The Wasteland Reviewer

The 4:30 Movie (2024) Written Review

How nice has it been to see Kevin Smith going back to his filmmaking roots? You can praise his daring for trying new genres and such with his wild (what was meant to be a trilogy) Canadian films Tusk and Yoga Hosers. There were darkly fun elements and a completely outlandish approach that felt so unlike what we came to expect from Smith. Dogma was certainly a film that did different and interesting genre leaps but most of his films were small personal dramas. Clerks III opened with a scene that felt like 90s and early 00s Smith. It was beautiful and refreshing to experience. Smith now finds his slice of teenage life energy from Mallrats and channels that into this new teenage flick, The 4:30 Movie. 

Does Smith deliver an impactful and meaningful story? When it comes down to it, this indie flick centers on what most teen films do. Love. We have our Smith stand-in, portrayed by Austin Zajur, who really loves Melody Barnegat (Siena Agudong). After a fun banter on the phone, they have a date! They will check out the 4:30 showing of a new film together. Leading up to this fateful date, our protagonist heads off to a day at the movie theater with his awkward pal (portrayed by Reed Northup) and his overly confident cool friend (portrayed by Nicholas Cirillo). This trio certainly gets up to some shenanigans. There are moments where their friend might not make it. One of them gets into multiple awkward scenarios where he gets banned from the theater. The other (much cooler friend) just might be getting some in the theater. This is a story filled with turns and hijinks that make for a nostalgic fun time. Some of these sequences are a bit too cringy whereas others get that relatable nostalgia just right. Watching wrestling and commentating on movie trailers are just a few of those fun moments. 

Does Smith bring his trademark voice to his direction? Maybe…just a little. This film does not feel the same as his earlier indie flicks. There is certainly a sheen and brightness that feel a tad too artificial but the purpose of setting a nostalgic atmosphere. This is a glossy 80s feel and sure that hits where the period is but it does leave the film looking a little bland and uninteresting. Without the graininess of film, this indie approach just looks so uncinematic. There are a few sequences that feel a bit warmer (most notably the final sequence between our protagonist and Melody as they walk through a park on a sunny day. 

Does the cast deliver with personality that the rest of the film might be lacking? Zajur does a fine job in the leading role with a good basis for empathy and an awkwardness that is more endearing than annoying. Northup is a strange bird and delivers in that way well for his character. Cirillo is by far the most charismatic and fun of the three friends. His smugness makes for a character we both want to be and want to hate. Agudong is so charming and sweet, making Melody a character we can see our protagonist wanting to pursue. Then you have a whole bunch of other names floating around in small and sometimes odd roles. Genesis Rodriguez is an usher at the theater, and she is just so darn cool. Her one scene alone with our protagonist adds so many layers to our hero’s journey and Rodriguez just oozes charisma. Justin Long, Diedrich Bader, Jason Lee, Kat Micucci, Adam Pally, and more make memorable appearances in limited roles (you even a have quick Rosario Dawson appearance and she is just so cool on screen). The two supporting adults that get the most to do are Ken Jeong and Sam Richardson. Jeong is such a jerk, and you can tell he is just eating it up along the way. Playing the manager of this theater who wants to ban our heroes gives him plenty of space to be antagonistically hilarious. He gets there. Richardson has some surprising depth as an over-the-top professional wrestler (and he nails the big yelling aesthetic) and he gets to show his softer side to teach one of our kids a lesson. 

Does The 4:30 Movie give hope that Smith is back on track with his filmography? Between this and Clerks III, you can have some hope again. There is plenty of fun and nostalgia to have with this small-scale comedy with the right amount of teenage heart. There are some good themes to appreciate in this coming-of-age story. The love for film and the movie theater centric plot will get many cinephiles on-board as well.