Chasing Amy
R
1997
Comedy · Nearly two hours that mostly earns its length through character development.
Solid crowd-pleaser
7.2/10
IMDb
86%
Fresh
71
71/100
Metacritic
🎬
6.8/10
TMDB
The brief
Kevin Smith's most grown-up movie trades his usual stoner comedy for something messier and more personal, anchored by Joey Lauren Adams' magnetic performance as a woman who refuses to be anyone's fantasy. Ben Affleck actually acts here instead of just existing, and the dialogue crackles with Smith's trademark pop culture riffs while tackling genuine relationship complexity. It drags a bit in the middle and some of the sexual politics feel dated, but when it connects, it really stings. Perfect for fans of Before Sunrise who can handle some very 90s attitudes about sexuality and a hefty dose of comic book shop banter.
indie relationship comedy
comic book culture
sexual identity exploration
90s slacker angst
pop culture dialogue
romantic confusion
The verdict
If you love dialogue-heavy relationship dramedies with sharp pop culture wit and can appreciate a more mature Kevin Smith tackling genuine romantic complexity, this is his best work with standout performances from Joey Lauren Adams and a surprisingly committed Ben Affleck. If you're expecting typical Kevin Smith stoner laughs or get put off by very 90s sexual politics and comic book shop banter, you'll find this too talky and dated for your taste.
Watch with
- 👫 Date night for couples comfortable with complex relationship topics
- 👥 Friends who love Kevin Smith's dialogue style
- ⚠️ Skip if uncomfortable with frank sexual discussions
Heads up
- Explicit sexual discussions and situations (frequent)
- Homophobic language (period-typical) (moderate)
- Strong language throughout (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Kevin Smith
- Cast
- Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ethan Suplee
Official synopsis
Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything is going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic
