Convenience and video store clerks Dante and Randal are sharp-witted, potty-mouthed and bored out of their minds. So in between needling customers, the counter jockeys play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home and deal with their love lives.
Clerks (1994), written and directed by Kevin Smith, is a black-and-white independent comedy film that launched both the director’s career and the “View Askewniverse” franchise. The film takes place entirely in a convenience store and focuses on a day in the life of two slackers, Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, as they navigate the mundanities and absurdities of their dead-end jobs.
Plot Overview
The story is simple yet profound. Dante, who works at a convenience store in a New Jersey strip mall, finds himself stuck in a rut, dealing with both his customers and his life choices. His best friend, Randal, works next door at a video store and is cynical about the world around him. As the day progresses, they deal with a series of comical and occasionally absurd situations. Dante’s ex-girlfriend, a funeral, an impromptu soccer game on the store’s roof, and a chance encounter with former flames are just a few events that unfold. The film culminates with Dante realizing he has to face his own insecurities and embrace responsibility.
Themes and Analysis
- Youth, Stagnation, and Aimlessness: The central theme of Clerks is about the frustration and confusion of being young and unsure of the future. Dante and Randal represent the modern young adult’s existential crisis, stuck in jobs they don’t want, questioning their relationships, and struggling with the monotony of their daily lives. Smith expertly uses the setting to showcase how the characters’ mundane routines reflect a larger existential struggle.
- Friendship and Loyalty: The friendship between Dante and Randal is key to the film. Randal’s nihilistic and irreverent attitude contrasts with Dante’s anxiety and desire for something more. Despite their differences, they support each other, representing a loyalty that transcends their frustrations with life.
- Pop Culture and Dialogue: Smith’s script is famous for its pop culture references and sharp dialogue. The characters engage in discussions about everything from Star Wars to hockey, which simultaneously anchors the film in a specific cultural moment while allowing it to resonate with a wide audience. These conversations add depth to the characters, making them feel real and relatable, despite the film’s minimalist setting.
- Disillusionment with Capitalism and Consumerism: The setting of the convenience store symbolizes a microcosm of consumer culture, and the film critiques the soulless nature of capitalism. Characters interact with customers who are often self-absorbed and thoughtless, reflecting the transactional nature of modern life. Dante and Randal’s resistance to conforming to societal expectations reinforces this anti-consumerist attitude.
- The Transition to Adulthood: As the film progresses, Dante is forced to confront his failures and indecision. His frustration with his life choices grows, and he grapples with the responsibilities of adulthood. In this way, Clerks can be seen as a coming-of-age story about navigating adulthood’s complexities and the realization that sometimes you must take control of your life.
10 Reasons to Watch Clerks
- Authentic Representation of Young Adulthood: The film captures the confusion, dissatisfaction, and humor of being in your twenties and unsure about the future.
- Smart, Fast-Paced Dialogue: Kevin Smith’s writing is quick-witted, filled with pop culture references, and brimming with smart humor that appeals to fans of comedy and movies alike.
- The Rawness of Indie Filmmaking: Clerks is a classic example of what can be achieved with limited resources but a strong creative vision. It embodies the spirit of independent cinema and remains an inspiration for filmmakers.
- Character-Driven Story: While many films of its time relied on plot-driven narratives, Clerks is a character-driven story where the focus is on the interactions and development of its central characters.
- Cultural Impact: The film became a cult classic, influencing a generation of filmmakers and becoming a defining movie for Generation X.
- Realistic Portrayal of Work Life: Clerks does a brilliant job of showing the banality and humor of working in a service job, making it relatable to anyone who has worked in retail or food service.
- The Birth of a Franchise: Clerks marks the beginning of the “View Askewniverse,” with recurring characters and themes that appear throughout Smith’s later films, including Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma.
- Character Development: Over the course of the film, Dante’s internal growth as a character—particularly his realization about his life choices—is a significant and relatable theme.
- Loyal Fanbase: The film’s humor and themes have cultivated a passionate fan base, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in becoming part of the ongoing conversation surrounding Kevin Smith’s work.
- Humor That Ages Well: Though it’s set in the 1990s, Clerks’s humor remains timeless due to its clever writing and universal themes of dissatisfaction, friendship, and questioning life.
Emotional Reaction After Watching
Clerks is a film that will likely evoke a mix of emotions—nostalgia for those who have worked in dead-end jobs, amusement at the sharp wit of the dialogue, and maybe even a sense of unease or reflection about one’s own life choices. The film’s humor is dry and often self-deprecating, which can make viewers feel a bit of camaraderie with the characters, even if they are a bit stuck in their own ways.
After watching Clerks, you might feel a renewed appreciation for the seemingly mundane moments in life and the value of friendship. At the same time, it may also leave you with questions about where you’re heading in life, especially if you’re at a crossroads or facing an existential crisis like Dante. The film’s bittersweet ending invites reflection, as it portrays both the comedic and tragic aspects of growing up.
Ultimately, Clerks is a film about life’s challenges, its absurdities, and the unlikely moments of clarity that can emerge through even the most mundane experiences. The film leaves you thinking about the choices you make, the importance of personal connections, and the sometimes overwhelming pressure to find meaning in the everyday.
