Clerks II (Kevin Smith)
"Smith Serves Us A Gross, Vulgar, Obscene, But Funny Comedy In Clerks II"
It's been 12 years since we left Dante and Randal at the Quick Stop and guess what, it got burned down to the ground. So looking for new jobs, the duo end up at Mooby's, a fictional McDonald's. It's Dante's last day before he moves to Florida with his Fiancée, leaving his best friend Randal back in New Jersey. But as well all know, today isn't going to go as Dante planned.
Porch Monkey - A person, of African descent, usually found in the Southern states of the United States. Porch Monkeys were commonly found sitting on their porches doing little or nothing all day. Usually found on Plantations or large land lots with a house/shack of some sort including a porch.
-Urban Dictionary
I wasn't the biggest fan of Clerks when I first saw it, it just didn't live up to the hype that surrounded it. After repeated viewings, it grew on me, and I actually enjoy it quite a bit now, still does not live up to it's hype though. Now, with the sequel coming out, I was hoping that I would enjoy it more since I also work in the fast food business. Is Clerks II funnier then the original? I believe so, with most of the jokes being "geek" oriented. Although, I think that the original Clerks is the better film. Smith's comedy is still immature, gross and vulgar, but that's what one can expect when they enter this flick. Is a man having sex with a donkey funny? Not really, but for some odd reason, it works for Clerks II.
For fans of the original who were the same age of it's characters, they will be able to relate to them, yet again. In this installment, the 30 something slackers complain about not doing anything with their lives. The film, being as gross and funny as it is, also gets sappy in one scene, which involves Dante and Randal talking to each other about the past and how their friendship is ruined.
The new and improved Jay and Silent Bob return as well, with Jay giving a pretty funny depiction of Buffalo Bill from the Silence of the Lambs. You can't help but laugh at everything these two screwballs do. I'm glad to see them on the big screen once again. With the returns of some familiar faces, there are also new characters added to the mix. Elias, who's a Lord of the Rings, Transformers loving, Christian virgin. Who is the perfect counter-part to Randals obscene vulgarity. As well as Becky, the manager at Mooby's who has a thing for Dante. While Dawson as Becky is not funny, she is sweet and cute. Just what the film needs. Trevor Fehrman plays the virgin Elias, who was surprisingly funny here. The bit between him, the hobbit loving customer and Randal as they discuss Lord of the Rings VS Star Wars is a high point.
Some will say that Smith has reached a new low, entering bestiality into the mix. But when all his films but two are about dick and fart jokes, it was only a short amount of time before we saw something like this. With the LOTR VS Star Wars scene being a high point, the only other scene that stands out in my mind that had my laughing out loud, would be the porch monkey scene, and all porch monkey related jokes afterward. Again, involving Randal, as does every other great jokes in this film...umm Anne Frank, Or Hellen Keller, how about pillow pants?
Smith's writing is top notch here. The film is about him in his 30's, and with Dante and Randal he can spew whatever he wants out of them. He does not fault here, it's just as sharp and edgy as he ever was, maybe even more now. You can tell that Smith tried to push the envelope with his childish humour, and well, it works. He's matured, yes, but still has that child in him, which is obvious. O'Halloran and Anderson are not great actors, which is apparent in this film, but they play off each other so well and are use to their characters that most of the time you can't tell, or you let it pass.
Smith's usual crew make cameos, with Lee playing yet another character. This time an old high school rival. You'll also see Ben Affleck for 10 seconds and Ethan Suplee, trying to score some drugs from Jay and Bob. New face Wanda Sykes makes an cameo, playing a disgruntled "black" customer. She doesn't serve up any laughs, it's Randal and the porch monkey comment, but don't worry...he's taking it back.
Do you need to see the original to get this movie? No. But, for those who
have seen the original, there are the occasional references to it...ending anyone? As well as the other View Askewniverse films, like the ABC song and of course, Mooby's. If you have seen the original, you may appreciate some of the jokes more. Smith , who everyone thought matured, with Jersey Girl, is back doing what he does best, he serves us a gross, vulgar, obscene, but funny comedy in Clerks II and that is exactly what one should expect when they go to see this.
8/10