If you?re a Kevin Smith fan, this movie was made for you. “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is writer/director Smith?s fifth film and the last of his New Jersey “trilogy,” which started in 1994 with the independent film “Clerks,” and continued with “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma.” All these films had one thing in common: slacker stoners Jay and Silent Bob.

Now the pair star in their own film, and the result is a movie that, while lacking the sharp commentary of much of Smith?s previous work, remains a worthwhile comedy.

“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” refers heavily to Smith?s previous films and is stuffed with recurring characters and inside jokes. The film is presented less as a stand-alone film than as a thank-you note to Smith?s fans and a farewell to the main characters, loud-mouthed, profane stoner Jay (Jason Mewes) and quiet, introverted stoner Silent Bob (Smith himself). Smith has said this will be the last of his films to feature the pair.

The film opens with a young, stroller-bound Jay first meeting an equally young Silent Bob in front of the same Red Bank, New Jersey mini-mart and video store which the story of “Clerks,” revolved around. Both have been left in front of the stores while their mothers go about their business. Even at this stage, Jay is as loud and profane as Bob is silent.

Flash-forward to the present day: the two are still wasting time in front of the mini-mart dealing weed and accosting customers. Video store clerk Randal (Jeff Anderson) finally gets fed up with the two slackers and heads next door to Dante?s (Brian O?Halloran) convenience store to call the cops on the the two.

Banished by restraining order from their favorite hangout, Jay and Silent Bob wander over to comic junkie Brodie?s Secret Stash, the local comic store. Brodie (Jason Lee, in one of two roles) calls their attention to the upcoming movie version of “Bluntman & Chronic,” a comic book based on the pair.

The two head out to visit Holden McNeil, (Ben Affleck, who also plays himself) the co-creator of “Bluntman & Chronic,” to find out why they weren?t told. It turns out that Holden has long since sold the rights to the comic to his former partner, Banky Edwards, (Jason Lee, again) who has optioned the movie rights to Miramax.

They decide to sabotage production of the film, and the rest of the movie is taken up by the pair?s road trip to Hollywood and what happens once they reach the Miramax studio lot. Along the way, they encounter a band of jewel thieves, an orangutan, an idiot Federal Wildlife Marshal (Saturday Night Live?s Will Farrell) and virtually every actor who has ever been in one of Kevin Smith?s movies. There are also cameos by actors Matt Damon, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, directors Wes Craven and Gus Van Sant, and comic George Carlin among others.

To those unfamiliar with Smith?s previous films, much of the humor in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” may fall flat. Smith?s penchant for making references to other films provides most of the film?s best laughs, and many of those references are to his previous works, so those who haven?t seen them may find themselves missing part of the joke.

“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is not the best or funniest of Smith?s films, but it succeeds in closing the book on his New Jersey movies in a satisfying way and saying goodbye to some well-loved characters. The horde of returning characters and cameos, as well as the inside jokes, are a treat for the long-time fan, and there?s enough other material to keep the Kevin Smith neophyte laughing. Smith has made another very funny film, and a fitting send-off for his two best-known characters.

Three out of four stars