(L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David within the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
Opening in theaters September twentieth is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.
Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise
Initial Thoughts
(L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David within the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
Moving away from the deconstructed horror and near-nihilistic meta comedy of his previous few movies (together with the pure despair of his final one, ‘Clerks III’), Kevin Smith appears to be in a significantly better temper with ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ a semi-autobiographical teen comedy that pulls closely from his personal adolescence and finds simply sufficient of a candy spot between his regular tasteless humor and a few genuinely earnest coming-of-age romance to maintain the movie fascinating and maybe even appeal to a number of new viewers to his walled cinematic backyard.
Smith’s newest joint advantages from good performances by his younger forged as effectively, which partially counteracts his regular tendency to park the digital camera and let scenes roll on for too lengthy. At the identical time, he can’t assist however embody a bunch of his trademark raunchy humor, and the record of visitor stars from the huge canon of his View Askewniverse could be equal components distracting, irritating, and humorous.
Story and Direction
Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
For these of us of a sure age who grew up within the New York/New Jersey space – as Kevin Smith did – “The 4:30 Movie” was a holy after-school ritual each day. Broadcast on the native ABC-TV affiliate (Channel 7, again within the prehistoric days when cable was one thing you towed a automotive with and streaming was what rain did down your home windows), this system match each theatrical and made-for-TV movies right into a each day 90-minute timeslot. The present’s themed weeks, during which it could present all 5 ‘Planet of the Apes’ movies or a string of Godzilla options, had been a vital a part of many grade-schoolers’ movie schooling.
We suspect Smith was a fan of that ‘4:30 Movie’ too, however that’s not the nostalgia that his new movie ‘The 4:30 Movie’ harvests, sadly. Instead, the title refers back to the showtime of a brand new R-rated movie taking part in on the native multiplex within the New Jersey city of Atlantic Highlands (close to the place Smith grew up) that three mates – film-obsessed Brian (Austin Zajur), girls’ man Burny (Nicholas Cirillo), and seemingly dim but observant Belly (Reed Northrup) – plan on sneaking into after paying to see an earlier PG movie they’ve watched earlier than. But there’s a brand new wrinkle to the plan: Brian has additionally invited his crush Melody (Siena Agudong) alongside. After failing to go to second base (together with her encouragement and permission) in her pool final summer season, Brian has remained infatuated with Melody and needs to take her on a correct date…along with his two finest mates alongside for the journey.
‘The 4:30 Movie’ takes place in the summertime of 1986, proper within the midst of Smith’s teen years and clearly impressed by occasions from his personal life (the movie was shot on the cineplex during which it takes place, which Smith now owns). As with all Smith movies, the plot is just a free framework on which to hold a bunch of character interactions and random incidents, most of which characteristic walk-ons from Smith regulars like Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Harley Quinn Smith, and naturally ‘Clerks’ stalwarts Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran, and Jason Mewes (spoiler alert: they don’t play their common characters right here, however the movie may be very a lot set within the View Askewniverse).
Ken Jeong as Manager Mike within the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
There are loads of moments, characterizations, and jokes in ‘The 4:30 Movie’ that fall flat, simply as there are others which are crude or, within the case of the overbearing, self-important multiplex proprietor Manager Mike (Ken Jeong), borderline offensive. But there’s a sweetness on the coronary heart of the movie, exemplified by the connection between Brian and Melody. He is shy, sexy, and immature, however respectful the place it counts, whereas she is self-possessed, assured, sensible past her years, and direct in her eagerness to be Brian’s girlfriend. Their blooming romance comes into direct collision with Brian’s relationship to his two bros, Burny and Belly, with Burny particularly having a dim view of the feminine species that one hopes he’ll finally develop out of. The scenario brings the friendship between the three to a head, altering their dynamic in methods they don’t see coming.
Those are the very best components of ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ the place Smith hits at some real emotional reality amongst youngsters who’re simply beginning to brush up in opposition to the sentiments and experiences that mark their transition to maturity. Smith’s empathy for that, in addition to his real affection for the time, place, and cultural zeitgeist during which the movie is ready, makes this one among his higher movies lately. The remainder of it – the inert camerawork, staid compositions, jokes that simply dangle helplessly within the air – in a bizarre method, they’re a part of the appeal too this time.
The Cast
(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.
Whether it’s the growing old semi-professional slackers of ‘Clerks III’ or the insipid leads of ‘Yoga Hosers,’ Kevin Smith has a knack for casting folks it might probably generally be tough to observe. With ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ nonetheless, his two leads – Austin Zajur as Brian and Siena Agudong as Melody – are two of his higher decisions. Agudong particularly is a possible star within the making, radiating intelligence, charisma, and heat, whereas Zajur is kind of efficient himself as a teen pulled in a number of instructions whereas looking for his personal.
Nick Cirillo and Reed Northrup each present their very own flashes of wit and depth as Brian’s mates, with Northrup particularly having a standout scene late within the sport. As for the remainder of the forged – effectively, it’s a marvel than Ken Jeong manages to eke out some memorably humorous strains and even a second of humanity or two because the in any other case abrasive Manager Mike, whereas Genesis Rodriguez will get a quick highlight as a box office cashier with a secret of her personal. Everyone else – Smith’s regular coterie of buddies and repertoire gamers – kind of walks via and waves.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny within the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
As we mentioned above, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ shouldn’t be prone to be a game-changer for Kevin Smith – he may achieve a number of extra viewers for this one, however his model of filmmaking is what it’s, and his fanbase is just about entrenched. When you sit down for a Kevin Smith movie, you realize what you’re going to get, and also you’re both open to navigating that or not.
Having mentioned that, this movie does have much more heat to it that his previous couple of outings, and whereas Smith at all times pours his coronary heart into his movies, that coronary heart comes via just a little extra clearly right here. It’s an ode to what he himself describes in a protracted end-credits thank-you record as a “glad childhood,” and there are moments that many people can relate to right here (together with sneaking from the PG movie into the R-rated one). Now we’d wish to see a movie about ABC’s “4:30 Movie” as effectively.
‘The 4:30 Movie’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
“When actual life sucks, REEL life guidelines!”
Writer-director Kevin Smith presents his most private movie to this point with this coming-of-age story — set in the summertime of 1986 — that follows three sixteen-year-old… Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?
Three teenage mates (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out a day outing to the native cineplex in the summertime of 1986, however their plans to sneak into a brand new R-rated movie may very well be disrupted by the irritating theater proprietor and a bunch of different characters — to not point out one of many boys bringing his dream woman to the cinema as effectively.
Who is within the forged of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?
- Austin Zajur as Brian David
- Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
- Reed Northrup as Belly
- Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
- Justin Long as Stank
- Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
- Kate Micucci as Melody’s mother
- Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
- Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films launch. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
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