A Revisit to "Clerks" is Well Worth It

Over the weekend I made another trip to the Arkadin to see another classic movie, "Clerks". This was no theme night or Strange Brew or anything like that, this was just a showing of "Clerks".

I have been a fan of this movie since the first moment I saw it over 25 years ago. When I first saw it it was unlike anything else I had seen to that point. This movie, again I was 17 years old, was so poignant and profound to me. I would end up watching a bunch between the ages of 17 and 25 or so. It was a movie I would show to friends, I had family members watch it over and over again and I would watch it on my own a ton. Then it kind of slipped through the cracks for me and I moved on to other Kevin Smith movies.

Recently I went back and watched "Mallrats". I had heard someone talk about it on a podcast and that made me want to revisit. While not a great movie by any means, it still held up for me. I was able to look past some problematic language in the movie and I was able to go back to being younger and let myself get very involved in "Mallrats". "Clerks" is such a better movie, in my opinion, though. I was so happy on this rewatch, again, almost 20 years from the last time I saw it, that it still held up. I was laughing harder than I did before. I had never seen it with a true movie theater crowd, and that added a whole other layer for me. I was around other people that like this content as much as I do. We all laughed at all the funny parts. We knew what was coming but it didn't matter. It still hit us all the same. And the writing, I was kind of shocked that it still held up so well. I have seen this movie at different points in my life and this time, with 42 year old eyes and ears, I had a different take. I found Dante to be whiny and egotistical. Brian O'Halloran played this role to perfection. When I was younger I used to side with him. I felt he was just unlucky in love and wanted something better. This time around, I was all about Randal, played perfectly by Jeff Anderson. He knew his lot in life and accepted it. He held no grudges against anyone but the customers. He told Dante off when he needed and sided with him when needed. He was always there for him, but he would give him the business too. And I understand that there are other actors in this movie, but this is all about Dante and Randal. It is their journey through an insane day at work. And Kevin Smith and his writing staff absolutely nailed it.

I couldn't like this movie more than I do now. I feel like I understand it so much better now. And I highly recommend that you rewatch it if you haven't seen it in a long time or if you've never seen it and want to know what all the fuss is about. It is so well written and acted by, at the time, non actors. And if you are between the ages of 18-50, this movie will ring true for you. "Clerks", for me, is a true classic. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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