When Clerks was released in 1994, it tapped into a DIY, Grunge-y, Pre-Internet, Rebel vibe that was informed by Slacker and surely influenced films a few years later, like Blair Witch Project. Not the stories – the stories behind the films
The plucky tales of making the movies garnered more publicity than the subject matter itself.
That’s why I remember some 28 years later that Kevin Smith and his pals made a black and white film about two guys working in a convenience store, and the eccentric characters that came and went, for under $40,000 much more readily than I can remember anything else about the Indie flick.
Smith became the Next Big Thing among Indie auteurs and parlayed that into a decent career with hits and misses, along with the (then) respectable Miramax brand behind them.
He got the band back together for Clerks II in 2006, and now he seems to be putting forth a sentimental farewell to all of those people with Clerks III.
Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randall (Jeff Anderson) are still behind the counter, only now they own the convenience store. The video store that was next door is now a legal cannabis dispensary owned by Jay and Silent Bob.
Randall has a heart attack early in the film (Smith himself had a severe heart attack in 2008) and in his period of reflection upon recovery, decides to make a film that will be the story of his life.
This is possibly the most Meta film ever made.
I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but the set-up seems to exist for people who were young in 1994 and now are over 50, happy to immerse in a bit of nostalgia. Smith, now 52, most of all.
You’ll see plenty of familiar faces and call-backs. If you don’t exactly get the points of reference, no biggie, but the experience will be a lot cooler if you do.
Me? II never thought Smith lived up to the hype, especially as a writer. Even now, the dialogue is almost sophomoric and the actors, poor O’Halloran and Jason Mewes, are still not quite pro level (obvious exceptions are Rosario Dawson, and darn if Jeff Anderson doesn’t nail an emotional scene or two.)
And yet, you can’t be mad at it. It has its heart in the right place, and this feels like the right time and place to say goodbye to the franchise and all the people who populated it. So long, Red Bank, NJ.
Clerks III will be in theatres this weekend as a Fathom event. Kevin Smith is taking the film across the country and appearing live as a “Road Show” with the movie, with dates at least into October.
You can get more information at the official website here: https://clerks3.movie/
