I’m not going to review a new theatrical release today. Instead, I’m going to review a movie just released on video, “Chasing Amy.”

I’m doing this for two reasons:

1. This is the best movie I’ve seen this year and I want to make sure people are aware of it and don’t miss it.

2. There is no way in hell I am going to see “Flubber.”

This is writer/director Kevin Smith’s third film, the conclusion of what he calls his New Jersey Trilogy. It follows the brilliant “Clerks” and the overly maligned “Mallrats.”

“Chasing Amy” is a very funny and touching romantic comedy with a twist. It follows a guy named Holden (Ben Affleck) who falls hard for a gal named Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams).

There’s a bit of a problem though — Alyssa is a lesbian with a dark and kinky sexual past. These facts amuse Holden’s best pal Banky (Jason Lee) and provide him with plenty of ammunition for jokes.

The relationships between these three main characters are well developed and extremely believable; especially the best-friend relationship between Holden and Banky.

The two have been friends since childhood and now live and work together, publishing a comic called “Blankman and Chronic.”

The way the characters interact with each other is 100 percent genuine, from the constant barrage of fake insults to the use of male terms of endearment like “dickhead.” (Trust me, you only call your very best friends dickheads.)

The movie also explores that ultimate love triangle — the two best friends and the new girlfriend. Nothing puts more stress on male friendships than a new girlfriend in the mix.

When Alyssa and Holden start seeing each other, Banky feels left out and quickly becomes jealous, going so far as to try and sabotage their relationship.

Perhaps the best part of “Chasing Amy” (and of every film Smith has written) is the dialogue. His true gift is in writing convincing dialogue — things we can believe people would actually say. Throughout the whole movie, you feel like you’re eavesdropping on actual conversations, not watching people act, which also says something for the caliber of performances in the movie.

A lot of the criticisms I read for this movie complained about the use of so-called dirty language. Sure, market a violent gore-fest like “Starship Troopers” directly at children but don’t let them hear any bad words. Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to start ranting like that.

Yes, the characters in “Chasing Amy” swear a lot. They talk about sex a lot. But it all sounds right —like things people in their 20s would talk about and say. Who out there hasn’t had a very blunt, raunchy discussion about sex before? Most people probably have within the last 24 hours.

These frank discussions lead to some of the movie’s funniest scenes. At one point, Alyssa and Banky compare sex scars they’ve collected over the years.

Another part features a drawn-out debate about whether Archie (from the comic book) is gay. I’ve personally had that exact conversation, only it concerned Thelma from “Scooby Doo.”

It’s the combination of characters’ performances and dialogue which makes “Chasing Amy” a must-see movie. You’ll laugh a lot, but more importantly, you’ll believe every minute of it.

5 stars out of five.

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Mike Milik is a senior in advertising from West Des Moines.