Written and directed by Kevin Smith, this C-rated movie (C for clunkiness, of course) is the most autobiographical of his sixteen films. Like many of his earlier offerings, The 4:30 Movie<\/strong><\/em> is set in his native New Jersey. Smith has reflected that he was inspired to use local venues in his own films after seeing Richard Linklater\u2019s comedy Slacker<\/strong><\/em> on his twenty-first birthday in 1991: “It was the movie that got me off my ass; it was the movie that lit a fire under me, the movie that made me think, ‘Hey, I could be a filmmaker.’ And I had never seen a movie like that before ever in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps Smith’s insistence on filming in local venues is why The 4:30 Movie<\/strong><\/em> has such a low-budget, outsider feel to it. Nothing wrong with that in principle, but I wish Smith would have at least acknowledged that editing is a crucial and indispensable part of the cinematic process. Unfortunately, the film gives the impression that Smith has rushed this film into theaters prematurely, disregarding the advantages that careful editing could provide.<\/p>\n \u00a9\u00a0A Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s offerings over the years have included a number of horror films–like Red State, Tusk, and Yoga Hosers<\/strong><\/em>\u2014as well as works based on comic-book characters such as Batman and Spider-Man. Both these genres are perhaps more forgiving of editing lapses, but not when it comes to a romantic comedy where viewers expect greater attention to character development as opposed to action-packed scenes involving mayhem and graphic depictions. The 4:30 Movie<\/strong><\/em>, by contrast, is a psycho-emotional story that requires a different set of criteria.<\/p>\n The official synopsis of the film reveals what is at stake here: \u201cSet in the summer of 1986, The 4:30 Movie<\/strong><\/em> is a coming-of-age story about three sixteen-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local multiplex. But when one of the guys also invites the girl of his dreams to see the latest comedy, each of the teens will learn something serious about life and love before the credits roll.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/ins>\n As the credits mercifully rolled, I felt genuine sympathy with the legions of people who contributed so much of their time and talent to this film. The premise\u2014sneaking into a movie theater on a Saturday afternoon in Jersey\u2014certainly has comic potential. Admittedly, there are plenty of laugh-provoking scenes depicting mischievous teenagers trying to outwit a frustrated, pompous cineplex manager. But for the first hour or so, these escapades are mindlessly flung at us like so many pies in a slapstick flick, giving viewers little opportunity to savor any substance beneath the whipped cream.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get me wrong; I very much wanted to like this film. The 4:30 Movie<\/strong><\/em> is replete with competent and engaging cast members, notably Austin Zajur and Siena Agudong (the two lovepuppies referred to in the first paragraph above) as well as the harried theater manager, played by Ken Jeung. But we really don\u2019t get to know them or their motivations until the final moments of the film, when the two lovepuppies are seen basking in the warm glow of romance at last. It\u2019s a shame viewers have to sit through an hour or more of unedited clunkiness to appreciate what could have been a more enjoyable movie.<\/p>\n \u00a9\u00a0A Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.<\/p>\n Rating: C<\/p>\n If you like the review, share your thoughts below!<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/The-4-30-Movie1.png\")
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