Film Review – Clerks III

1994’s “Clerks” had a very appropriate ending, offering a sudden resolution to a crude comedy that was more about scenes than a narrative journey. 2006’s “Clerks II” had a perfect ending, with writer/director Kevin Smith successfully creating a full circle moment for his lead characters, concluding their convenience store odyssey on a bittersweet, borderline ominous note. “Clerks III” is the unexpected third installment of Smith’s study of minimum-wage shenanigans, and it doesn’t really have an ending, reflecting a picture that spends most of the run time trying to understand why it even exists. The helmer wants another bite of the apple, continuing his recent career choice to revisit past glories (2019’s “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot”), but “Clerks III” makes some strange creative moves, including Smith’s decision to turn the feature into a dramedy, looking to mine some emotions while juggling the raunchy humor he’s known for. It’s a deeper, more sensitive “Clerks,” leading to an uneven, somewhat befuddling viewing experience. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com