Watch Clerks
- R
- 1994
- 1 hr 32 min
-
7.7 (234,179)
Clerks is a 1994 American independent black-and-white comedy film that was written and directed by Kevin Smith. The movie stars Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks, Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, Marilyn Ghigliotti as Veronica Loughran, and Lisa Spoonauer as Caitlin Bree. The film is set over the course of a single day, in which Dante and Randal are forced to work at a convenience store in New Jersey.
The movie follows Dante and Randal, who are best friends but have completely different personalities. Dante is a responsible and organized person, while Randal is the complete opposite. The day they are forced to work at the convenience store is a busy one, as they deal with various customers, including shoplifters, hockey players, and a funeral procession.
Throughout the movie, Dante deals with a lot of personal issues, including his girlfriend issues, the fact that he hates his job and has a terrible customer service attitude, and his struggle to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Randal, on the other hand, is content with his life, as he spends the day making fun of customers, slacking off, and coming up with various schemes to amuse himself.
The film has a unique and non-linear structure, as it jumps back and forth between different scenes throughout the day, sometimes with flashbacks or dream sequences interspersed. The humor in the movie is raunchy and vulgar, but also clever and witty. The film often makes fun of pop culture, particularly Star Wars, with references to the Death Star and the famous, "I have a bad feeling about this" line.
One of the most memorable scenes in the movie involves a discussion between Dante, Randal, and two customers about whether or not the contractors working on the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi were innocent victims. The conversation is a hilarious and clever satire on the moral ambiguity of the Star Wars universe and is an example of the pop culture references that make the film so unique and entertaining.
Another memorable aspect of the movie is the soundtrack, which features alternative rock songs from bands such as Alice in Chains and Soul Asylum. The music adds to the film's overall indie vibe and enhances the 90s-era setting.
Clerks is a cult classic that was praised for its realistic dialogue, relatable characters, and unique storytelling style. The movie was made on a shoestring budget of $27,575 and was shot in the actual convenience store where Smith worked in New Jersey. It went on to gross over $3 million at the box office and launched Smith's career, as he went on to direct popular films such as Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
In conclusion, Clerks is a hilarious and unique indie comedy that has stood the test of time. The movie's relatable characters, clever humor, and unconventional storytelling make it a cult classic that is still beloved by fans today.
Clerks is a 1994 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 70.