Be Kind Rewind

Be Kind Rewind is a 2008 buddy comedy film written and directed by Michel Gondry, and starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Melonie Diaz, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow and Sigourney Weaver. The film first appeared on January 20, 2008 at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It was later shown at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film opened on February 22, 2008 in the United Kingdom and in North America. The title is inspired by a phrase that was commonly displayed on video rental cassettes in America during the medium's heyday. Plot In 2003 Passaic, New Jersey, Elroy Fletcher owns the declining "Be Kind Rewind" VHS rental store. Despite Fletcher's claims that jazz pianist Fats Waller was born there, the building is condemned as a slum and the officials give him 60 days to upgrade it to the required standards or they will demolish it to make way for high-end development. Fletcher leaves on a trip with friends to memorialize Waller and visit rental store chains to research efficient and modernized ways of running one, leaving his only employee, Mike, to work alone. Before leaving, Fletcher cautions Mike to keep his conspiracy theorist friend, Jerry, away from the store. However, Mike misinterprets his warnings and is left confused.