REVIEW: The 4:30 Movie (2024)

Review: The 4:30 Movie (2024)

Movie Reviews

4:30 Movie Kevin Smith's film is full of '80s nostalgia, a throwback to a simpler time when people lined up to get into a movie theater that wasn't owned by a big chain, sneaked from one theater to another all day, and planned their dates with their friends – and hopefully a girl – around release schedules. It has some of Smith's signature themes – the bond between male friends, the love of movies, the perfect woman who can put your life in place, New Jersey – but he's also venturing into new territory. For the first time, perhaps outside of the world. Yoga HosersSmith focuses on high school kids rather than adults, and there's a magic in their reactions to Smith's subjects that sets them apart 4:30 Movie from his other works. It is a pity that it is not more successful; while 4:30 Movie While it has some great moments and a healthy dose of heart, it often stumbles, and never quite comes together in the way that Smith's better films do.

After missing his chance with her last summer, Brian David (Austin Zajur) goes on a date to see a movie with his dream girl, Melody Barnegat (Siena Agudong). Before the movie starts, Brian and his best friends, Bailey (Reed Northrup) and Bernie (Nicholas Cirillo), go from theater to theater to see everything at the local cineplex. But Brian's perfect day is filled with disasters, from fights with his friends to schedule changes, meddling parents to an overbearing theater manager who is hostile to Brian's crew.

Although the trailer mainly focuses on the romance between Brian and Melody, 4:30 Movie is more concerned with the friendship between the boys. In theory this is fine, but it is hurt by the fact that the main cast are not particularly good actors. I hate to say this about young people like this, but the main trio is not engaging enough to carry a movie. Austin Zajur is better here than ever Clerk IIIPartly because he's playing a character who has a reason to be in the movie, and he has some nice moments where he feels like a real teenager reacting honestly. But he doesn't have the screen presence to be the lead, and he never really shows off Brian's love of cinema the way Jason Lee did with Brody's love of comics. Mallrats. He and his co-stars, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup, often speak their lines awkwardly, but not intentionally. Of the three, Cirillo is the best as Bernie, the macho ladies' man of the group, and has some very funny moments, but his delivery is inconsistent. Reed Northrup has nothing to do, mostly being the butt of the joke, and his big scene is awkward and forced.

Far better than all three boys is Siena Agudong, who makes Melody feel like a real teenager despite being an idealized almost fantasy woman for Brian. (This is not a criticism; the film demands it, and Agudong pulls it off.) In most Kevin Smith films she has the tough job of explaining to you why the main man loves her so much, and Agudong portrays Melody as a fun, kind girl who is still a human being and can talk about sex, movies, or Chinese food like she's having a real conversation. Otherwise, the best parts of the film come from the adults, and 4:30 Movie There are plenty of cameos and cameos for many of Smith's regular cast members, each of which grabs the kids' attention when they appear. Many of these are found in the mockumentary films and trailers shown in theaters, and they're hilarious and produce some good laughs. I think 4:30 Movie More of these could have been added to make it feel like the story revolves around a movie house. Ken Jeong is a highlight as the theater manager, who serves as a sort of villain or at least foil. Jeong has a lot of fun playing a despicable little bastard who despises theatergoers and has a hard time with three people he knows are troublemakers.

If all of this seems like too much for a Kevin Smith film, especially for a more intimate film (as opposed to more expansive, ambitious films like Dogma Or Jay and Silent Bob strike back), that's because it is. 4:30 Movie It's less than ninety minutes long, and there are a lot of characters, conflicts, and plot twists for such a short time. Bailey could have easily been cut so the film could focus on Brian and Bernie's friendship, which is the real essence of this part of the film. (It would also fit the usual Smith pattern of having two best friends for main characters.) Sure, we'd lose a running joke with Bailey and Bernie, which is pretty funny, but the drama would be stronger for it. And the film would be stronger if it were mostly theatrical, instead of jumping around in place, especially at the end. That should be the centerpiece of everything that happens, the nexus of friendship and romance; by the end, it almost feels like a distraction.

That being said, some great stuff 4:30 Movie The small-town New Jersey vibe comes from the locations and the way Smith films them; most of it is at the beginning, where it should be, but watching him drive through places I used to go with my family is gratifying, and as always, you can feel how much he loves his home state. And while the movie is pretty chaotic, it still manages to pack a lot of emotion into itself, which saves it when some of the jokes don't land. The central conflict between Brian and Bernie is real, and while it's not perfectly executed, there's enough to make you care about these two staying friends. And Brian and Melody are a couple that should be supported; one thing Austin Zadur does well is make you believe that Brian loves Melody, and that that's essential to Bernie's story, too. There's also some nice music, including a song that I think was written for the movie; It's nothing special, but it's also not overly exaggerated like many modern 80s films.

4:30 Movie It's not what could have been, and it's not one of Kevin Smith's better movies – in fact, I preferred his most recent movies, Clerk III And Jay and Silent Bob RebootAnd more. It has some poor acting, some uninspiring characters, and more. But it also has Smith's usual heart, some good laughs, and a charming performance from Siena Agudong. It's not great, but it's worth watching, especially if you're a Kevin Smith fan.

Let us know what you thought 4:30 Movie In the comments!

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