Parents' Guide to

Chasing Amy

By Carly Kocurek, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Dated romantic comedy wrong for all kids.

Movie R 1997 113 minutes
Chasing Amy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

BestPicture1996
BestPicture1996 Adult
October 1, 2015
age 18+

Raunchy dramedy hit home for me

Without giving out my personal info and spoiling the movie simultaneously, "Chasing Amy" was an enormous surprise for me. Kevin Smith said his script almost garnered an Oscar nod, and I can see why! Though yes, some characters are just caricatures (take Jay and Silent Bob, the latter's speech is actually quite touching), and some are caricatures with a lot to say (Hooper X, who, with a name like that, you have to start being suspicious). But between Holden, Banky and Alyssa, the titular "Amy," there are just fireworks. 90's Affleck is so darn compulsively watchable, there's mega-star fame status written all over the potential of this kid, and his speeches wrench your heart. All I'll say is Alyssa reminds me so much of the person I'm dating, so I enjoyed her flirtatious mannerisms, even though her voice does begin to weigh on you a bit. You just genuinely get attached to these characters and the more often than not very funny observations they have to say, and even though the ending is a bit of a surprise, it fits in with the mood of the film. "Cop Out" is directed by Kevin Smith, but it's NOT a Kevin Smith movie. Critics say the original "Clerks" was Smith at his zenith, but I'd argue "Amy" has much more to say, and deserves to be seen though it's flown under the radar recently. Absolutely not for kids.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
caffinegirl85
caffinegirl85 Adult
February 13, 2012
age 12+

nice movie well done!

a real good movie i liked it. uh just not for kids unless 12 amd up then its alright to see. this was a real good movie i actually liked this one better than Mallrats although Mallrats was a real good movie. but so was this one real good and it has Ben Afflack which makes it a real good movie!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Holden and his business partner and childhood friend Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) are enjoying the success of their comic Bluntman and Chronic when Holden falls head over heels for fellow comic artist Alyssa. Faced with the information that Alyssa prefers women, Holden remains undeterred, and the pair forms a close friendship that ultimately crosses the line between platonic and romantic.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (5):

CHASING AMY is an age-old story: boy meets girl, boy falls head over heels for girl, boy discovers girl has no interest in him; in this case, the interesting twist is that Alyssa is a lesbian. Although smart for its time, the movie has not aged particularly well, and subsequent films from other directors have dealt more intelligently with the often blurry boundaries of sexual identity. This film deals with adult themes that should definitely be taken into consideration before allowing kids to view it.

Director Kevin Smith's atypical romantic comedy follows the relationship between Holden and Alyssa, while also entertaining an interesting discussion about the ostensibly straight male friendship between Holden and Banky. The movie is part of Smith's series of films focusing on characters living in New Jersey, but is definitely not his sharpest work. The acting is overall fine, but Adams' performance as Alyssa often makes her seem weepy and weak.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about issues of gender and sexuality. The film raises a number of interesting questions about sexual behavior and identity. Does Alyssa's affair with Holden undermine her identity as a lesbian? How does her affair alienate her from her community? Holden's reaction to information about Alyssa's past ultimately destroys their relationship. How might Holden have dealt with his feelings more productively? Is there a double standard about the amount of sexual experience that's acceptable for men and women?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: January 23, 1997
  • On DVD or streaming: June 13, 2000
  • Cast: Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams
  • Director: Kevin Smith
  • Studio: Miramax
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 113 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong graphic sex-related dialogue, language, sexuality and drug content
  • Last updated: January 26, 2023

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