Clerks 2. I can't believe I forgot to mention that I saw it. I was so caught up in recovering from Comic-Con, and still am, that I keep forgetting details. Alzheimer's will do that to you. So, will drunken binges. Like the one I've been on since '94.
But, yes. Literally about an hour after our interview with the lovely Rosario Dawson, I felt inspired to go see it. I walked down about 10 blocks from the convention center to a local theater and checked times. I thought about seeing it that night,but didn't want to miss out on any potential dinner or drink times with peoples. There was a showing in about 20 minutes. Woo hoo! I got my popcorn and soda and settled in for the movie I had been waiting all year to see.
To my surprise, the show wasn't sold out. It was opening weekend and Comic-Con at that. Kevin Smith's playground. I suppose everyone had planned on seeing it later that evening. All good for me! More room to stretch out and relax. As the movie began, there was some early 20's kid sitting about 4 seats to the left of me. No one between us. The first 5 minutes, he kept making snarky comments. He was clearly a fan, so I was baffled as to why he would want to disrupt the movie for others. Especially, after Kevin's much publicized battle with film "critic" Joel Siegel over his disruption at a previous press screening. Go to the July 18th post and then scroll up to the 19th, click on the link there for audio. You'll laugh and shudder all at once. Anyway, this little punk kid kept making little comments. I had waited very long for this flick and was not going to let some little bitch ruin it for me. And the things he was saying weren't even funny. And, not to spoil here, but an example. Randall is on and says something random about girls. The idiot yells out, "You can't get girls, Randall!" And laughs at himself. As I said, this went on for a few minutes. I had a chat with myself. Warn him nicely or be ghetto? I went with the nice route with just a dash of ghetto. "Dude...could you please cut the comments? I've waited a long time to see this. Thanks." Sternly said with glaring eyes. He looked back at me surprised and seemed like he was trying to think of something to say. Luckily he didn't. Then it would have been all ghetto! All that "just a movie" argument is stupid and inane. Then don't go see one, fuckers!
Anyway, after fuckball shut his mouth, I sat back and took it all in. All of the foul mouthed raunchy humor. Going back to the well with Jay & Silent Bob. Dante and Randall. New characters in the form of the aforementioned Rosario Dawson as Becky. And in a star turning role, Trevor Fehrman as Elias. A few celebrity cameos sprinkled in as well. Mostly from people that have been in past Smith features. Like Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Joey Lauren Adams and Ethan Suplee. But, just a bit into the movie. Something happened.
Sure, the raunch and debauchery were all there. But, I heard a faint beating. Is that....is that...heart? Why yes. It is! I had heard that this film had a bit of that in it. Rosario herself had said it in our interview. Smith has always put in a bit of the serious undertones in his movies. Some more than others. This had a terrific blend of both humor and depth. He always says he has limitations and knows them. He jokes that he's a hack. But, I gotta tell you. The man can write. He just loves writing the raunch. But, when he gets serious, it's quite good. He proves this constantly. If you don't believe me, check out his 8 or 9 part story in his blog about Jason Mewes' heroin addiction. Touching and moving and heart wrenching.
I'm not going to spoil things for you. Go see it. I realize Smith's humor isn't for everyone. It tickles me that due to his many successful and funny appearances on Jay Leno, that some of that crowd might have went to see it. In horror and shock! And some people are claiming it failed at the box office with only a $10 million dollar opening. Uh....people forget how to do math? It had a modest budget of $5 million. So, doubling that in it's opening weekend is pretty good! In 2 weeks it's done about $18.5 million. Not bad.
Of course, I fucking loved it! Gonna see it again. And then by every special edition DVD that comes out. Smith is one of the few who packs his DVD's with great commentary and tons of extras. But, why wait? Go see it!
Why? Well, seeing the clerks 12 years later and what is going on with them. Jay doing the Buffalo Bill scene from Silence of the Lambs. Pillow Pants. (You have to see to understand.) Elias, the warm hearted, border line retard. Rosario dancing. And much more!
Oh yeah....and a donkey show.
Don't say I didn't warn you. Clerks 2 rocks. See it now!
OMG I love this movie! I have seen it three times already. Last time was on Saturday with Mike. I still crack up at the PillowPants scene and the PorchMonkey scene. I think we should take it back!
Posted by: ZiggyNJ | July 31, 2006 at 08:51 AM