Por Favor Rebobine (2008)

Two bumbling store clerks inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. In order to keep the business running, they re-shoot every film in the store with their own camera, with a budget of zero dollars.

Director:

Michel Gondry

Writer:

Michel Gondry

Stars:

Jack Black, Yasiin Bey, Danny Glover

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Black	...	Jerry
Yasiin Bey	...	Mike (as Mos Def)
Danny Glover	...	Mr. Fletcher
Mia Farrow	...	Miss Falewicz
Melonie Diaz	...	Alma
Irv Gooch	...	Wilson
Chandler Parker	...	Craig
Arjay Smith	...	Manny
Quinton Aaron	...	Q
Gio Perez	...	Randy
Basia Rosas	...	Andrea
Tomasz Soltys	...	Carl
Marcus Carl Franklin	...	Kid 1
Blake Hightower	...	Kid 2
Amir Ali Said	...	Kid 3

Storyline

In Passaic, NJ, Elroy Fletcher runs a video store in a condemned building he claims was the birthplace of Fats Waller. Fletcher goes on a Waller centennial trip, leaving his foster son Mike in charge of the store. Mike's peculiar friend Jerry tries to sabotage a power station and nearly electrocutes himself, getting magnetized in the process. He inadvertently erases every tape in the store. Mike and Jerry hatch an plan to hide the disaster by making a homemade "Ghostbusters" to rent to a woman whom Fletcher will be phoning to check on them. Soon, with help, their homemade versions of films develop a cult following. Will this new business save the store and the building? What about Fats?

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Plot Keywords:

video store | movie premiere | videotape | scene during end credits | vomiting | 

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Taglines:

The biggest movies of all time just got a little make over.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason for Jack Black's version of the Os Caça-Fantasmas (1984) theme song was simply because the legal department didn't have the rights to Ray Parker, Jr.'s song yet.

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Goofs

During the re-enactment of Rush Hour 2's roof fight, bystanders can be seen watching from a neighboring building.

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Quotes

Jerry: What's happening to our hood?

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Connections

References Edtv (1999)

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Soundtracks

Mr. Fletcher's Song
Written by Paul Barman, Jean-Michel Bernard and Michel Gondry
Published by Partizan Music
Performed by Jean-Michel Bernard and Moe Holmes

User Reviews

Lovely, charming, original and not too sweet

I missed this film at Sundance, caught it as soon as possible, and I wasn't disappointed. Despite being privy to the exhaustive fine-tuning of an indie film with an improvised feel, watching "Be Kind" I could absolutely believe it came together as quickly and spontaneously as the snippets of "sweded" films. This was part of its charm and I think Gondry's intention.

All the actors were engaging, and genuine heartfelt emotion - most definitely by the surprising, naturally pitch-perfect Mos Def - transcended the dialog, plot points and general wackiness.

The Fats Waller thread was just random enough and very skillfully and satisfyingly woven into the story from beginning to end. This and many other details - including touches like lovely Mia Farrow's curiosity about supernatural films and Sigourney Weaver's brief take-charge turn - convinced me that Gondry put quite a bit of thought and skill into perfecting the film's endearing awkwardness. It might not be to everybody's taste, but I think it was a great idea, executed and seasoned just right.

Details

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

Por Favor Rebobine

Filming Locations:

New Jersey Aviation Museum, Teterboro International Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,100,000, 24 February 2008

Gross USA:

$11,175,164

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,579,406

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Partizan Films, Partizan

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1