by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Does Kevin Smith still have it in the tank? Smith took the 1990s by storm with his brand of independent filmmaking — he makes character-driven hangout flicks in his home of New Jersey. He was on a high with Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. But all hasn’t been great in the View Askew universe as of late. With films like Yoga Hosers and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, it feels like his films have gone off the rails. These films honestly felt like parodies, which did not own the earnestness and genuine nature of Smith’s films.
But with a third trip back to the well, does Clerks III right the course? This might shock you… but this was a good movie. It is all about the tone. With his most recent work, Smith crafted bland and awkward scenes strung together and called them films. This feels different. The narrative is cohesive, and the energy feels genuine. The opening scene drops you right back into the beloved world of Clerks with rooftop hockey and the 90s/00s music (in all the My Chemical Romance glory). There is actual weight to the film as well. Smith makes some bold choices that offer up some real emotion, bringing a real weight to the film.
How about the humor that Smith injects into this latest Clerks? First thing’s first, there are a few gags and characters that fall flat. Justin Long… enough said. But in general, Smith delivers some genuine laughs and nice running gags. Randal (Jeff Anderson) is just an endless supply of great barbs at the expense of every other character. Elias (Trevor Fehrman) goes on a new (anti)-religious journey, and his outfits are top notch. One scene is even a string of cameos, which will deliver plenty of smiles and laughs for the audience. And of course, you have Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith), who are pitch-perfect in their return to supporting characters. The pop culture references feel fun and fresh (along with a few classics), and its commentary on a few modern topics (NFTs, for example) is quite on point.
Does the story grab us this time around? After a life-threatening medical emergency, Randal decides he wants to make a movie about their time as clerks at the convenience store and Mooby’s. This opens the door for plenty of meta humor and commentary that will keep those grins and laughs coming. But like I said before, there is some real emotion too. Dante (Brian O’Halloran) is dealing with loss and struggling in his grief, but is doing his best to support his hard trek down memory lane. This story about loss and getting older is relatable, and honestly moving in many ways. The story will take you on a ride and leave you processing quite a bit.
Let’s talk about the cast, shall we? O’Halloran was always a weak link and awkward at times. His acting is forced at times, but honestly, he probably delivers the best piece of acting in his whole career in one pivotal scene in the film’s climax. Anderson slides back into the role of Randal like the most well-fitted glove imaginable. Mewes and Smith are doing their thing, and it works so much better in these supporting turns. And good for Fehrman, who gets to shine for the first time in this franchise — he rises to the occasion. Throw in a tender performance from returning star Rosario Dawson, and you have quite the ensemble.
Is Smith back to form? That is hard to answer after one win, but he is definitely back on track. You can tell he found a decent amount of his mojo again with this fun and more mature outing, which hopefully puts his most recent track record to rest. Go show Clerks III some love during its Fandango run.
Score: 7/10
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