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I finally saw Clerks 2 on the new DVD release this week.

I should make it clear that I am a fan of the original and Kevin Smith movies in general. That being said however, I entered into this movie very skeptical, with very low expectations. I thought the entire idea of a sequel was bad, and having it in color when the original was in black and white would throw the whole thing off.

I have to tell you I was totally wrong. Kevin Smith knocked it out of the park on this one. This was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen, but not only that, the story is stupendous. I'd have to say that not only is Clerks 2 better than the original, but it's probably the best Kevin Smith movie so far.

Where the original Clerks was low budget, it still had a message, not only as an examination of youth culture, but also as an art film, portraying the lives of the young leads, Dante' (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), in black and white, as if seen through the lens of the security cameras in the convenience store in which Dante' works.

Clerks 2 is an altogether different beast. It has the same sense of humor, maybe even more so, but it has full color and higher budget than the original. However, it isn't the higher production values of Clerks 2 that makes it a better movie, it's the story of how Dante' and Randal's lives have progressed in the last ten years and continue to move forward.

I never thought there'd be a logical, believable need to visit these characters lives again, but have found myself pleasantly surprised thanks to Kevin Smith's writing. Not only is this new story believable and relates to viewers, but it's also a logical step in the lives of the characters and leaves you with a feeling that it's a story that matters.

To quickly gloss the movie over in a way that won't do it justice:

An act of fate (or God?) has ended Dante' and Randal's careers working at the Quick Stop after over a decade. Their lives still haven't gone much of anywhere since the original Clerks. The two find themselves working at a fast food restaurant continuing to slave away at a new dead end job with a colorful cast of co-workers and customers. Dante' has finally reached a point in his life where he is ready to move on. He is now engaged to a beautiful and wealthy young lady, Emma (Jennifer Schwalbach), who wants him to leave New Jersey and his best friend Randal behind in order to move to Florida and get married.

Complicating matters is Becky (Rosario Dawson), the boss at Dante's and Randal's new place of employment. The reason she complicates things is that she and Dante' become very good friends, and possibly more. Dante' thinks he has to get out of Jersey to improve his life and please his new love, but he's also quickly falling in love with Becky.

Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) have also returned, now they hangout outside the fast food joint. They continue to dance outside the store and sell weed, but a stint in jail has now given them a different approach influenced by their acceptance of Jesus.

There is more slapstick and humor packed into this movie than I can delve into here. I also don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it.

I will say that there is a rooftop dancing scene with Rosario Dawson and a donkey show scene that make this move worth well more than the price of admission.

I recommend this movie to anyone with even half a sense of humor. This movie has exceeded my expectations and I am pleasantly surprised and reaffirmed in my admiration for Kevin Smith's films.

A great movie that deserves more attention, Kevin Smith has truly outdone himself.

Learn more about this author, Mike Gagnon.
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