Clerks II: Still slacking

23-09-2006 09:31

In 1994, a film came along that made Hollywood sit up and think. It was a small independent production, directed by an unknown filmmaker, shot in black and white, with no big name cast and no real plot as such..The film was 'Clerks'. The movie tracked a day in the life of two clerks - shop workers - in a convenience store in New Jersey. One of them, Dante Hicks, called to work in his day off, and that's when his problems start.His girlfriend wants to leave him, his friend Randall, who works at the video store next door, constantly embarrass him in front of his customers, his ex-girlfriend is getting married, he needs to play in a hockey game at noon and no one can replace him, he has to go to a friend's wake and a pair of drug dealers outside his store - Jay and Silent Bob - keep antagonising him. 'Clerks II' picks up a decade on from where the original left off - and it would appear never before have so many still done so little while having so much fun doing it.Dante and Randal have managed to maintain, and even hone, their in-your-face attitudes, agile skill with vulgarities and unbridled love of screwing with the customers, but now they're also faced with such shocking new prospects as marriage, leaving Jersey and finding real careers.

For Kevin, making 'Clerks II' was almost therapeutic - a checkpoint in his own life.He explained: "When I made the first film it was basically I snapshot of where I was personally at that time. When I started making 'Clerks II' I approached it in the same way - a snapshot of where I am now.

"Maybe I'll check back in with the characters again when they're 50... maybe not."

Kevin added: "For me though I think there was a real sense of closure doing 'Clerks II'. I feel like I've taken those stories to their logical conclusion. Now I can feel free to jump out and do something else."

Despite the anticipation and favourable reviews surrounding 'Clerks II', Smith insists 'Clerks' is the only movie he is likely to return or add to - despite repeated calls from fans for a sequel to his second film 'Mallrats'.

He explained: "If I was ever to do that, I think it would be in comic book form rather than as a film. We have actually talked about it but that's as far as it's gone so far."

The onscreen Butch to Kevin's Sundance - Jay - who is played by Jason Mewes has had a rough few years caused by a serious drug addiction.

The actor-director admits watching his friend slowly self-destruct was sheer hell.

Smith explained: "Jason had some pretty deep drug abuse problems. He found himself hooked on heroin and all sorts of other stuff but it has been three and half years now that he's been totally clean and sober.

"I remember when I told people that he'd cleaned up and they all thought he probably wouldn't be nearly as funny but let me tell you, there's nothing funny about being a drug addict."

He added: "When we were making the other movies he was barely touched the stuff but as soon as shooting was finished and we were in the editing suite, BOOM, he would slip back into his old ways.