Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) is a film written by, directed by and starring Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks. While centered around the two title characters, portrayed by Jason Mewes and Smith, the film features a variety of celebrity cameos, such as Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Matt Damon, Carrie Fisher, Wes Craven, Joey Lauren Adams, Jeff Anderson, Judd Nelson, Scott Mosier, Brian O'Halloran, Will Ferrell, Jon Stewart, Shannon Elizabeth, Ali Larter, Mark Hamill, Chris Rock, Eliza Dushku, Seann William Scott, Marc Blucas, Alanis Morissette, Gus Van Sant, Jason Biggs, Diedrich Bader, Tracy Morgan, Shannen Doherty and George Carlin.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a prime example of the phenomenon of "fanservice" - while maintaining its own plot, the movie has nearly constant in-jokes referencing Smith's previous four films. The title and logo for Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, in particular, are direct references to the second-released Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back.
Smith originally intended this to be the last film to utilize his View Askewniverse, or feature Jay and Silent Bob. Five years later Smith changed his mind and decided to close out the series with Clerks II, resurrecting Jay and Silent Bob in supporting roles. In the end credits for that film, however, it states the two might return someday.
The film made $30,085,147 in the domestic market, and an additional $3,703,014 overseas, for a total of $33,788,161 gross in theaters.
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a tale of adventure on the open road. When Dante and Randal (of Clerks fame) get a restraining order to keep the punchy Jay and his hetero life-mate, Silent Bob, from selling drugs in front of the Quick Stop convenience store, their lives are suddenly empty. They find new purpose when their friend, Brodie, informs them a movie is being made featuring two infamous characters based on their likenesses. After visiting one of the creators of the Bluntman and Chronic, Holden McNeil, they set out to get what fat movie cash they deserve and hopefully put an end to people slandering them on the Internet. Along the way, they learn the rules of the road from a hitchhiking George Carlin, ride with a group of gorgeous jewel thieves, and incur the wrath of a hapless wildlife marshal for liberating an orangutan named Suzanne. The quest takes them from New Jersey to Hollywood where a showdown involving the police, the jewel thieves, and the Bluntman and Chronic filmmakers will decide the fate of Suzanne, Jay, Silent Bob, and their good names. Written by Lordship
