1994 comedyRating: 14/20
Plot: A convenient store clerk and a neighboring video store clerk have various adventures. Dante's got girl problems, and all he wants to do is play hockey. After all, he wasn't even supposed to be at work today.
I appreciate this movie more than I like it or laugh at it. I like its laidback feel, what it is compared to other early-to-mid-90's comedy films, and what Kevin Smith and company do with almost no money at all. The movie and its characters feel personal, and I think it makes for an overall warm viewing experience. I like the oddball little slice of life and the shenanigans of these goofy characters. I've never really found this movie to be all that funny, however. This is the classic example of the type of movie that seen in a context is completely brilliant but that time hasn't been all that good to. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and blame this for all of the people who think that anybody can make a movie. James Nguyen, the famed director of Birdemic: Shock and Terror, probably saw this and thought, "Hey, if this is a movie, then I bet I could make one!" Not that that's an entirely bad thing, of course.
Playing hockey on the roof, by the way, would be dangerous. I just want to point that out for any kids who might be reading this. If you are going to play hockey on the roof or anywhere else, might I suggest you do it in a pair of Zubaz. Zubaz are a pant that allows you the comfort and flexibility needed to make some sweet music as you skate around your competition on the court. Or ice if you're into that. You can find all kinds of reasonably priced Zubaz in a variety of colors here. Embrace the awesome!
Now that Kevin Smiths career is pretty much over. (His last five movies are Jersey Girl, Clerks II, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Cop Out, and Red State, that spells end of any career to me. ) its interesting to see where he got his start, and how the lessons he learned in this little film both helped him and really hurt him as a director.
ReplyDeleteThe only character in this movie that is halfway interesting is Randal. The guy who does Dante is such a dreadful actor, that its impossible to get involved with him at all, and everyone else in this film is here and gone too quick to get any feel for them. IF the movie had focused more on the Randal side of things, it could have been a truly timeless movie. However Smith goes the standard route of "Lets find the normal guy and see how the world is strange around him.". Its Smiths career in a tiny little decision. He usually picks the wrong route to go with every film he makes.
I could write a novel on the positives and negatives on Smith as a filmaker, but this is about Clerks. A flawed little bit of fluff that has gained true cult status. Your 14 score is what I would give it as well. It has a few fun parts that keep the action going, plus it really is trying so hard. The most interesting thing about it is, Kevin Smith never improves, from this point, in any of his films. Every single one of them (With the possible exception of Dogma) is filled to the brim with irony, hipster geek appeal and scatological humor. It doesnt matter the quality of the actors or the money involved, every single one of them is some derivation of this film. Clerks parts 1 through 17.
if you worked retail you would hate this. again a movie i hated before i watched it because i heard people do the bits soooooo much i could quote it the 1st time. probably a 12 or so
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