Ben Affleck's Most Rewatchable Comedy Gem Still Hailed by Redditors, 27 Years Later
The Batman actor shines in the genre which is atypical for his filmography.
Summary:
- Being recognized as a thriller and drama actor, Ben Affleck is also a great comedy performer and that is proven by his 1997 romantic comedy.
- It follows a comic book author miserably in love with a girl, who can’t share his feelings for her.
Famous for his performances in the thrillers Argo (2012) and Gone Girl (2014) and the dramas Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Last Duel (2021), Ben Affleck is not really known as a comedy actor. Even the viral pictures of him frustratingly looking nowhere present him as “sad”, building a strong, though unfair association with Affleck’s acting range.
However, back in 1997, the actor starred in a romantic dramedy, which can now seem ground-breaking, as here Affleck is obviously sad due to his unrequited love, just like in the memes, but, nevertheless, delivers quite a rare, convincing comedy performance.
The movie revolves around Holden and Banky, who are thick as thieves and are the two authors of a popular comic book. Their life-long friendship is strained by Holden’s growing feelings for Alyssa, whom they meet while promoting their new work.
One obstacle stands in the way of this romance - Alyssa is a lesbian, who seems to be entirely indifferent towards Holden. It triggers his own road to Calvary, which leads him to a number of hilarious situations and, however, to bigger inspiration for their comics.
The movie is massively praised for depicting raw honesty about failed romances and people ending up in them, unable to match the truths of life. Affleck is so believable in the role of a young man in love, comically losing the sense of reality, not though delving into an exaggeratedly stupid lovesick, but showing a dramatical aspect of this story too.
The movie’s bold humor, touching the themes of sexuality, creativity and fate, is definitely what makes a remarkable gem of it. Directed and written by the acclaimed Kevin Smith, it doesn’t lose a tiny possibility to make a curious call back or to feature an amusing visual gag, which all result in the movie’s wholesomeness.
Titled Chasing Amy, this romcom is well-recognized by both critics and simple viewers, if we take the two Tomatometer scores being more than 80% into account.
“A movie that has no doubt held up perfectly, without a single bone for anyone to pick with it,” states @MTBurgermeister about this Affleck’s flick. Redditors still remember the movie’s iconic lines and mention them while discussing Kevin Smith’s movie universe.
Check out how good Affleck is in the genre of comedy, as Chasing Amy is available for streaming on Prime and Apple TV+ .