Black stars as Jerry, a bizarre nuclear activist who accompanies his friend Mike (Mos Def) while he works at declining video store Be Kind Rewind in New Jersey.

The pair panic when Jerry accidentally erases all the stores tapes after trying to sabotage the local power plant –– but become heroes when locals fall in love with their cheap and cheerful versions of the films they erased.

This film was destined to be made at some point –– the urge to spoof classics like Robocop and Ghostbusters would eventually prove too strong for one director or another–– but there was always a question about what storyline could be used as an excuse to make it.

Unfortunately, Michel Gondry's story is confusing and a bit boring –– and in fact most of the remakes themselves are not particularly funny.

Sentimental

It's almost as if the director realised the spoofs weren't going to be enough to carry the film, as the sentimental subplot about a silent film star feels like it was tacked on at the end.

That said, there are some funny moments in this film. The sight of Mos Def and Black running through a library dressed as the Ghostbusters trying to pass off fishing rods with tinsel attached to them, as the proton pack streams from the original film raised more than a few laughs.

And some of the creativity involved in scenes like the remake of the tunnel scene from Men in Black is impressive.

Ultimately, though, this is a disappointing flick and cannot be recommended to those on the look out for a good laugh.

— 2/5 James Hoy