Clerks III

Recursiveness lives in New Jersey; who knew? Apparently Kevin Smith did. One must suppose that the approach we see here was the only way that another reasonable work could have been wrung from the fabric of this already twice-told story. Obviously, Smith drew inspiration not only from his previous Clerks works but also from his own real-life experience, i.e. his very own famous health scare. That and other complications of aging are the propellants for this (presumed) last round of antics of Dante and Randall, this time taking the convenience store pair on a journey that’s nearly identical to that of their creator, not just to the hospital but through the selfsame experience of creating an autobiographical theatrical work, set in the same place but hardly the same time. It’s an interesting concept, one that evokes both memories of the past and inevitable comparisons between the disparate times and realities. While the results are not quite to the same level of zaniness as before, there are moments of comedy that work here, along some surprisingly touching scenes as well (mostly towards the end, for what eventually become obvious reasons). Overall, this film is a solid piece of nostalgia, an intriguing statement about things learned along the way, and a fitting denouement for some of independent cinema’s most famous and iconic characters. For longtime fans, and maybe even a few neophytes who never even saw the first two flicks (or any of the other View Askew movies), I assure you that this work is worth a look.