Plot
Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything's going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.
Release Year: 1997
Rating: 7.4/10 (74,091 voted)
Critic's Score: 71/100
Director:
Kevin Smith
Stars: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee
Storyline A pair of comic book authors named Holden McNeil and Banky Edwards, who live in New Jersey, have been best friends since 20 years. They spend their time working in their studio, and in the evenings they are going out. But their friendship is about to be disputed for the first time in their life, when a beautiful young lesbian woman named Alyssa Jones enters their life and Holden falls in love with her. Now Holden has to deal with Banky's jealousy, and with his new girlfriend's very rich past.
Cast: Ethan Suplee
-
Fan
Ben Affleck
-
Holden McNeil
Scott Mosier
-
Collector
Jason Lee
-
Banky Edwards
Casey Affleck
-
Little Kid
Dwight Ewell
-
Hooper X
Joey Lauren Adams
-
Alyssa Jones
Guinevere Turner
-
Singer
Carmen Llywelyn
-
Kim
(as Carmen Lee)
Brian O'Halloran
-
Jim Hicks - Executive #1
Matt Damon
-
Shawn Oran - Executive #2
Alexander Goebel
-
Train Kid
Tony Torn
-
Cashier
Rebecca Waxman
-
Dalia
Paris Petrick
-
Tory
Opening Weekend: $52,446
(USA)
(6 April 1997)
(3 Screens)
Gross: $12,006,514
(USA)
(28 September 1997)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Banky's comic "Baby Dave" is a reference to David Klein, director of photography for
Clerks.,
Mallrats and this film.
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
In the scene where Banky and Alyssa are sharing "oral sex injuries" tales, Banky comments that he cant move his head very far on the right. But right before, when Alyssa is kissing Kim, and he realizes he's in a gay bar, he tilts his head to the right (which is a constant Jason Lee move).
Quotes:
[first lines]
Comic Book Writer #1:
I don't know. I love Chow Yun Fat. I just don't see him playing Batman.
User Review
Great!
Rating: 8/10
"Chasing Amy" is a clever and engaging urban love story that just exudes
with Kevin Smith's gritty humour. The film's examination of sexuality, and
everything involved with it, doesn't for one second sound untrue, even when
it makes sure that everything being pointed out is expressed frankly and
colourfully. 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. There are no predictable pitfalls in this film, and
nothing is wrapped up in a neat little package. We are offered a group of
characters that are likable but flawed, who don't always get, or give, what
we would usually expect. I have to say, I never knew what was going to
happen next, it manages to be consistenly offbeat without being
unrealistic.
Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams have incredible chemistry together,
perfectly displaying all the emotional complications a relationship as
eccentric as theirs would have. Jason Lee was also outstanding in his role
of the vaguely jealous best friend. The only thing that bothered me about
this film was there was too much YELLING!! and it was slightly uneven at
times. But generally I liked it a lot, and I'm just thankful that Kevin
Smith is producing such fine work like this, it is truly a refreshing
escape
from Hollywood's formulaic sap.
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