Chasing Amy

Holy. Crap. That did NOT age well at all. Holy freaking God.

I'm not going to go so far and say that Kevin Smith should be ashamed of himself. Frankly I appreciate the fact that Alyssa is perfectly capable during the entire movie of telling Holden exactly how and why he's mistreating her. But that doesn't make his mistreatment any less disgusting. The toxic masculinity in the film is breathtaking in how overt and horrible it is. Holden by turns slut-shames her and treats her like a whore. The thing that really pissed me off probably pissed me off because it actually started their romance. I resent the fact that Smith made Holden's profession of love move Alyssa in the first place. I thought it was a jerk move. He was forcing her to be the bad guy. Smith obviously doesn't understand gender dynamics or gayness if he thinks that's something that Alyssa wouldn't simply find unforgivable. Ending the scene in his arms is the wrong move.

Kevin Smith once noted in an interview that Jennifer Garner hated him and his friendship with Affleck. After seeing this, I can't blame her. What bothers me the most about the dialogue is that Smith is not really into the culture or the etiquette of how gay people should be treated. He approaches the entire topic through the lens of dirty sex and his entire interest seems to be based on lasciviousness. Tell me again why Smith should get kudos from the gay community for that. It's nasty and it's not how people should be talking to each other.

I recall I saw this movie decades ago, and I didn't like it because of the ending, and how gross and presumptuous Holden's final request was. It's much worse than I remembered it. That was the tip of the iceberg. But I will say this. Remembering and hating that horrible ending is the precise reason I found the fact that Holden and Alyssa platonically reconciled and had a kid together in Jay And Silent Bob Reboot so rewarding. The story as told in this movie sucks. But I at least am comforted in knowing Holden grows out of being such an ass and he and Alyssa are close again. Eventually. But that's a compliment due Jay And Silent Bob reboot. Not this film. I think THIS film is actually appalling. *.