Audiences are loving Clerks III, the latest movie to come from Kevin Smith. The third installment of the Clerks movie series, the sequel goes back to where Smith’s career began with its setting in Quick Stop Groceries where the first movie was shot. Taking inspiration from Smith’s real life, the film follows Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson) putting together a movie about his life as a Quick Stop clerk with the help of co-worker Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) and the eccentric locals of Leonardo, New Jersey.
After hitting theaters this month, Clerks III has been drawing some fairly mixed reactions from critics, landing with a score of 62% Fresh on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience score for the film is much higher, showing that your average filmgoer is enjoying the comedy sequel much more than some of the critics. Clerks III currently has an audience score of 94%, a new career-high for Smith as a director. This is followed by Jay and Silent Bob Reboot at 93%, Clerks at 89%, Dogma at 85%, and Clerks II at 84%. If you’re curious, the original Clerks ranks as Smith’s highest-rated film on the Tomatometer, with critics giving that film a 90% rating.
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“You will love this movie,” one person said in a user review. “In typical Kevin Smith style, he makes you feel nostalgic and makes you laugh and cry. The first few minutes I was thinking about how he was selling us the same old characters and situations again, but shortly after that I became completely immersed until the end. I was so immersed that I was able to forget the fact that the man with the longest skull I have ever seen sat directly in front of me.”
Another viewer added, “A bit more emotional than I was expecting considering the world these characters have been living in, but wonderfully done. Lots of fan service and inside jokes that will be appreciated by long-term viewers.”
“I’m thankful Kevin Smith has invited us into his journey of maturation,” another viewer stated in a review. “In truth, I was not expecting this. A few ups, a few downs, and plenty of laughs were my baseline expectations. What we have been gifted with is a heartfelt, and deep tribute to his fans, characters, past, future, and the success he has been granted from them. It’s a wild, wild ride.”
And someone else puts it, “More emotional than I was expecting. If you’re a Kevin Smith Fan, you’ll love it. But even if you’re not, there is a lot of character development and the topics are universally relatable (after a certain age). See it with someone you love, either a spouse or a hetero life mate. Snoochie Boochies.”
Clerks III Goes Back to the Quick Stop
Lionsgate
Kevin Smith wrote and directed Clerks III. It’s a film that has been in gestation for years, as Jeff Anderson (Randal) did not want to get involved with a previous version of the sequel that Smith was planning. After Smith suffered a heart attack, he felt inspired to write a new screenplay for Clerks III that had convinced Anderson to get on board.
Clerks III also stars Brian O’Halloran, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Rosario Dawson, Veronica Ghigliotti, and Amy Sedaris. Various celebrities, such as Ben Affleck and Justin Long, also make special appearances.
Clerks III is playing in theaters courtesy of Fathom Events through Sept. 25. Kevin Smith is also taking on the road through what’s called “The Convenience Tour.” To get tickets, head on over to the official website for Clerks III.
