Clerks III might be known as Kevin Smith’s heart attack movie but this is one of those films that hits all of the emotional feelings.

By the time my review runs, it will have been one month since Lionsgate sent the press screeners for review. One month in which I couldn’t tell anyone about how this is one of those “I’m not crying, you’re crying” films. And yes, this even includes not tweeting my feelings to Kevin Smith. I’m not complaining because it’s a Kevin Smith movie that I never thought we’d ever get. I’ll be honest in that, knowing Kevin Smith from reading Tough Sh*t, I’m surprised we even got press screeners at all! But at the end of the day, this is a beautiful film about independent filmmaking.

Anyway, Randal (Jeff Anderson) has a massive heart attack early on in the film. As a result of this heart attack, he decides to write a screenplay about working at the Quick Stop Groceries convenience store. He gets Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Elias (Trevor Ferhman), Jay (Jason Mewes), and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) involved whether they want to or not. As for the audition process, all I’ll say is that you need to keep a close eye on the screen. My lips are otherwise sealed. I’m not going to say much more about the plot beyond this because it’s best knowing very little. Again, this is a very emotional movie.

Smith gives beautiful arcs to every character in the film. Some of which have me in tears. I mean, I might have gone about it differently but it makes sense in the end. Stay for the end of the credits, too. No, it is not an end-credits scene–although it’ll be easier to read the director’s thanks on home video. Instead, Kevin Smith has a few more words for the audience. He certainly has a way with words.

There have been many movies over the years about making movies but there’s something about Clerks III that makes it different. Maybe this is because it is a Kevin Smith vehicle and he’s one of the masters at indie filmmaking. If you know anything about indie filmmaking, you can appreciate what Smith is trying to say with this movie. I also love some of the meta commentary that comes during the few times in which Silent Bob opens his mouth to say something. Silent Bob does not speak much in the Smith films but when he does, it is very poignant in nature.

Clerks III takes audiences on an emotional journey in what is Kevin Smith’s most heartfelt film to date.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Kevin Smith
CAST: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Ferhman, Austin Zajur, Kevin Smith, with Jason Mewes and Rosario Dawson

Lionsgate in partnership with Fathom Events will be releasing CLERKS III in theaters from September 13-18, 2022. The Convenience Tour will follow. Grade: 4.5/5

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