Released in 1997, Chasing Amy was the third film in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse, but it felt very different from Clerks or Mallrats. Those films were mostly built around jokes and goofy situations. Chasing Amy still has plenty of humor, but underneath it is a much more personal and emotional story.
The film was written and directed by Kevin Smith, and it remains his strongest work. Smith was still working with a relatively small budget, but he used that limitation to his advantage. Instead of focusing on big moments or flashy scenes, he built the movie around the characters and the dialogue.
Ben Affleck stars as Holden McNeil, a comic book artist who unexpectedly falls for another artist named Alyssa Jones. Affleck gives one of the best performances of his early career here. Holden can be funny and likable, but he is also immature and insecure, which becomes a major part of the story.
Joey Lauren Adams plays Alyssa, and she is the heart of the movie. Adams gives a terrific performance that is funny, charming, and emotional. Alyssa feels like a real person rather than just a love interest. She has her own personality, her own flaws, and her own history.
The plot begins when Holden meets Alyssa at a comic book convention. The two hit it off immediately and form a strong connection. The complication is that Alyssa is a lesbian, and Holden assumes that means there is no chance of anything more between them.
As the story unfolds, Alyssa and Holden grow closer and eventually begin a relationship. At first things seem great, but Holden’s jealousy and immaturity slowly begin to create problems. He becomes obsessed with Alyssa’s past, and that is where the film takes a much more serious turn.
What makes Chasing Amy stand out is how honest it feels. Kevin Smith is clearly drawing from personal experience, and the movie is at its best when it deals with insecurity, regret, and the ways people can ruin something good through their own mistakes.
Jason Lee is also excellent as Banky, Holden’s best friend and creative partner. Banky spends much of the movie reacting badly to Holden’s relationship with Alyssa. Lee brings a lot of humor to the role, but there is also something deeper going on underneath the jokes.
Of course, Jay and Silent Bob also appear, played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith. They provide some comic relief, but Silent Bob also delivers one of the most memorable and surprisingly emotional scenes in the entire film.
The dialogue is one of the film’s strongest elements. Kevin Smith has always had a talent for writing conversations that sound real while still being funny and entertaining. The characters talk a lot, but the movie never feels slow because the dialogue keeps pulling you in.
Chasing Amy also deserves credit for tackling complicated subjects in a way that felt unusual for the time. It is not always perfect, and some parts may feel dated now, but the film deserves respect for being willing to explore difficult emotions and relationships.
Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams have great chemistry, which is important because the entire film depends on whether you believe their connection. Thankfully, you do. That makes the emotional moments hit even harder.
The final act is painful because you can see exactly how Holden’s insecurity is destroying everything. He cannot let go of his own ego, and that makes the ending feel very real.
Chasing Amy remains an excellent film because it is more than just a comedy or a romance. It is a movie about growing up, making mistakes, and realizing that love is not always enough if you are not ready for it.
Nearly thirty years later, it is still Kevin Smith’s best movie and one of the most memorable independent films of the nineties.