This was the much-longed-for sequel to Kevin Smith's independent masterpiece Clerks. Fans, and even Smith, had wanted a sequel for years, but it was always a long shot due in part because of Jason Mewes' drug problems and Jeff Anderson's hesitancy and at times outright refusal to do a sequel. After overcoming those obstacles, Smith came up with a script after the movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, got everyone on board, and this was the result.
This movie starts out with Randal (Anderson) and Dante (Brian O'Halloran) still working in the Quick Stop and adjoining video store, until they end up burning down. Then they end up in a new dead-end job at Mooby's (a fictionalized version of McDonald's) where we have a Wizard of Oz-like transition from black-and-white to color. The plot basically involves Dante trying to figure out what he wants from his life and Randal facing the prospect of losing his best friend.
The movie is centered around Anderson and O'Halloran but includes new cast members Jennifer Schwalbach (Smith's real-life wife), Trevor Fehrman, and Rosario Dawson (who has one of the best lines of the movie at the end). It also includes many of Smith's "regulars" such as Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, and Ethan Suplee. There are also hilarious cameos by Wanda Sykes and Kevin Weisman, the latter of whom sets off a great Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings rant by Randal.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, there are a ton of extras included. There are three different commentary tracks, all of which include Smith, and then rotates through other participants including cast members (in the first and third) and the production staff in the second (which is more of a "technical" commentary). On the second disc, there is an hour-and-a-half-long making-of documentary, a half-hour long blooper reel, an hour-long series of video diaries, and a special on the movie that aired on VH1 (back before it played nothing but "reality" shows). So, if you like watching the bonus material, there is a lot there for you.
Overall, the movie is very good, if you like Smith's brand of humor, which can be very raunchy. That is not to say the movie is always raunchy and cringe-worthy, but it does have its moments (there is a donkey show). It balances those well with Randal's smart-ass sarcastic comments, Dante's complaining, and the multiple pop-culture arguments. It even has some touching moments involving Dante and Randal's friendship and the changes that all relationships go through as friends get older. There are certainly some who think that a sequel to the original (which is a classic) should have never been made, and there are some that wanted a sequel but just did not think this was good enough to be that sequel. Personally, I liked the vast majority of the movie and thought it was a worthy successor to the first movie. That said, it is not a movie for everyone, especially people who do not like Smith's brand of humor and it is not family-friendly. But, if you liked the first movie, and you generally like Smith's other movies, it is worth watching at least once.
This movie starts out with Randal (Anderson) and Dante (Brian O'Halloran) still working in the Quick Stop and adjoining video store, until they end up burning down. Then they end up in a new dead-end job at Mooby's (a fictionalized version of McDonald's) where we have a Wizard of Oz-like transition from black-and-white to color. The plot basically involves Dante trying to figure out what he wants from his life and Randal facing the prospect of losing his best friend.
The movie is centered around Anderson and O'Halloran but includes new cast members Jennifer Schwalbach (Smith's real-life wife), Trevor Fehrman, and Rosario Dawson (who has one of the best lines of the movie at the end). It also includes many of Smith's "regulars" such as Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, and Ethan Suplee. There are also hilarious cameos by Wanda Sykes and Kevin Weisman, the latter of whom sets off a great Star Wars vs. Lord of the Rings rant by Randal.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, there are a ton of extras included. There are three different commentary tracks, all of which include Smith, and then rotates through other participants including cast members (in the first and third) and the production staff in the second (which is more of a "technical" commentary). On the second disc, there is an hour-and-a-half-long making-of documentary, a half-hour long blooper reel, an hour-long series of video diaries, and a special on the movie that aired on VH1 (back before it played nothing but "reality" shows). So, if you like watching the bonus material, there is a lot there for you.
Overall, the movie is very good, if you like Smith's brand of humor, which can be very raunchy. That is not to say the movie is always raunchy and cringe-worthy, but it does have its moments (there is a donkey show). It balances those well with Randal's smart-ass sarcastic comments, Dante's complaining, and the multiple pop-culture arguments. It even has some touching moments involving Dante and Randal's friendship and the changes that all relationships go through as friends get older. There are certainly some who think that a sequel to the original (which is a classic) should have never been made, and there are some that wanted a sequel but just did not think this was good enough to be that sequel. Personally, I liked the vast majority of the movie and thought it was a worthy successor to the first movie. That said, it is not a movie for everyone, especially people who do not like Smith's brand of humor and it is not family-friendly. But, if you liked the first movie, and you generally like Smith's other movies, it is worth watching at least once.
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