The Mosley Review: Clerks III

There's something sort of romantic about a director returning to the franchise that brought forth their career. Returning to their roots and never forgetting who they were in the process. Making a sequel almost 10 years later to an original isn't unheard of, but making a sequel almost 30 years later is something that has started to become more of a common ground. When its done with the same love and reverence it is magical, but when it is done just to get the band back together, it feels so cheap and soulless. This film is very far from the latter and I felt the same amount of joy and fun I had watching the original the film. It may have taken a long time to get to this hilariously meta story in theaters, but the wait was definitely worth it. I loved that the film mirrored the life of the director, but also played with the themes of mortality, making amends with one's past and valuing the time you have with the people you love. Sure this film features the alot of stoner humor, but its well balanced.

Brian O'Halloran was fantastic and hasn't skipped a beat as Dante. The evolution of the character over the years has been strong and this was the most defining chapter of the characters' arc. He was even more surprised by the antics of his regulars and always delivering great moments of emotional weight. Jeff Anderson was once again amazing as Randal and I liked that even in his later age, he still has that quick wit. He takes his character to another level as the story mostly focuses on his new life choice after facing a life altering experience. He finally has a direction in life and there is a moment where he truly sees the damage he has caused to others. The chemistry between Brian and Jeff has never been stronger and more contentious. Rosario Dawson returns as Becky and she was even more lovable and charming this time around. The chemistry between her and Dante was really the emotional bond and introspective view the film featured through them. Trevor Fehrman was great and kooky as Elias as he goes through a wardrobe of emotions and looks that keep you guessing on what he's gonna do next. Amy Sedaris as Doctor Ladenheim was great and I loved her comedic timing as she mixes so many pop culture references. Justin Long steals the screen in such a small time as the Orderly. Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith of course return as the iconic dynamic stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob. They were on point and hilarious in the right scenes and at the right time. I never get tired of seeing those 2.

The score by James L. Venable, where it was used, was beautiful and drives the emotional moments home. The soundtrack in the film was fun and had some great songs that I've already found myself humming. The only problems I had were somewhat in the middle where some of the comedy didn't land and some moments could've held for a few more seconds. Overall, this was a fun and heartfelt conclusion to a trilogy 30 years in the making and I'm glad that writer and director Kevin Smith got to see it through to the emotional end it deserved. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!