Film Review: Kevin Smith Is Taking It Back With Clerks II

Anyone who saw Jersey Girl could see Kevin Smith's struggle with moving away from his decade-long relationship with New Jersey malcontents and underachievers. The comedy had left his writing, and what remained felt anonymous and, well, uninteresting.

Smith's decision to follow up with Clerks II seemed like a pretty bad idea: how could he revisit his cult classic without ruining it? Well, he went for it, and it all worked out just fine. Clerks II jumps ahead a decade, but finds that little has changed for protagonists Dante and Randal: still in Jersey, still jockeying a register, and still wondering if life is passing them by.

Fans and detractors alike know what is coming: this film is really all about guys talking. There's a lot to laugh at: confusion about who Helen Keller is, arguments about the relative merits of racial slurs, digs at Lord Of The Rings, and mockery of Christian teen propaganda are all delivered at perfect pitch. The Austin Film Society's preview screening had so much noisy laughter at these and other set pieces that the audience missed many of the follow-up jokes. Smith's comic book geek meets horny guy humor obviously isn't intended for mass appeal, but his jabs are still sharp and hugely entertaining all these years later.

Smith has a lot on his mind that runs just beneath the surface: Can you really ever grow up? Do you want to? When do you leave friends and comfort zones behind? One gets the impression that the movie is Smith talking to himself, and wondering if it's OK to creatively tread water as a creator of small and personal films about his friends and experiences. The answer to this question is apparent in Clerks II: yes, provided he sticks to friendship, not domesticity. Smith's attempts to get sentimental (like a scene where a sad Dante is cheered up by a little girl waving from a shop window) feel trite and forced to the point where you grit your teeth and wait for them to end. The casting of Smith's wife in a supporting role is also rough, as she's not a trained actor and man, does it show. These bits bog down what is otherwise a fantastically funny, biting, and impressively filthy and obscene flick. One final note: when we say filthy, believe it. The second Clerks is notably more vulgar than the original, which is a pretty great thing given the potential to wuss out in a sequel.

So if Clerks II has some light flaws, one is compelled to forgive them. The jokes are good (and abundant), the premise feels real, and the intentions are genuine. Fans of the first film can go to this one without worries; you'll like Clerks II just fine.

Clerks II opens wide today.

Showtimes

*Image of Kevin Smith in Austin via Matt Wright. For more photos from last week's premiere, click here.*

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