A bleak comedy about late-20th Century relationships, so why should SF fans see this movie? The three central characters, Banky, Holden and Alyssa all work in the comic industry and key scenes happen at comic Conventions. Near the beginning they attend a talk which devolves into an attack on the racist sub-text of the Star Wars films. This, in part echoes Smith's first film 'Clerks' where characters discuss the moral right of the rebels to destroy the unfinished Death Star in Return of the Jedi if it had construction crews working on it. It would add to your enjoyment of Chasing Amy if you had seen both 'Clarks' and his second film Mall Rats (which features a cameo by Marvel Comics' Stan Lee), as events in these are alluded to and minor characters cross-over but it is not necessary.

     In Chasing Amy Holden falls in love with Alyssa, who already has a girlfriend. As they get to know each other, they find that actual gender is less important than the person themselves. Alyssa comes in for disapproval from her fellow lesbians; (this scene I felt, handled better than a similar one in 'Go Fish', a film which also includes an important meeting in a Comic shop; obviously North American underground/independent cinema regards comic's as acceptable, imagine the derision which would occur if an adult character in EastEnders or Coronation Street).

     Banky, however, discovers that Alyssa's past was more explorative than she has let on. A brilliant scene occurs at an Ice Hockey match where Holden confronts Alyssa with her past. The increasing violence in the rink mirrors their verbal exchange.

     Kevin was due to direct the Next Superman film and did write a script for it. He is going to write for the comics Daredevil (Marvel) and Green lantern (D.C.) as well as continuing the stories of some of his movie characters at Oni Comics. Watch his films and discover what characterisation means.

Reviewed by Suzy Kuba.