Kevin Smith picksClerks IIas his favorite movie he has ever made. The cult favorite director has been writing and directing since the 1994 indie hit,Clerks. Smith has since gone on to create his own cinematic universe, The View Askewniverse,that connects the majority of his movies.Clerks IIpicks up 12 years later and finds Dante and Randal getting new jobs at the fast food restaurant, Mooby’s, after Randal accidentally burns down The Quick Stop. Throughout his career, Smith has directed 16 movies, including therecently releasedThe 4:30 Movie.
Now, reflecting on his career withEntertainment Weekly, Smith choosesClerks IIas his favorite movie he wrote and directed. Smith notes thatClerks IIwas intended as a gift to his fans after they supported the originalClerks. He also used the movie as motivation to create his podcast network and touring business, something he is still actively doing nearly 20 years later. He comparesClerks IItoThe Godfather Part 2, a movie that many see as superior to the original.
Clerks II is honestly one of my favorite films I’ve ever made. I mean, there’s a fucking dance number in this movie. Because of Dante and Randal, my whole life changed. When people see me, they [smile] because of some goofy as movie I made and stuff. That was Dante and Randal’s gift to me. So, in Clerks II, I try to return the favor.
Dante and Randal’s dream is to never work for some other a*sshole. I was flabbergasted by how happy I was for my fictional characters, and I realized ‘Oh my god, I too can just go buy the Quick Stop,’ so to speak. That’s why I started podcasting and created this whole other business and a touring business based on podcasting. And as far as sequels go, this is the Godfather 2 to the Godfather that is Clerks. I prefer 2.
Smith Picks One Of His Emotional Movies As His Favorite
Clerks II Is Randal’s Movie
Smith’s choice is one of his most emotional movies.The majority of Smith’s movies have an underlying heart in them, despite often being vulgar-filled comedies. WhileClerks IIIhas powerful scenes, like Randal’s heart attack or Dante’s death,Clerks IIalso has an emotional monologue at the end of the movie where Randal breaks down in jail and tells Dante what their friendship means and that he wants to buy The Quick Stop so they can run it together.
90%
89%
58%
82%
87%
83%
68%
85%
52%
75%
43%
48%
63%
84%
65%
66%
18%
39%
61%
54%
46%
36%
25%
34%
93%
72%
Killroy Was Hereis not included as the movie was released as an NFT and has no critics or audience score.
Of theClerkstrilogy,Clerks IIhas the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score at 63%. However, the audience score is much more favorable, coming in at an 84% approval rating. While not the highest rated in his career, Smith’s audience agrees thatClerks IIis one of his better movies. Despite taking 16 years forClerks IIIto come out, the demand to see more from Dante and Randal was there, and the positive 93% audience score reflects that.
Our Take On Clerks II
Smith Is Right About This Movie
Clerks IIwas at this point in Smith’s career the least autobiographical. All of his previous 6 movies to that point took stories from his life or, in the case ofDogmaandJersey Girl, pulled from working through his feelings about Catholicism and fears of being a father. I agree with Smith,Clerks IIis his best movie. The movie takes time to have fun with a large dance number, ups the extreme humor with a bachelor party gone wrong, and makes youcare about Dante and Randal. While not only a thank you to his fans,Clerks IIshows Smith’s growth as a filmmaker.
Clerks 2
Cast
Releasing over a decade after the original cult classic, Clerks II centers on Dante and Randal, who venture out to find a new job after their Quick Stop store catches on fire. They eventually settle on a Mooby’s fast food restaurant. Clerks II is the sixth film in Kevin Smith’s Askewniverse.
