This is a meta/pop culture/quip fest but damn it has a little bit of heart and emotion. I think I enjoyed it enough
Yeah I’ve never seen reboot and like I said I’m mostly neutral on Kevin Smith but having seen the first two Clerks a bunch (and being familiar with his work from a pop culture standpoint, for better or worse) this hit all the right beats for me. Seeing it with 1500+ Kevin smith fans probably helps lol
Seeing it with just one other Kevin Smith fan, I thought it was pretty bad. The score and music is overbearing. There's not a single joke that's not a reference (obviously a feature and not a bug for Kevin Smith fans). The actor playing Elias is terrible. Smith takes every easy road to try and squeeze some emotion out of viewers. It's not terrible like Reboot, but it's nothing I'd recommend, even to people that liked the first two Clerks.
Just left the theater. Godspeed to anyone who sees it, I cringed way more than I laughed. It is a must see for any fan of the Clerks movies but yeah, this was bad, Elias was bad.
Yeah, I mean...it's not great. Nowhere near the highs of the first two, although I did laugh. And there are parts that did tug at my heart strings. Unfortunately, both of those things are kinda few and far between. It's always nice to spend time with these characters, but this one felt a little empty to me, unfortunately. And I enjoyed Reboot for what it was. Still recommended viewing for any Clerks fans though. I didn't think Elias was that bad and his evolution throughout the movie made me laugh.
Also, i’m happy for Jason Mewes and his glow up but dude got a new set of teeth and it just threw me way off every time he was on camera.
If @Aaron Mook gives this that kinda review, then it really can't be good! I could still see myself watching it eventually, but not quickly, and certainly not for Fathom Events prices. Especially with Woman King out this weekend (and some other things I haven't gotten around to yet).
I don’t really understand the release strategy for this? Does he just know it would bomb if it had a wider release?
Yeah, idk either. He did the same thing with Reboot and while it made more per single theater than any other release at the time, it still only wound up making half its budget back. Kinda shocked he doesn't seem to have a streaming deal with anyone.
You know what I'm just now realizing? This movie doesn't really have anything to do with day jobs, or the Quik-Stop, or being a Clerk lol. The way the first film is a vision of slackerdom that balances being a 20-something with your day job and the shit you put up with. The way the sequel tackles arrested development and being in your mid-30s without making and headway on where you want to be or what you want to do in life. I respect Smith for tackling his own traumatic experience in this, and I do think the aspect of facing your own mortality is here and really works, but there's nothing to off-set it. The stakes don't feel real, and aside from a few moments, there's hardly any conflict; it just becomes a movie about them making a movie, and while that's fun to watch, I think the other element of them being back at the Quik Stop and what that means for them, now in their late 40s, is the key to making this thing really work. Unfortunately, that's largely ignored in favor of fun, but ultimately meaningless references to the first film. I really did enjoy this for what it was, but the more I think about it, the more it falls apart for me.
how many movies has Smith made that are just about making Clerks now? This and Zach and Miri, any more?
I think he probably makes up the rest of it through his road show. If he had a streaming deal, that would be a piece of the pie he’d have to share and I don’t think he’s willing to do that.
Bummed to hear this kinda stinks! I’ll still be seeing it, but fully prepared to walk away disappointed
This is a good mindset to have because you'll probably find something to enjoy about it! It's not all bad!
Saw this last night and enjoyed it, but I'm aware that it's probably due to it being an opening night theater full of Kevin Smith fans making the experience more enjoyable. If you've seen any of the last 3 or so Kevin Smith flicks in theaters, you know exactly what you're getting yourself into. Will say the movie does a good job of focusing on the clerks and not all the side characters. It does feel like another Clerks installment. Also if you plan on going, heads up that it starts right on time. No trailers or anything. I walked in at 7:02pm and it was already playing