Review of Clerks II (2006) by Whitg. — 05 Dec 2006

Kevin Smith has a way with words and the ability to create absurd yet believable situations, but even those strengths can't redeem the flatness and falsity of these characters or the fake reality that Smith has forced them to inhabit.

And I must've missed the "heart" that supposedly exists at the core of Clerks 2. Maybe because it was one of those tiny pink candy hearts that tastes like chalk and refined sugar, the kind that made you sick on Valentines Day when you were 8 years old.

And you have to be about 8 to buy in to any of this typical Hollywood-style pseudo-romance, which is disappointing because there's a lot of critique of conventional romantic love coming out of the characters mouths but they contradict their words with their actions, and the ending is nothing less than American Dreamy.

All that being said, If you can satisfy yourself with a few humorous rants on contemporary culture and a couple of good gags that elicit mild chuckles then the movie isn't a total loss, but don't expect any substance.

In fact, if you load up on a substance (preferably herbal or alcoholic) then your chances of enjoying Clerks 2 would be greatly improved.