PARADISE RECORDS at Tribeca Festival 2025

by Eric McClanahan

“Good artists copy; great artists steal.” — Picasso.

Bobby Hall, aka Logic, is a Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling rapper, author, actor, producer, and now filmmaker. After appearing in last year’s The 4:30 Movie as Astro Blaster, the hero of the film-within-the-film, Logic has reteamed with Kevin Smith to make his very own film, in which he writes, directs, and stars, called Paradise Records.

Tearing pages from the book of Smith, Hall takes viewers along for the adventures of the staff of the titular Paradise Records, following their hopes, passions, and pitfalls over the course of one very eventful day. It’s established early on in this film that the Astro Blaster movies are a thing, so one could be easily coaxed into believing the film takes place within the continuity of The 4:30 Movie, but it also exists in a world where the characters have seen Dogma, and features Jay and Silent Bob. One quickly realizes that Hall is unconcerned with the film logic (pun intended) of shoving this film into an established universe and rather wants to make a film that is both funny and fun. And he succeeds in spades!

Paradise Records is laugh out loud funny, and features enough set design, references, and borrowed lines to amuse any film fan, especially those of Kevin Smith’s works. From references to Bebe’s Kids to Cooper’s Pulp Fiction-inspired wallet, this film has the DNA of a movie-lover all over it, and speaks to the movie lover within us all. Featuring a strong cast of newcomers and cameos from heavy hitters galore, Paradise Records marks the entry of a fresh voice on the film scene and may very well be this generation’s Empire Records.

Originally published at http://behindtherabbitproductions.wordpress.com on June 14, 2025.