "acquired taste" when instead it should have concentrated more so on the relationship between the characters making the films, bonding and uniting the community.

    Conceptually the idea is sound, ... read morebut the momentum of the film's message lost it's spark after the first half of the film. What followed was a dreary, contrive attempt at emotional impact.
  • ironclad1609
    June 8, 2011
    ironclad1609
    Not exactly your typical Jack Black comedy, and it's showing in the reactions and the expectations people had with this film. However, it is your typical Michel Gondry film, with unbelievably smart and fun imageries and camera tricks plus a very special sense of humor. The highli... read moreghts of the film are of course the low budget film versions Black and the excellent Mos Def are shooting once every VHS tape in their rental store is destroyed. Sometimes you wished that the whole film consisted of those, especially when you wonder how the jazz legend flashbacks fit into the story. But in the end it all fits so perfectly and has so much more to offer. After all, the film is a love declaration to cinema and offers such a heart-warming and pleasing solution that you wished Jack Black would only shoot films like this from now on. Lovely and quirky! As if the Royal Tennenbaums decided to shoot their own film.
  • skeletonking101
    June 6, 2011
    skeletonking101
    very funny. The film starts out kind of slow and boring, but when they start sweding the films it gets really funny and entertaining. Plus the choice of music for the film was great and very well picked. And the ending is very touching and as said the music is great and they use ... read morethe piano (My favorite instrument) for the scene
  • fb733768972
    September 11, 2010
    fb733768972
    Be Kind Rewind shows the spirit of doing things for the hell of it. If you do something wrong, there usually is a way out of it, but it's normally logical. In this case, it's very dumb, but it works so well! I love Be Kind Rewind, the characters are enjoyable, the story is intere... read morestingly hilarious, and the movie overall is great. It was a little dull at moments, but other than that fact, it was very, very good!
  • Deano78
    July 16, 2010
    Deano78
    An ok comedy film. The funniest parts are the re-makes of the films scenes. Especially Ghostbusters, and I like the home made Robocop suit. Overall not quite as funny as I had hoped for. Good idea though and great cast!

View All Be Kind Rewind Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dana Stevens
February 22, 2008
Dana Stevens, Slate

It's hard to get too cranky about a movie that, at heart, is a tribute to the joy of making things with your friends. Full Review

Claudia Puig
February 22, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Takes a clever concept and cobbles a weak story around it. Full Review

Peter Howell
February 22, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Long before the movie ends, it slips right off the sprockets. Full Review

Richard Corliss
February 22, 2008
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

Be Kind Rewind declares that the riches of cinema history touch each of us personally. Films become so deep a part of us that we own them that our memories of them, whether faithful or fanciful, becom... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
February 22, 2008
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Thick stew of awful. Full Review

Steven Rea
February 22, 2008
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A celebration of the DIY aesthetic, and of the universal appeal of movies, Be Kind Rewind is a charmingly off-the-wall little tale. Full Review

Roger Moore
February 22, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

If it isn't up to his Oscar-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it at least has Jack Black and Mos Def around for laughs. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
February 22, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Michel Gondry doesn't understand -- or, perhaps, even care about -- the normal niceties of plausible plotting, thematic structure or satisfying character development. But he does understand joy. Full Review

A.O. Scott
February 22, 2008
A.O. Scott, New York Times

It's inviting, undemanding and altogether wonderful. You'll want to see it again, or at least Swede it yourself. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
February 22, 2008
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

A surprisingly sweet comedy showcasing a manic Jack Black. Full Review

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    • Jerry: Anything you will be held against you in the court of robocop.
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