Review of Mallrats (1995) by Neil D — 08 Sep 2013

This romantic comedy may only be for Kevin Smith fans, but the gross-out gags here should prove to be acceptable, thanks to a witty and loopy script, along with Smith's often clever direction, which from what I can tell is overlooked by many.

There is little plot to be found here, but honestly, who looks for a meaningful plot in a Kevin Smith movie? His movie are solely meant for getting by with his writing, and this case is no exception. There many obvious references to comic books and movies here, but they go hand-in-hand with the wit. The cast do a great job with the material they're given, though the scenes involving Smith's character Silent Bob alongside with Jason Mewes' Jay are easily the most memorable. And Stan Lee's appearance should blow just about any comic book fan away.

On the technical side, there's smooth camera work, even throughout wacky scenes, along with the emphasis on fake sound effects, which adds to the playfulness of the movie's sense of style, and a neat rock-driven soundtrack. It feels like a silly comic-book brought to life, done right on top of that.

Maybe I've overrated this movie, but thanks to Kevin Smith, Mallrats doesn't feel like a typical romantic comedy flick. It's got a far better blend of gross-out humor and wit than what I've seen in other movies of the like, making it a worthwhile View Askewed production. No complaints.