Chasing Amy

 

Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy (1997), his third feature film, is an entertaining look at that popular cinematic musing -- is platonic love ever possible between men and women?

Smith -- whose films are often dialogue-heavy, pop culture and profanity infused, self-referential tales set in New Jersey -- amps up the wattage in this film by having the couple in question, comic book creators, a straight man (Ben Affleck) and a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams, whom Smith was dating at the time). Holden and Alyssa are introduced by a mutual friend, the Black gay writer / artist Hooper (Dwight Ewell), at a Comic Con and immediately begin friendly sparring. The comic book Affleck's Holden draws with BFF Banky (Jason Lee), Bluntman and Chronic, is hugely popular while Alyssa's radical feminist book is a boutique item. They find common ground and find themselves pulled into each other's orbit. Banky grows resentful as the unlikely romance takes flight, which eventually ends up with Holden being forced to choose.

Smith's films, Chasing Amy included, are semi-autobiographical stories directed at viewers who swing between cynicism and hope. To them, life is not about the destination, which is unknowable, but the journey.

Smith's characters often display emotional and sexual fluidity. This perspective carries Chasing Amy through some interesting territory as characters discover new ways to connect that go beyond society's rigid expectations and demands.

It's easy to see why it resonated with many LGBTQ+ audiences -- but may have been dismissed by others because of Alyssa's confliction.

The Amy in the title represents past relationships, which were often unhealthy, that we refuse to let go.

All reacti