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Clerks 3 Blu-ray Review

“Clerks 3” is a clunky but emotional third installment. 

In “Clerks 3,” we find Dante and Randal working at the Quick Stop having bought the place for themselves. Jay and Silent Bob meanwhile own a weed dispensary next door where RST Video used to be. Things aren’t going particularly well for Dante and Randal at this stage. Dante is struggling with loss (won’t spoil what that loss is) while Randal suffers a heart attack. With a new outlook on life, Randal decides to make a movie about he and Dante’s life, but that journey turns out to be an unexpected one.

The first 2 Clerks films are among Kevin Smith’s best with “Clerks” still being his best film to this day (in my humble opinion). This third entry is not only a definitive ending to this saga, but it also feels like a very personal story for the writer/director. As some of you may know, Kevin Smith suffered a heart attack 4 years ago which caused him to make some big changes in his life. Smith’s grapple with his own mortality clearly influenced “Clerks 3” as it is all over this work. In fact, the film is at its best during the more dramatic moments. The heartfelt dynamic between Dante and Randal has always been the heart of this trilogy and that is especially true here. Brian O’Halloran (Dante) and Jeff Anderson (Randal) aren’t movie stars by any stretch, but they always nailed these two characters and had great chemistry together. Seeing them together again is sure to move longtime fans.

The comedy of “Clerks 3” is less effective. Sure, there are some genuine laughs, but Smith stuffs this film with fan service, cameos, an NFT plot device, the very meta movie making angle, and a bit too much Elias (who was better in “Clerks 2”). Even Jay and Silent Bob come across as a bit stiff. Both Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes have now reached the age where they are just too old for these roles.

Even though it doesn’t always work, “Clerks 3” is emotional when it counts. It’s also easily Smith’s best film since “Red State” as the filmmaker has struggled as of late with duds like “Yoga Hosers” and “Jay And Silent Reboot.”

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? It may look cheap and low-budget, but this is a quality hi-def transfer.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? An Atmos track seems like overkill for the dialogue heavy movie but it does the job.
Extras:

* Digital copy
* “Clerks 3” theatrical trailer
* A Kevin Smith disc intro.
* Commentary by Kevin Smith, Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman and Austin Zajur.
* 29 1/2 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes including more moments with Justin Long, Rosario Dawson, Jay and Silent Bob, Elias
* “We’re Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today: 3 Decades Of Clerks”- A 75 minute documentary about the Clerks saga. Cast and crew interviews, stills and archival footage, discussions about how “Clerks” came about and the film’s history, along with talks about Jay and Silent Bob, “Clerks: The Animated Series,” and the sequels.
* “The Clerks 3 Documentary”- An extensive 96 minute documentary featuring tons of behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, and in-depth look at the production. However one may feel about Kevin Smith, the filmmaker’s movies have always been loaded with top notch bonus features. This is one of those top notch extras. 

November 28, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Brian O'Halloran, Clerks 3 Blu-ray Review, Dante and Randal, Jay and Silent Bob, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith