Clerks, starring, written and directed by Kevin Smith - 8.4 out of 10

Clerks, starring, written and directed by Kevin Smith
8.4 out of 10


Kevin Smith is a talented, versatile, creative, original writer, director and actor.

However, he can also behave in a rather bizarre, outre manner, as others have pointed out.
Bill Maher has spoken recently about the adult who still dresses like a child, referring to this Silent Bob.

Having said that, Clerks is a refreshing, innovative, highly entertaining comedy.
It's satire manages to score quite a few serious points.

Take the fine of $ 500 that an authority imposes on one of the Clerks, because a minor, one who is just four furthermore, has been sold cigarettes.
The intention is laudable, but the pain is inflicted on the wrong man.

We could consider serious the discussion surrounding sex, when one could consider that it happens and when not.
The girl in this particular dialogue feels that oral sex with someone does not mean he must be considered a sex partner and when she starts counting, she is soon over the thirty threshold, because she doesn't think blowing means much, if anything.

Brian O'Halloran is formidable in the leading role of Dante Hicks, a sales Clerk in a shop that has almost everything, from cigarettes to magazines.
Veronica is his present girlfriend, who says she loves him, but he would be willing to reunite with Caitlin Bree, when the latter says she is not going to stay with her fiancée.

The shop has a sign which says:

If you intend to steal, let us know.

And there would be tensions, fights with customers, some of whom are mad...one would spend hours in the bathroom, only to have sex with Caitlin, who thinks she is with Dante, and then die.
Randal Graves is the friend and colleague of Dante, in charge of the video store...this feature takes place way before Netflix came to life.

Saying that 'he is in charge' is a manner of speaking, for he could not care less and he rents his own videotapes from another place, stating that the store he works in is shitty.
A customer tries to get his view on two tapes, but Randal says he does not interfere in personal choices, when pressed he says he doesn't know, without looking and then the woman pretends she has two other films in her hand...

What about these two?
Oh, those are crap...
You don't give a damn, do you!

The angry customer then throws the tapes to the floor and leaves in a tantrum, adding a few expletives.

You are banned from the store! Declares Randal in a futile gesture.

Dante would close the shop for a ...hockey game.
Then Randal reads about the death and the funeral of a girl who used to study in the same school with them.

Dante wouldn't close the shop again, so soon, when his friend states that they must attend the funeral, which is about to take place.
But then he does and they drive to the funeral parlor.

On the way, Randal talks about how his cousin had died...trying to put his own penis into his mouth.
When they arrive at the wake, the same mischievous Clerk stumbles at the casket and gets it down, throwing the corpse on the floor.

Clerks is an unusual, different, often dark, sometimes absurd comedy.