Clerks III is going to take fans completely by surprise, in a wonderful way. It’s like reuniting with old friends, but isn’t afraid to amp up the emotions.
Fans of the first two Clerks movies, and Kevin Smith, have been waiting for Clerks III since the second it was announced. But be warned, while this is very much a Clerks movie it is far more emotional and deep than expected. This is not a bad thing, trust us, you just might want to have tissues within arms reach.
As seen in the trailer, the third installment in this franchise has taken inspiration right out of writer/director Kevin Smith’s life. Not too long ago Smith had a heart attack — a big one — and it caused him to change the way he lives his life. He was very lucky to make it through what they call a “widow maker”.
In Clerks III Randal suffers from the same fate. After having a wonderful doctor (named after the doctor that saves Smith’s life) keep him alive, he decides to create a movie that tells his stories. Essentially, the final film in the trilogy highlights the best moments of the previous films, allowing fans to also see it through different eyes.
Because of this way of storytelling, sometimes the film feels repetitive of the past. Viewers might get deja vu feeling like they have already seen this scene because… they have. However, for the most part there is something new to the moment, giving it a fresh feel.
It is updated for the year 2022, even noting that selling marijuana is legal as the video rental store is now a THC store owned by Jay and Silent Bob. Everything that takes place in that store is hilarious. Watching them try to navigate a world where they don’t have to sell drugs on the streets is extremely entertaining. In an effort to avoid spoilers we won’t go into it too much, but their business strategies are actually quite brilliant.
One of the best things about Clerks III is feeling like you are hanging out with your old friends again. You know the ones. When you haven’t seen each other in years but as soon as you reunite it doesn’t seem like any time has passed. You can pick right back up where you left off and have the time of your lives. Laughing and reminiscing about the good old days. That is what Clerks III feels like.
All of the fan favorites are back — and there are also some great new additions to the cast. Most importantly though, it is still focuses on Randal and Dante, and their time at the Quick Stop.
While Clerks III is a bit of a retelling of the past, it truly is so much more. Kevin Smith clearly poured his heart and soul into this film, and it paid off. He was completely unafraid to write his own personal feelings and reactions into it, which is why it works so well. This is a surprisingly powerful and emotional movie, which was not expected as this critic sat down to laugh and have a good time.
The ending takes a turn that is unexpected, but overall feels necessary. It is cathartic and bittersweet in a way. We don’t want to ruin it, but just know that it is a great addition to the story, as difficult as it is to experience. For hardcore fans, there will be tears.
Of course there are a lot of laughs, as Clerks III is packed with the same type of humor its predecessors are. It is cohesive to the story and, sadly, feels like a real ending to the trilogy. There likely won’t be a Clerks IV, which is a hard pill to swallow, even though fans probably never anticipated it. These characters are relatable and fun, and they will be missed.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
NEXT: INTERVIEW: Kevin Smith on Masters of the Universe: Revelation
About CLERKS III
Following a massive heart attack, Randal enlists his friends and fellow clerks Dante, Elias, Jay, and Silent Bob to make a movie immortalizing his life at the convenience store that started it all.
Clerks III stars Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Rosario Dawson, and Kevin Smith.
Lionsgate in partnership with Fathom Events will be releasing CLERKS III exclusively in theaters on September 13th and 15th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.