Clerks III: A ‘meta love story’ to filmmaking itself
Director, actor, comic book store owner and writer for both Marvel & DC, podcaster and now movie theater owner Kevin Smith’s fourteenth film “Clerks 3” is truly a meta love story to filmmaking itself. While it largely relies on its comedy in the form of callbacks to the previous films, when it comes to the heart of the film it’s a whole new level to Smith’s directing. Newcomers will still feel all the weight and emotion of this without seeing the previous installments and it will make you want to see them either for the first time or all over again if you have.
The latest in the Askewniverse films (Kevin Smith’s universe of films) picks up right where the last film left off showing how life in the film mirrored reality with time passing and life going on for lead characters Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran), and Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson). While most of Smith’s films skew toward the comedic side this film was him showing all of Hollywood that his range is far reaching, as this film has a little bit of everything. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster that will have you laughing, crying, and even have you questioning your own personal health by the end. The film opens with co-lead Randal having an unexpected heart attack that kickstarts the story, actually reflecting a more personal story to writer and director Kevin Smith as he himself had a heart attack and similarly was saved just as Randal was in the film. Randal struggles to come to grips with his health and age by immersing himself fully into making his own film as the audience is taken through a meta look at the “Clerk’s” trilogy as a whole that ends in a beautifully crafted full circle that will leave newcomers and old fans sides hurting from laughter as they dry their eyes from the inevitable tears to come.
The film was shot on location in Smith’s hometown of Red Bank, New Jersey and was even shot in the same convenience store he worked at all those years ago. In a behind-the-scenes clip after the film, Smith detailed how the original family still owned the store and were happy to allow him to use it for his location shots which must have been an amazing feeling as Smith essentially started off by betting on himself, selling his comic book collections, collectibles and maxing out many credit cards just to film his original black and white film “Clerk’s” starring his friends.
With many of the original cast reprising their roles it was great seeing how every character has grown and changed over time, you can really feel this cast had an absolute blast all reconvening together at the classic “Quick Stop” convenience store from the original film. Even the new cast members feel as if they have always been there and fit into the “gang” perfectly.
Smith is touring the Clerks film all across the U.S. on the Clerks 3 Convenience tour that will allow fans a chance to meet Kevin Smith and to see the film with him beginning Sept. 4 in Red Bank, New Jersey and ends in Austin, Texas Nov. 14 with many dates sold out already it looks to be a historic tour.
Made on a budget of 7 million dollars it has been 16 years since the last installment “Clerks II” (2006) and that film was 13 years after the original “Clerks” (1993). Maybe we will see a fourth “Clerks” in the 2030s as these characters are truly timeless and Smith looks like he’s really settling into his own and ready to show off his directing chops, what’s next only time will tell. If this film teaches you anything it is that everyone should try to find their own Silent Bob, their own Dante, Elias, or even newcomer Blockchain aka a friend that is always there for them because life’s a movie kids and your supporting cast really says a lot about you whether it’s an adventure, comedy, rom-com or even horror. The film releases on Digital Oct. 14.
