Movie Review: CLERKS 2 Author: Jenn Bobbitt Thursday, September 21, 2006 (Reviewed 7/21/06) U.S. Release Date: July 21, 2006 Distributor: Weinstein Director: Kevin Smith Writing Credits: Kevin Smith Cast: Kevin Smith, Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith Genre: Comedy MPAA Rating: R OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.clerks2.com TRAILERS: www.apple.com./trailers Let me just start by saying this: if you do not like Kevin Smith films, you will not like this movie. If you did not laugh at the clearly low-budget ambience of Clerks, if you did not identify faintly with the ambivalence of Chasing Amy, if you did not appreciate the pop culture irreverency of Mall Rats; you will find no joy in the viewing of Clerks 2. Although I appear to be stating the obvious, some people just don?t seem understand that concept (insert all Joel Segal jokes here). If you are even the least bit offended by the concept of a movie plot that centers its rising action around the planning of a donkey show home. Period. Taken at face value, Clerks 2 is what you would expect: highly inappropriate and slightly grotesque, albeit intelligent, esoteric humor. As in all Smith films, nothing is held sacred as he takes shots at Christianity, pop culture icons, and the “McDonaldization” of American society. Bottom line: if you can admit to yourself that you’re not above laughing at your own beliefs, it’s funny, laugh so hard you want to puke and die funny! Clerks 2 is a true sequel in the sense that it is better appreciated when you have seen your fair share of Kevin Smith films. Many of the jokes are a convenient carryover from the original, but the viewer will possess an even deeper appreciation for the comedic genius of the film with every Smith film they have experienced. Can you enjoy and properly follow the movie if you did not see Clerks? Yes. Will you understand why everyone around you is laughing at antics that are not outwardly funny? Probably not. For 2, Rosario Dawson joins the cast of doofy, unlikely heroes Dante and Randall (Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson) to create a cast that is painfully loveable and, although vulgar and quirky to a fault, very human. Silent Bob and Jay return to provide a welcome segue between scenes. Not a single one-liner is spared -- I’ll be quoting this one for years to come. What sets the sequel apart from the original? Clerks 2 possesses a reflective sense of muted sentimentality as Dante and Randall look back at their days at the Quick Stop and the path that created their destinies as thirtysomething slackers. It embodies the same philosophical spirit that is slowly overcoming Smith’s target audience of listless thirtysomethings who long for every opportunity to laugh at their own misanthropy. All in all, Clerks 2 provides a crude yet witty social commentary destined to become another Smith cult classic. JENN’S GRADE: A Jenn Bobbitt is a reviewer and writer for ON-FILM.NET. SEND JENN FEEBACK!