This might be the true definition of a cult classic film as Kevin Smith's Clerks has all of the genre's best features: a down-on-his-luck protagonist, witty and memorable dialogue, and technical aspects that are definitely not seen in many mainstream movies. This slice-of-life film is a very entertaining look at the lives of two convenience store workers in the 1990s and the many strange things that happen to them on a daily basis. While the majority of the writing throughout this movie is heavily exaggerated to further the plot, Smith still delivers a fun film that is still surprisingly relatable to today's culture.
Clerks follows the part-time jobs of best friends Dante and Randal, played by Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson, who just so happen to work right next door to each other. Dante runs the local convenience store as Randal manages the video rental store (a phrase right out of the 90s). Their relationship and how they handle their respective establishments makes for the best scenes in this entire film and paves the way for some great humor. These two have already been established as being best friends but the actions throughout this film only cement their friendship, which was a nice change of pace in terms of character development. The relationships in this film are what make it the most interesting, as the audience is able to see how the many different people and experiences shape our lead Dante. As Dante struggles with trying to remain positive on his supposed day off, many various people come in the store that are written solely to test his patience. The wild cast of characters that visit the store throughout the day pave the way for some very wacky and almost slapstick-style scenarios that are hilarious in the long run. And this, of course, includes the debut of Smith's Jay and Silent Bob, as they are written as junkies dealing outside of the store. These quick back-and-forth scenes and how Smith was able to write them all together was genius. Along with his writing, the directing was incredible as well. This film flew by without missing a beat and makes for a quick but wildly amusing watch.
The clever dialogue written for this movie is the narrative's main focus throughout. Every single character comes off as a fast-talking and sly individual, but the way that they interact with each other is where the true colors of each character shines. Dante is an insecure lowlife afraid of change while Randal is a secure lowlife comfortable with the life given to him. However, Dante's girlfriend Veronica, played by Marilyn Ghigliotti, is the main agent for Dante's change. Their romance leads to the opening up of some fantastic conversation about relationships and human decency. That theme is especially important in this film as Dante struggles to figure out his life and what he really wants from it. My favorite aspect of the dialogue, however, is how the words that are spoken greatly contrast the stereotypical character that spoke them. The smart and witty conversation happens so quickly throughout this film that it can be easy to miss some one-liners and full-circle jokes, but the way the words are presented is so surreal compared to those saying them. Our society tells us not to expect a convenience store clerk and a video rental employee to speak so intelligently, but this film turns those archetypes on their heads. A few small issues that I had were some outdated and derogatory terms and Dante's questionable view of women, but the majority of the dialogue in this movie stands out the most as it proves itself to be strangely timeless.
Technical elements about this movie obviously stood out to me as well, as this small, independent film's budget was a measly $28,000. While this might discourage many filmmakers, I am glad that Smith was able to put more of his focus on its script instead of its aesthetic appeal. Although, some like me would argue that the black and white choice was not only smart, but fit the tone as well. The way this film was shot was amazing too; David Klein's single-camera cinematography and jolting movement not only put the focus on the cast, but solidified the convenience store setting. Towards the end of the film, I could actually feel like I was in the store with the characters sharing a room with them.
Clerks is a vulgar and unapologetic slice-of-life masterpiece and while it did not necessarily contain some of the strongest or most original plot points, it surely helped to further Kevin Smith's career into the pop culture icon that we know today. I would definitely recommend this movie if you are a fan of this genre or just want to see the funky, offbeat origins of the infamous Jay and Silent Bob.
My Rating: ★★★½
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