Public Servant Lifestyle

Kevin Smith checks back in to see what changes have rocked the lives of the cast of the Clerks as the film gets a UK DVD release.

A decade after audiences first met Dante Hicks he’s still serving surly customers, still a reluctant wage slave and still doing his best to escape the over-the-counter culture.

Ten years ago best friends Dante Hicks - played once more by Brian O’Halloran - and Randal Graves - played by Jeff Anderson - were New Jersey mini-mall clerks still slacking off together in their early 20s behind the counters of (respectively) the Kwik Stop convenience store and ‘Big Choice’ Video shop. Now, Kevin Smith checks back in to see what kind of changes have rocked their lives - in work, romance and their eternally raucous life philosophy.

What he discovers is that never before have so many still done so little while having so much fun doing it. Now working in the netherworld of the fast-food universe, the same two men: Dante and Randal have managed to maintain - and in some ways even hone – their own particular brand of work/life balance. Still exercising no restraint in matters of customer relations they are still displaying in-your-face attitudes, and agile skill with vulgarities and an unbridled love of screwing with the customers...But they’re also faced with such shocking new prospects as marriage, leaving Jersey and finding real careers.

‘I’m Eating It’

Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Jersey Girl) pushes his nothing-is-sacred humour right to the edge and then takes a leap as Dante and Randal invade the world of Mooby’s fast food restaurant, where the slogan is ‘I’m Eating It’. Behind the counter, where the only other employees are an uber-nerd – played by Trevor Ferhman - and an entirely too sexy manager - played Rosario Dawson (Sin City), Dante and Randal are free to offend anybody and everybody who so much as orders fries in their inimitably irreverent way.

But, even as riotous debates rage between them over such burning matters as George Lucas v. Peter Jackson v. Jesus, change is on the horizon. When Dante announces that he's going to leave Jersey forever and marry Emma Bunting – played by the director’s wife: Jennifer Schwalbach - Randal plots a going-away party so shocking it will draw the police, the fire department and potential protests from PETA, while altering their lives forever.

Clerks II, written and directed by Kevin Smith. The producers are Scott Mosier and Smith, and the executive producers are Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and Carla Gardini. The film features cameos by Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Kevin Weisman (TV’s Alias) and the comedians Wanda Sykes and Earthquake. It also features the triumphant return of Leonardo, New Jersey’s inimitable duo Jay – played once again by the inimitable Jason Mewes - and Silent Bob - Kevin Smith, doing his usual salubrious cameo.

Remember, just becuase they (still) serve you, doesn’t mean they like you. In fact now they like you even less...

Also recommended by Kevin Smith:

Clerks (1994). A day in the lives of clerks Dante and Randal as they work the day from hell in a New Jersey convenience store. The pair pick fights with customers, annoy each other, discuss movies (Star Wars in particular), disrupt a funeral (off screen) and play hockey on the store roof. Made huge waves at that year's Sundance Festival, launched the careers of Brian O’Halloran (Dante) and Smith himself.

Clerks X: Tenth Anniversary Edition (2004). DVD extras packed double disc release of the above – comprising versions of the film from both ends of it’s life – the original ‘Sundance’ festival print and the subsequent version released in theatres once Miramax films became involved (basically adding music, cleaning up the sound and print quality and omitting a downbeat ending in which Dante is gunned down just as he’s about to close up the store).

Clerks II on double disc DVD is packed full of extras, including the following:

Audio commentary from director - and Silne Bob actor - Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier and cinematographer Dave Klein, actors Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Jason Mewes, Brian O'Halloran and Jennifer Schwalbach

Podcast commentary from Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier and actor Jeff Anderson

Deleted scenes

Introduction to the film by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier

'A Closer Look At Interspecies Erotica' featurette

'Back To The Well' documentary

Blooper reel

Video production diaries

For more information on all things Kevin Smith/Clerks related, visit the director’s website at: www.viewaskew.com

Clerks II is out on DVD now.

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