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Title: Chasing Chasing Amy (2023) Director: Sav Rodgers Writer: Sav Rodgers Studio: Level 33 Entertainment IMDb Plot: A documentary that examines the complex legacy of Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy (1997) on LGBTQ+ people and its life-saving impact on director Sav Rodgers. Joe Says: Chasing Chasing Amy is half-autobiography, half love story for all things Kevin Smith. The Chasing Amy interviews make for fun nostalgia. Sav Rodgers’ story presents an important discussion about inclusion, but also becomes repetitive.

Back in 1997, Jersey auteur Kevin Smith released his third, and most personal film at the time, Chasing Amy. Featuring breakout roles for Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams, Chasing Amy tells the story of two comic book artists who meet, become deep friends, and ultimately lovers. But get this – if you haven’t already seen the nearly-thirty year-old-movie – the chick in this relationship is gay.

Chasing Amy went on to win a number of Independent Spirit Awards and a Golden Globe nomination for Joey Lauren Adams. Yet Amy’s lasting legacy is its place, for good or ill, within LGTBQ+ cinematic history. Proponents defend Smith’s positive approach and depiction of queer people. Others state that Amy is a heavily-biased heterosexual fantasy for straight white dudes scoring hot gay women. A more troubling implication is an implied message that queer sexuality might be seen as fluid or something that can be “cured.” For many, Chasing Amy is simply a beautiful love story between two people – complete with a proverbial longbox full of comic book in-references.

One of Smith’s supporters is Sav Rodgers, who used the movie as self-prescribed therapy while dealing with his awakening sexuality. Back in 2018, Rodgers gave a TED Talk about the movie and its impact on his life. At the time, Rodgers identified himself as a lesbian woman. He is also a filmmaker and went on to document Chasing Chasing Amy, half-autobiography, half love story for all things Kevin Smith.

In Chasing Amy, Holden (Affleck) vies for the heart of Alyssa (Adams), who finds herself navigating through a heterosexual relationship. The movie is ripe with monologues and dialogues possessing all the vulgarity and clever pop-culture references that Smith has built an empire upon. Holden and Alyssa’s relationship does not end well (although there is a heartfelt coda in the not-as-impressive Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)).

However, as one of those perfect few examples of life imitating art, the focus of Chasing Chasing Amy changed as Sav transitioned into being a man. Sav and his wife Riley confront these issues head on in their marriage, making their change a starting point for broader discussions about inclusion.

The documentation of his life aside, Chasing Chasing Amy provides new interviews and new insight on the 1997 film, including key conversations with writer/director Kevin Smith, star Joey Lauren Adams, and Guinevere Turner (Chasing Amy, Go Fish). For fans of Kevin Smith and his View Askew productions, the interviews of the cast and overall nostalgia, especially photos and videos never seen before, becomes a highlight to the docu. Turner, a gay woman, describes her friendship with Smith’s producing partner Scott Mosier, a straight man, as an impetus to the story. Adams shares powerful stories about her time on the set, her former relationship with Smith, and the troubles she personally encountered in Hollywood, particularly during Harvey Weinstein’s despicable reign.

Rodgers films his life, his fears, and his openness with his transitioning. This is all displayed as a serious and honest topic, but also one that quickly becomes repetitive and navel-gazing, especially when counterpointed with Smith’s movie, which at its base is solely a comedy about getting laid.

Chasing Chasing Amy becomes Sav’s testament. Through it all, there is the prevailing – and important! – theme that love is love. Sav loves Riley. Playing the role of Silent Bob once more, Smith shares a little wisdom with Sav telling him, “Who cares what people think.” Love is love. In chasing Riley, Sav proves his love to her.

And in some askewed universe, Holden and Alyssa still love each other, too.