August 15th, 2006, 03:56 PM
Every rumor or report you have read or heard about this movie is true. The vulgarity is at its optimum, there is nudity (of Jay), there is beastiality (or interspecies erotica) and, of course, there is Dante and Randall.
Back in the day, Kevin Smith wanted to make movies. His sordid history does not need to be repeated here. Suffice to say that he did make a movie. Clerks. took indie films by storm, or at least a minor squall. It made the circuit, received great praise (according to Smith "over-praise") and made Smith a Hollywood success story.
Many films later, Smith returned to his roots with Clerks II, bringing back the characters that made him the Hollywood icon, or at least a demigogue. Dante, who channel's Smith's inner Woody Allen, has the backbone of a particularly squishy sponge. Randall who channel's all Smith's inner Smith, seems to hate everyone and everyone, but only in so far as it keeps him safe from emotional connection which he equates with emotional vulnerability.
Of course, that's far too much depth to truly credit Smith's characters with. Known for dialogue (much of it crass, some of it visionary), the characters are more of a conveyance for the ultimate point of story. Clerks II is no different. When the Quick Stop, where Dante and Randall have apparently stayed working for the last decade, burns down, a year later finds them still clerking, but this time at the fictional Mooby's burger shop.
Of course, true to his word, Smith has brought back his famed characters Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith himself). Traveling in and out of the burger joint (where Dante and Randall have FAR too much time) are the normal stable of View Askewniverse including Jason Lee and Ben Affleck. Added to the carnival are two new-comers to the Askewniverse: Rosario Dawson as Mooby's manager Becky and Trevor Fehrman as Lord of the Rings Loving Christian Elias (I have a feeling that Elias, to some extent, represents a very early and naive Kevin Smith).
The plot of the movie is smoother than the original, but similar in almost every respect. Two women command the affections and affectations of Dante, much to the chagrin of hetero-lifemate Randall. Dante has thrown as little caution as possible to the wind, is moving to Florida and is marrying girlfriend Emma. Emma is played by Smith's wife, Jennifer Schwalbach (Smith) coifed in blond and shot as severely as possible so that there is very little potential for sympathy or empathy.
Meanwhile, comedy hijinx ensue as the two blather and banter their way about the Mooby's fast-food environment, which never seems to have more than four customers at a time.
None of that, of course, is important, since it's the fast-paced, low-brow, Mamet-esque dialogue that we've all come to witness. The exchange between Randall, Elias and the credited "Hobbit Guy" regarding which trilogy was better, Lord of the Rings or Star Wars is the epitome of Smith, and of this movie.
The whole thing ends with something of a fizzle, but not an entirely unexpected one. Fortunately, there is enough fast/spit-ball humor that audiences, who even enjoyed Jersey Girl will be more than willing to forgive Smith his own happily-ever-after.
If you're a fan, go see it in the theater at least twice. If you're not a fan, then put Clerks. and Chasing Amy as your introduction to a reasonably gift-of-gab movie-maker before you make the plunge.
Back in the day, Kevin Smith wanted to make movies. His sordid history does not need to be repeated here. Suffice to say that he did make a movie. Clerks. took indie films by storm, or at least a minor squall. It made the circuit, received great praise (according to Smith "over-praise") and made Smith a Hollywood success story.
Many films later, Smith returned to his roots with Clerks II, bringing back the characters that made him the Hollywood icon, or at least a demigogue. Dante, who channel's Smith's inner Woody Allen, has the backbone of a particularly squishy sponge. Randall who channel's all Smith's inner Smith, seems to hate everyone and everyone, but only in so far as it keeps him safe from emotional connection which he equates with emotional vulnerability.
Of course, that's far too much depth to truly credit Smith's characters with. Known for dialogue (much of it crass, some of it visionary), the characters are more of a conveyance for the ultimate point of story. Clerks II is no different. When the Quick Stop, where Dante and Randall have apparently stayed working for the last decade, burns down, a year later finds them still clerking, but this time at the fictional Mooby's burger shop.
Of course, true to his word, Smith has brought back his famed characters Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith himself). Traveling in and out of the burger joint (where Dante and Randall have FAR too much time) are the normal stable of View Askewniverse including Jason Lee and Ben Affleck. Added to the carnival are two new-comers to the Askewniverse: Rosario Dawson as Mooby's manager Becky and Trevor Fehrman as Lord of the Rings Loving Christian Elias (I have a feeling that Elias, to some extent, represents a very early and naive Kevin Smith).
The plot of the movie is smoother than the original, but similar in almost every respect. Two women command the affections and affectations of Dante, much to the chagrin of hetero-lifemate Randall. Dante has thrown as little caution as possible to the wind, is moving to Florida and is marrying girlfriend Emma. Emma is played by Smith's wife, Jennifer Schwalbach (Smith) coifed in blond and shot as severely as possible so that there is very little potential for sympathy or empathy.
Meanwhile, comedy hijinx ensue as the two blather and banter their way about the Mooby's fast-food environment, which never seems to have more than four customers at a time.
None of that, of course, is important, since it's the fast-paced, low-brow, Mamet-esque dialogue that we've all come to witness. The exchange between Randall, Elias and the credited "Hobbit Guy" regarding which trilogy was better, Lord of the Rings or Star Wars is the epitome of Smith, and of this movie.
The whole thing ends with something of a fizzle, but not an entirely unexpected one. Fortunately, there is enough fast/spit-ball humor that audiences, who even enjoyed Jersey Girl will be more than willing to forgive Smith his own happily-ever-after.
If you're a fan, go see it in the theater at least twice. If you're not a fan, then put Clerks. and Chasing Amy as your introduction to a reasonably gift-of-gab movie-maker before you make the plunge.
All your base are belong to us.
It could be that the purpose of my life is only to serve as a warning to others.
It could be that the purpose of my life is only to serve as a warning to others.
