Nothing Helps Friends Bond Like a Donkey Show
Male friendship is a hard thing to understand. I am a man, and have several longstanding friendships, and I don't understand it. Even as an educated, culturally literate guy the implication of "too much" feeling between guys unnerves me. Even to my closest friends I find it hard to voice my affection for them, or my dependence on their friendship. For any man that has ever had a friend, or any woman who has ever marveled at the strangeness of her fella's friendships, Clerks 2 paints a perfect portrait. But can you handle the donkey show?
With the exception of Mallrats all of Kevin Smith's films have had very personal messages. Clerks was about the misplacement of a generation. That feeling in your early twenties that you're destined for greatness, but have no clue when the greatness train is pulling in. Chasing Amy was about inadequacy as a lover and a human being. Dogma was a wayward Christian's messed-up love letter to his faith, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was Kevin's personal quest to make a boatload of cash. Jersey Girl (derided as it is by fans and critics) is a beautiful story about a boy becoming a father (I imagine I'll get even more out of that one after I have kids). Kevin's latest, Clerks 2 might as well be a love letter to Kevin's best friends Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes.
There is another thread that Kevin weaves through all of these movies as well, male friendship. Its pitfalls, its shortcomings, its highpoints and low. From the first scene between Randal and Dante in the original "Clerks," the dynamic of one male friendship is established and largely maintained throughout his canon (including his one foray outside the "Askewniverse," "Jersey Girl"). Kevin is a lot like you (or your boyfriend/husband) he needs his friends, he wishes (sometimes) he could tell them how he feels about them (in a completely hetero-sexual way). But unlike you (or your bf/husband) he can write dialogue so that an actor can say it for him. In this film the nugget of "secret male bonding truth" is delivered by Jeff Anderson as Randal and it puts this movie at the top of Kevin Smith's films.
But what about the donkey show? Kevin's particular brand of "dick and fart" jokes has won him a legion of fans, sold millions in merchandise and tickets and revived the dirty teen comedy (Mallrats). It's that layer of filth that allows such heartfelt and poignant messages to sink in to an audience that otherwise wouldn't listen. It also keeps him from appealing to some audiences that could truly appreciate the message inside his films. The language, sexual discussions and implications will keep this film from ever reaching blockbuster proportions, but the people who need to hear this particular message most, probably won't be put off by those things.
"Clerks 2" is funny, heartwarming, uplifting, challenging and at times revolting. Who else could use a "donkey show" as both the romantic climax and the catalyst for a touching scene that plumbs the depths of male friendship (in a totally hetero-sexual way)? The film is fantastic. All the new additions (Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman) are truly spectacular and all the returners are in better form than ever before. Jeff Anderson and Brian O'Halloran are still not stars, but in the decade since they appeared first as Randal and Dante they have gained considerable skills as actors. The true gem though is Jason Mewes. "The Sonic Boom with Dirt on It" as Kevin likes to call him, has been through some rough times since finding fame. His fall into, and eventual climb out of drugs has been well documented. But the change we see on screen is tremendous. Jason has a future as an actor. Pacino, and Deniro shouldn't be nervous or anything, but this kid is captivating to watch when given the right words to say. And no one can give words like Kevin.
This movie does frighten me a little (although recent statements from Kevin have softened this). I fear that a good reception for this film (after the drubbing "Jersey Girl" took) will add to his already great insecurities. He should not, can not, hamstring himself as a filmmaker. He deserves to stretch the limits of his abilities and we deserve to enjoy the fruits of those explorations. I love the "Askewniverse" and would gladly visit again ("Mallrats 2: Die Hard in a Mall" or even another "Clerks" in ten years) but I also want to see Kevin Smith without the safety net of Jay and Bob (although he should bring along Jason Mewes for the ride). There is room for both Kevin's on my DVD shelf.
With the exception of Mallrats all of Kevin Smith's films have had very personal messages. Clerks was about the misplacement of a generation. That feeling in your early twenties that you're destined for greatness, but have no clue when the greatness train is pulling in. Chasing Amy was about inadequacy as a lover and a human being. Dogma was a wayward Christian's messed-up love letter to his faith, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was Kevin's personal quest to make a boatload of cash. Jersey Girl (derided as it is by fans and critics) is a beautiful story about a boy becoming a father (I imagine I'll get even more out of that one after I have kids). Kevin's latest, Clerks 2 might as well be a love letter to Kevin's best friends Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes.
There is another thread that Kevin weaves through all of these movies as well, male friendship. Its pitfalls, its shortcomings, its highpoints and low. From the first scene between Randal and Dante in the original "Clerks," the dynamic of one male friendship is established and largely maintained throughout his canon (including his one foray outside the "Askewniverse," "Jersey Girl"). Kevin is a lot like you (or your boyfriend/husband) he needs his friends, he wishes (sometimes) he could tell them how he feels about them (in a completely hetero-sexual way). But unlike you (or your bf/husband) he can write dialogue so that an actor can say it for him. In this film the nugget of "secret male bonding truth" is delivered by Jeff Anderson as Randal and it puts this movie at the top of Kevin Smith's films.
But what about the donkey show? Kevin's particular brand of "dick and fart" jokes has won him a legion of fans, sold millions in merchandise and tickets and revived the dirty teen comedy (Mallrats). It's that layer of filth that allows such heartfelt and poignant messages to sink in to an audience that otherwise wouldn't listen. It also keeps him from appealing to some audiences that could truly appreciate the message inside his films. The language, sexual discussions and implications will keep this film from ever reaching blockbuster proportions, but the people who need to hear this particular message most, probably won't be put off by those things.
"Clerks 2" is funny, heartwarming, uplifting, challenging and at times revolting. Who else could use a "donkey show" as both the romantic climax and the catalyst for a touching scene that plumbs the depths of male friendship (in a totally hetero-sexual way)? The film is fantastic. All the new additions (Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman) are truly spectacular and all the returners are in better form than ever before. Jeff Anderson and Brian O'Halloran are still not stars, but in the decade since they appeared first as Randal and Dante they have gained considerable skills as actors. The true gem though is Jason Mewes. "The Sonic Boom with Dirt on It" as Kevin likes to call him, has been through some rough times since finding fame. His fall into, and eventual climb out of drugs has been well documented. But the change we see on screen is tremendous. Jason has a future as an actor. Pacino, and Deniro shouldn't be nervous or anything, but this kid is captivating to watch when given the right words to say. And no one can give words like Kevin.
This movie does frighten me a little (although recent statements from Kevin have softened this). I fear that a good reception for this film (after the drubbing "Jersey Girl" took) will add to his already great insecurities. He should not, can not, hamstring himself as a filmmaker. He deserves to stretch the limits of his abilities and we deserve to enjoy the fruits of those explorations. I love the "Askewniverse" and would gladly visit again ("Mallrats 2: Die Hard in a Mall" or even another "Clerks" in ten years) but I also want to see Kevin Smith without the safety net of Jay and Bob (although he should bring along Jason Mewes for the ride). There is room for both Kevin's on my DVD shelf.
posted by Daddy Rogue at 7:40 PM
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