Kevin Smith returns to his roots with this story about Dante and Randall 10 years after Clerks.
They now work at Mooby's, which also happens to be Jay and Silent Bob's new hangout.
There are a LOT of laugh out loud moments and lots of nods to Clerks. I haven't heard laughter like that in a theater in a loooong time. It even got cheers and applause at the end.
The really shocking thing is Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson's performances.
Dante is still Dante, but not as...cocky, which is PERFECT for his current situation.
Randall is still Randall, but he has some serious moments and really shows he can act.
In fact, the only person who didn't really sell me on their role was Jennifer Smith, whom I believe is Kevin's wife and not really an actress.
The majority of the laughs come from Randall and Jay which is great because unlike Lucas, Smith hasn't lost his edge since he's had children.
You will LOVE Randall's rant about the Rings trilogy and Jay is scary good in his Buffalo Bill impersonation.
Smith really made a great followup here and while some scenes aren't for everyone (there is a tribute to 80s films and a tribute to the 50s teenie bop films, with the 50s thing seeming to be a flop with the group I was with), you have to respect that the man made the movie for his fans and didn't try to create some souless, hybrid piece of crap that tries to appeal to everyone.
Overall, this is a huge success and a must see for any Smith fan.
I really hope he has enough ideas left to give us Clerks III because I think there's at least one more story to tell about Dante and Randall.
I already want to see it again.
8 out of 10
Read the credits at the end, there's some funny stuff in there.
Clerks 2 - spoiler free review
O'Halloran showed me he had some acting talent in Vulgar (I think that was the name of it). He was able to really convey what his character was feeling, just not through dialog. He can't deliver a line without sounding like he's a stand-in that's helping the real actors with their lines. He's really bad.The really shocking thing is Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson's performances.
The majority of the laughs come from Randall and Jay which is great because unlike Lucas, Smith hasn't lost his edge since he's had children.
You will LOVE Randall's rant about the Rings trilogy and Jay is scary good in his Buffalo Bill impersonation.
Smith really made a great followup here and while some scenes aren't for everyone (there is a tribute to 80s films and a tribute to the 50s teenie bop films, with the 50s thing seeming to be a flop with the group I was with), you have to respect that the man made the movie for his fans and didn't try to create some souless, hybrid piece of crap that tries to appeal to everyone.
Overall, this is a huge success and a must see for any Smith fan.
I really hope he has enough ideas left to give us Clerks III because I think there's at least one more story to tell about Dante and Randall.
I already want to see it again.
8 out of 10
Read the credits at the end, there's some funny stuff in there.
You did see Jersey Girl, right? :;):The majority of the laughs come from Randall and Jay which is great because unlike Lucas, Smith hasn't lost his edge since he's had children.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
You did see Jersey Girl, right? :;):
Loved it.
It is my belief that Jersey Girl was only bashed the way it was because of the backlash from Gigli. Remember this was the other film with Affleck and J-Lo.
Affleck was good, Carlin was great, and the little girl was awesome. Live Tyler was decent enough. The writing was well done and the characters were actually selfish and real. Where was the problem?
That movie got a bum rap which Smith acknowledges in Clerks II...
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
To be honest, up until a couple of days ago I didn't even realize this was a Kevin Smith film. To be equally blunt, I'm not sure if your knowing that it was may have tainted your view of it somewhat.Loved it.You did see Jersey Girl, right? :;):
It is my belief that Jersey Girl was only bashed the way it was because of the backlash from Gigli. Remember this was the other film with Affleck and J-Lo.
Affleck was good, Carlin was great, and the little girl was awesome. Live Tyler was decent enough. The writing was well done and the characters were actually selfish and real. Where was the problem?
That movie got a bum rap which Smith acknowledges in Clerks II...
But you are right that Jersey Girl really wasn't all that bad. But it was horribly predictable, which in and of itself wouldn't be a problem it it handn't been equally boring. I had completely forgotten all about this movie having ever been made until I was overlooking a review of Clerks II recently, and I actually rented it and watched it a couple of years ago.
Reverse the genders of Affleck and Liv and you have any of a number of movies on Lifetime, We and Oxygen. Not really bad, but quite forgettable. And like Jack Sparrow said, "But you have heard of me."
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
Jersey Girl struck me as a movie that was edited and changed from it's original intended release. I don't know whether it is true or not, but some jumps to various points in time just seem like something was missing. The ending setup from the job interview to the play just didn't feel right at home with the rest of the movie, almost like it was too much of a "feel good" ending rather than the one that was originally intended to be. Like I said, I have no way of knowing whether I am right or wrong, it is just the way it came off to me.
Carlin was perfect in that movie, the kid and Affleck were decent, but the storyline and responses of some of the scenes struck me as hokey\fake compared to some other moments. The kid bitching about her dad trying to get ahead in a career somewhere and him not having time for her every little moment annoyed the crap out of me, mainly because my dad did his best to provide for our family and just because he wasn't at every little practice or match doesn't mean he didn't love us or want what was best for us. Sacrifices have to be made kid! When you're older, you understand that better. Affleck not even thinking to put the kid in daycare or hire someone to help out also annoyed me, especially if he was as high powered and up the chain at his big job as they made him out to be. Beyond that, it was an okay movie
Carlin was perfect in that movie, the kid and Affleck were decent, but the storyline and responses of some of the scenes struck me as hokey\fake compared to some other moments. The kid bitching about her dad trying to get ahead in a career somewhere and him not having time for her every little moment annoyed the crap out of me, mainly because my dad did his best to provide for our family and just because he wasn't at every little practice or match doesn't mean he didn't love us or want what was best for us. Sacrifices have to be made kid! When you're older, you understand that better. Affleck not even thinking to put the kid in daycare or hire someone to help out also annoyed me, especially if he was as high powered and up the chain at his big job as they made him out to be. Beyond that, it was an okay movie
Worth seeing. It started really slow and I was thinking, This really sucks. Then it kind of takes off in a really weird and fucked up direction.Yep. In my Netflix queue.Vulgar (I think that was the name of it).
It was one of those movies that wasn't so much a really good movie, but a movie that alters your brain for a day or two after you see it while you're trying to process the whole thing (if that makes any sense). It was powerful without being great.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
Reverse the genders of Affleck and Liv and you have any of a number of movies on Lifetime, We and Oxygen.
Most chick flicks or romantic comedies are like that. You need to come up with something better than that.
Jersey Girl struck me as a movie that was edited and changed from it's original intended release. I don't know whether it is true or not, but some jumps to various points in time just seem like something was missing. The ending setup from the job interview to the play just didn't feel right at home with the rest of the movie, almost like it was too much of a "feel good" ending rather than the one that was originally intended to be. Like I said, I have no way of knowing whether I am right or wrong, it is just the way it came off to me.
I felt the jumps were completely natural. No movie has the time to tell a person's life from start to finish so he concentrated on the key points. Other films have used the same method of "time jumping". And yeah, the ending was very "feel good", but he was going for that. This was more of a mainstream, family film, which is totally unlike him.
the kid and Affleck were decent, but the storyline and responses of some of the scenes struck me as hokey\fake compared to some other moments
The kid was awesome. Best performance by a little girl not named Dakota Fanning.
As for the fake/hokey stuff, again, it's a family film, plus it's a Kevin Smith film. His dialogue is always a bit more highbrow in how it comes out. (Sure, the content might not be, but the delivery is...)
The kid bitching about her dad trying to get ahead in a career somewhere and him not having time for her every little moment annoyed the crap out of me, mainly because my dad did his best to provide for our family and just because he wasn't at every little practice or match doesn't mean he didn't love us or want what was best for us. Sacrifices have to be made kid! When you're older, you understand that better. Affleck not even thinking to put the kid in daycare or hire someone to help out also annoyed me, especially if he was as high powered and up the chain at his big job as they made him out to be.
This all is life. Kids are stupid when it comes to the big picture and some parents are just horrible. Children don't understand the concept of work and sacrifice, that is only something that can be learned from years of experience and a true knowledge of how the world works. As for Affleck's daycare choices, you must not have kids. No matter how well you plan, sometimes you have to watch the kids yourself. Plus, daycare is expensive and if you have a grandparent that's available to watch the kid, most people are going to go that route. The unbelieveable part came when nobody knew how to watch a child for a few minutes, especially one that young. They're either sleeping or you stick a bottle in their mouth. Done.
To be honest, up until a couple of days ago I didn't even realize this was a Kevin Smith film. To be equally blunt, I'm not sure if your knowing that it was may have tainted your view of it somewhat.
Actually, and this is something Smith has pointed out, the fact that Smith made it is probably why a lot of people didn't like the film. He said a lot of his fans were disappointed and wanted Jay and Silent Bob and references to pop culture and all the things Smith puts in his films. They weren't willing to accept Smith doing something more mainstream. He said people called him a sellout. What the fuck? People are idiots.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
If by "mainstream" he was shooting for mediocre, then he succeeded (just my opinion)He said a lot of his fans were disappointed and wanted Jay and Silent Bob and references to pop culture and all the things Smith puts in his films. They weren't willing to accept Smith doing something more mainstream.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
I had no problem with him doing what he wants. As a matter of fact I knew it wouldn't be another Jay & Silent Bob movie, so I wasn't even expecting them. I just didn't think it was that well edited or scripted in some parts. That's probably just my "not from Jersey" world influencing my thoughts =PThey weren't willing to accept Smith doing something more mainstream.
This movie kicked much ass. See it. All of you, damnit. I only wish my newly-married buddy'd made it to the theatre so I could see the look on his face after he heard some of the lines that were tossed around. Ain't quite as good as the first one, but I'll still toss four stars its way.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
I'd another opportunity to see this.
If you can imagine not one, but two versions of Dante & his fiancee, you get an idea of the four folk I saw it w\. The biting irony & satire of the flick w\ respect to my company exponentially increased the comedic value. I may not be that entertained ever again.
Edited By Malcolm on 1155530734
If you can imagine not one, but two versions of Dante & his fiancee, you get an idea of the four folk I saw it w\. The biting irony & satire of the flick w\ respect to my company exponentially increased the comedic value. I may not be that entertained ever again.
Edited By Malcolm on 1155530734
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
