Be Kind Rewind (2008)

65% of critics liked it
(126 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(188,491 ratings)

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 pair attempt to keep the store's loyal customer base by remaking as many of the top-renting movies… More 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 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Michel Gondry
Written By: Michel Gondry
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 22, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 2008
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

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.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Takes a clever concept and cobbles a weak story around it.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Long before the movie ends, it slips right off the sprockets.
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, become their meanings.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Thick stew of awful.
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.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
What a foul junkyard of Quirk it is!
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A glowing valentine to creativity in opposition to commerce.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Sua natureza auto-referencial transforma o filme numa grande homenagem ao próprio cinema.
Christian Toto, Washington Times
Be Kind Rewind should gather dust on both DVD and VHS shelves.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
Once the movie starts finding its focus it becomes a very unique experience
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
A surprisingly quiet and whimsical comedy about a ridiculous and unlikely series of events that turns into a nearly-as-likely miracle. Best bit: the film's own Sweded preview.
Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies
An ode to finding one's creative side and the joys of being able to share one's creations with others.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
Nothing can save this overambitious enterprise embarked upon by a couple of idiots, full of sound and fury but ultimately signifying nothing.
Willie Waffle, WaffleMovies.com
Tackles the hackneyed with the tender hand and heart of writer/director Michel Gondry.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
For Michel Gondry, [the film] becomes a kind of folk art spin on Hollywood gloss and a tribute to his own preferred style of filmmaking...
Robert Davis, Paste Magazine
But with a skill that is difficult to pinpoint, Gondry seems to stumble like a fox from this paper-thin plot into a precious little ode to community.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Good-hearted and intelligent, Be Kind Rewind still lacks for the gravitas of The Science of Sleep.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
A people's cinema rough cut heart so squarely in the right place over in Passaic as opposed to Hollywood, that it's pretty much hard to resist.
Richard Knight, Windy City Times
Director Michel Gondry delivers the first great film of 2008.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

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… More
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. To 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.
Directors C

[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… More
[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 message that some forms of entertainment are sacred and as important as reality.
Phil H

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… More
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 disappointing 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.
Jennifer D

Silly, but pretty cute!
Matt G

Harmless comedy that has it's moments!
Drake T

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… More
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, but 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.
Jens S

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… More
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 highlights 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.
Michael E

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 the… More
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 the piano (My favorite instrument) for the scene
KJ P

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… More
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 interestingly hilarious, and the movie overall is great. It was a little dull at moments, but other than that fact, it was very, very good!
Dean !

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!
Candy R

A guy is looking after a video store when the tapes are returned because they are blank. He and his friend set out to recreate the movies as they figure the people don't know the movie storylines. They make eg ghostbusters and rush hour 2, lion king and robocop on a budget. Funny… More
A guy is looking after a video store when the tapes are returned because they are blank. He and his friend set out to recreate the movies as they figure the people don't know the movie storylines. They make eg ghostbusters and rush hour 2, lion king and robocop on a budget. Funny movie.
Richard C

it's good but not great. B-
Conner R

I really never appreciated this the first time I saw it, but ever since then I've been able to love it and admire it a lot more. The basic plot alone is worth it: two idiots trying to remake movies with a vhs camcorder in the span of 40min. Then there's the overlaying theme… More
I really never appreciated this the first time I saw it, but ever since then I've been able to love it and admire it a lot more. The basic plot alone is worth it: two idiots trying to remake movies with a vhs camcorder in the span of 40min. Then there's the overlaying theme of history and preservation of art that really sink in to the very contemporary issue of outdated technology and how it is being destroyed and unrecognized. I love the characters, Jack Black working at a microwave power plant and wearing a metal hat is just too original and priceless to see executed. I think anyone who's ever tried to make a movie should watch this, just to see the trouble you've probably gone through.
Lafe F

The story is really about a tribute to legendary musician Fats Waller than about a couple of video store dudes re-making low-budget versions of famous movies (which only comprises about 20 minutes of the film).
Stuart B

Its ok but not great. Get back on track Jack Black
Anthony L

Good film but I was a little disappointed as I'd hoped for a little more. This movie is really 3 films in one, it?s also got a very clichéd underline story that we've all seen before. The remakes are the best bits. It?s a film about doing remakes that feels like a remake… More
Good film but I was a little disappointed as I'd hoped for a little more. This movie is really 3 films in one, it?s also got a very clichéd underline story that we've all seen before. The remakes are the best bits. It?s a film about doing remakes that feels like a remake with a biography thrown in. It?s confusing and a little schmaltzy in places but Gondry's signature visuals are present and impressive and Glover and Def are good. Black is Black but not too annoying. All in all I liked it!
Lewis C

I had sky-high hopes for Be Kind Rewind after seeing its trailer. It looked just like the kind of quirky, offbeat kind of movie that can be a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, the actual film didn't live up to the previews. The movie was quirky, but it was so forced that it… More
I had sky-high hopes for Be Kind Rewind after seeing its trailer. It looked just like the kind of quirky, offbeat kind of movie that can be a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, the actual film didn't live up to the previews. The movie was quirky, but it was so forced that it was difficult to enjoy. The characters weren't particularly memorable or endearing, and some of them were so unbelievable that it just hurt the overall atmosphere. And it's definitely a bit on the slow side. Once Mos Def and Jack Black finally start making the movies, things pick up a little...but that's not enough to redeem this mild disappointment. I don't really care if I ever see this again.
Film C

i was really disappointed in this movie the storyline was crap and the laughs were few and far betweeen i probably wouldnt waste my time watching this movie!! such a let down
Dan S

Interesting premise regarding to losers running a video store is squandered badly by formulaic plotting and a more than disappointing conclusion. It's also surprisingly badly acted throughout, it seems everyone's in a rush to get this entire movie done quickly. This is very… More
Interesting premise regarding to losers running a video store is squandered badly by formulaic plotting and a more than disappointing conclusion. It's also surprisingly badly acted throughout, it seems everyone's in a rush to get this entire movie done quickly. This is very unlike Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"), as this "comedy" has it's share of laughs, but they're few and far between.
danny d

this flick was inventive and hilarious. it was a bit rediculous at moments and it didnt quite grab onto the charm it seemed it was looking for, but the often annoying jack black was actually pretty good and mos def was solid as always. an enjoyeable watch with solid laughs.