It's 12 years since Kevin Smith burst onto the movie scene with his lo-fi indie Clerks. Dante and Randal became instant cult heroes, spewing a constant stream of expletives and movie quotes in equal measure, whilst Jay and Silent Bob proved so popular their characters have been resurrected in all but one of his six subsequent movies.
Unfortunately, the one odd movie out flopped dramatically. Jersey Girl saw Smith trying to grow up and move on. Clearly his die-hard fan base wasn't ready for that. The question is: did this failure prompt his return to the View Askewniverse (the name appropriated to Smith's hyperreal New Jersey settings)? Is this film a total cop-out? Another unwanted sequel? A retreat to safe territory?
Maybe so. But as it turns out it is very funny and, at times, genuinely touching. This is the movie he should have made before Jersey Girl, the movie that shows his fans where his blossoming abilities as a film-maker are headed. It is a movie that perfectly combines his juvenile side with his thirty-something maturity, his crass humour with sincere emotion. It is a movie about growing up and just how scary and difficult that can be.
Clerks II finds Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) relocated from the Quick Stop–after a decade–due to a fire, and now working in the fictional fast-food restaurant Mooby's.
A year later Dante is on the verge of a life-changing move down to Florida with his fiancée Emma Bunting (Jennifer Schwalbach Smith), leaving Randal and New Jersey behind. But there's a whole 24 hours, one last day at work and a Randal-organised send-off to go before leaving. Will he or won't he?
Well you don't want that spoiled, do you? But rest assured the conclusion is more than satisfactory, as is the build-up. All the familiar faces are back: Dante and Randal, the guys we know and love, remain their old selves, still offending customers and debating movies, just with a few visible years (and pounds) added.
Jay and Silent Bob return, off the herb but with a new addiction: The Bible. Even Smith stalwarts manage cameo appearances: the 'Fleck pops-up very briefly, whilst Jason Lee pays a visit to Mooby's in full My Name is Earl facial regalia.
Added to the ensemble cast are two new staff members, adding a further dimension to the continuing saga of our favourite shop assistants. Rosario Dawson ( Sin City, Rent ) plays Becky, the embodiment of the perfect girl-next-door manager of Mooby's and close confidant of Dante. She completely convinces as an everyday gal, humanising her vivacious character and transcending her beautiful "movie star" looks.
The other is Elias, a naïve and sheltered uber-nerd, played by newcomer Trevor Fehrman. A creation of comic genius, Elias basically knows and likes three things: Transformers, Lord of the Rings and Jesus.
His affinity for Rings in particular allows for some comical confrontations with "the only true trilogy" ( Star Wars ) fan Randal, especially when fellow LOTR -geek Kevin Weisman (TV's Alias ) calls into Mooby's.
The subsequent scene makes Clerks II worth seeing alone, as Randal launches a verbal tirade against them both and the "Lord of the 'Walking' Rings movies". It is a comedic scene of tear-inducing proportions, and come year's end will stand up as one of the scenes of the year.
So where now for Kevin Smith? Clerks III? It probably won't happen for a while, but would be most welcome on this evidence. So in the meantime why not give Randal (the undoubted star of both the original and this sequel) his own TV show? Now that would be must-see-TV.
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