To be blunt, most soundtracks suck, amounting to little more than a random collection of songs picked primarily for their helpfulness in marketing the movie. But occasionally -- the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, for example -- filmmakers recognize that a well-chosen soundtrack can be as integral to setting a movie's mood as any actor or cinematographer. So give credit to indie auteur Kevin Smith for taking the reins on the soundtrack to his latest film, picking 13 eclectic tunes that run the gamut from the cheesy to the classic, then adding choice soundbites from the film to tie it all together. Hence,
Stroke 9's tongue-in-cheek "Kick Some Ass" and
Run-D.M.C.'s "Tougher Than Leather" become theme songs for the film's hapless duo, while
PJ Harvey's "This Is Love" and
Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine" become yin and yang paeans to the peaks and valleys of love. If you're the sort of person who'd likely be amused by a dialogue snippet called "A Smooth Pimp and a Man-Servant" sandwiched between
Bloodhound Gang's "Jackass" and Morris Day & the Time's "Jungle Love," this is the soundtrack for you. ~ Bret Love