Yahoo/Reuters – “Directors tell Gen X’ers to grow up”

“For years, Smith vowed not to make a sequel to the first film, and he denies “Clerks II” is merely an attempt to cash in on the notoriety of its predecessor. “Clerks” was a hit on video and spawned a comic book and an animated TV series.

“If I was going to try to make money, I would have made (big-budget movie) ‘The Green Hornet.’ I would have made, like, $5 million just to direct,” Smith said. “‘Clerks” (II) whole budget was 5 million bucks,” Smith said.”

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MSN/AP – “‘Clerks’ returns, with hints of growing up”

“…I was just like, that’s a sacred cow, and I shouldn’t really mess with the first movie,” Smith said. “It’s the one that put me on the map. What if your sequel sucks, and then people retroactively go back and hate the first one, and you lose all that good will?”

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Yahoo/AP – “Clerks II: Something To Offend Everyone”

“…There’s something in this to offend everyone,” said Rosario Dawson, who co-stars as the Mooby’s manager. “So many movies that are made now are so safe. They’re trying to get as broad of an audience as possible, and the product is so watered down it’s just an insult to the intelligence of most audiences. That’s not at all what Kevin does.

“Clerks II” features cameos from Smith regulars Ben Affleck and Jason Lee, plus the return of drug dealers Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith), though they’re no longer users themselves, a nod to party-hearty Mewes staying sober for the last three years.

“I think people relate to Jay and Silent Bob, dudes just sitting around smoking weed and being obnoxious,” said Mewes. “A lot of people tell me, `I have a friend just like that.’”

For all its vulgarity, “Clerks II” has a sweet sensibility and ultimately takes Dante and Randal to a place that should please fans of the original flick — and could leave them counting on “Clerks III.”

Smith said he would not rule that out, and he hopes to do a straight-to-video animated “Clerks” movie. But a third live-action film would be a tough sell for Anderson, who only agreed to do “Clerks II” after a lot of arm-twisting.

“If Kevin thought he had a hard time convincing me to do number two, he’s in for a real battle to do number three,” said Anderson, who initially thought the sequel was a bad idea but signed on because he liked the script. “This one’s a very nice bookend to `Clerks,’ and I think the ending is really poignant.”

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NorthJersey.com – “Fanboys Run The Show”

“…And what of Kevin Smith — who has written comic books, named his daughter Harley Quinn after a DC comics character, and opened his own comic store (Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash) in Red Bank? Need you ask?

“My generation, we sat around talking about sex, and we talked about pop culture,” Smith says.

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Alexandia Times – “The Passion of Kevin Smith”

“…The end result, as far as Smith is concerned, is his best movie to date. “I do, I think it is [my best movie] I’m sure a lot of people disagree … I love it, though. It speaks to me … I am in that place in my life. I know exactly how Randal feels. I’m dialed in on it.”

And he hopes the fans will see his passion for the film and dial in, too. Smith, who has actively pursued interactions with the fans since he first jumped onto the Internet in 1995, realizes many see the first as a “seminal Indie film,” but knows that “Clerks II” is consistent with what the fans love best: two dudes sitting around talking for ninety minutes. “I love the fan base more than I love my own child,” said Smith. “I love my kid, but without those people I don’t have a job.” And to help get current fans, and prospective new ones, even more excited about the film, Smith is pioneering a new idea – a theatrical release commentary.

One week after “Clerks II” opens, Smith will release for download through iTunes, and eventually his own website, a director’s commentary for the film; thereby allowing fans the opportunity for an enriched second theatrical viewing.”

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NJ.Com – “Directors tell Gen X’ers to grow up”

“…Smith, a former Quick Stop clerk and Monmouth County postal employee, has come a long way since, with a résumé of six more idiosyncratic films reflecting his elevation of the very common man and his decidedly potty- mouth way of expressing things.

“Clerks II” is the latest. It opens nationwide Friday.

“I wanted to write about being in my 30s,” the 35-year-old director explains during a Philadelphia visit. “I wanted to create new characters and have Dante and Randal (the clerks in the original movie) go to town.”

Comic Book Resources – “Interview: Rosario Dawson”

How did you first become aware of “Clerks II?”

I guess they had come up with a list of girls to go out to and Kevin liked the idea of me a lot and thought it was a long shot to ask, which I think is crazy because I’ve always wanted to work with him. So, my manager and my agent had to go to the office to read the script. It was very hush, hush thing – no one could get the script out because they were afraid of leaks. They laughed their asses off and so they sent a messenger over to drop it off at my place, who was like, “I’ll be back in three hours.” So, I had to speed read it as I was getting ready to do a play in New York! I read it the first time through and thought it was absolutely hilarious. Kevin had me at the (SPOILER)! [laughs] I wasn’t the girl with the (SPOILER) – which I thought would be a little weird with my Dad – and I didn’t have to participate in (SPOILER), I just had to watch which wasn’t that bad! [laughs] So, no fear of retribution! Totally legal! [Zak Charles Knutson, who (SPOILER)] is actually the nicest guy on the planet – he really went for it. I was like, that’s some acting. If you’re going to be that guy, be that guy.” I had such a great time. I got so excited when I read it.

The movie does allude to certain things from the first film and it has those homage moments – I’m excited to be a part of some of those homage moments like the roof scene, the toe nail painting and all that kind of stuff – but you don’t need to watch the first movie to get it. And the first movie still stands on its own, it’s still a really great film, but when you watch it next to this movie you see how much Kevin’s grown as a film maker and a writer. It’s wonderful to be going out, talking to the press and seeing people who really liked this movie and reacting like, “I really liked it! I was really offended sometimes, but it’s a good film!” And yes, it is, it’s a good film. At the heart of it it’s about friendship and whether or not to go after the brass ring of success and what will make me look like I’m happy, or do I go after what will actually make me happy, even though it may not be as glamorous. And I’m the girl he settles for! It was a really interesting project for that reason. This movie reveals the fact that, deep down, Kevin’s really a sweet heart.

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Comic Book Resources – “Interview: Jason Mewes”

Jason, did you have any apprehension about doing a sequel?

Not at all. I didn’t really think about it. People keep asking me that. My thinking is we’re doing another movie and it’ll be fun. I love working with Kevin and everyone we work with. It’s a lot of fun for me. People have said, “Why would you do that? It won’t live up to the first!” But I don’t really think much about that shit. For Kevin, I do. I don’t want people to bash it and say, “It didn’t live up to the first” and all that shit because I know it would hurt his feelings and that’s what I think about more. For me, I’m like, “Let’s do ‘Clerks’ 3 and 4 and ‘Dogma’ 7.” [laughs] I love working with Kevin and I like playing different characters. Maybe he’ll [direct] a Ted Bundy movie or something similar to that and he can write me a character like that. I really enjoy working with Kevin.

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About.Com – “Interview: Kevin Smith”

“…In the first one I was more Dante wishing that I was Randal. This time around I’m definitely more Randal than Dante, which is odd because Dante is the one kind of going through ‘I’m having a baby and I’m getting married’ type thing, but I’m definitely more in the Randal headspace in terms of like I don’t want things to change. I’m a guy and so naturally change comes very hard to me. It’s a weird struggle all the time where it’s like how much can you remain the person that you were and still grow at the same time? I look at this movie and I definitely identify with Randal so much.”

“…I like to include everyone I know in the movie. I still love what I do. It’s a career now and I’m kind of used to it, but there is still a part of me that’s just like, ‘I can’t f**king believe that this is my job. This is awesome.’ I keep expecting that day where I wake up and I’m like, ‘I knew it was all a f**king dream. I knew that I was still f**king working at the Quick Stop.’ Because it’s that, because I still have that feeling there’s always a feeling that this is the last one that you’re going to get do. Something is going to happen and they’re going to pull rug out from under you so I like to put as many people as I know in the flick because each flick is kind of a snapshot of what’s going on in my life at the time that I wrote it. The people in the flick then are the people involved in my life at the same time. I like to pack it with my friends in the background or in the foreground and stuff like that.”

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About.Com – “Interview: Jason Mewes”

“…Getting his own place means he moved out of Kevin Smith’s. “Yeah, about two weeks ago I finally moved out. His wife was pretty tired of it. I was ready to stay for another three years, at least… I miss being around the house. I miss being around people; I miss being around family. I consider his wife, his daughter, his mother-in-law, father-in-law – Jen’s parents [family] – and they’re all amazing. The home-cooked meals are great. Waking up going swimming with Harley, just stuff like that, I miss all that.

But Mewes didn’t stray far from the Smiths’ house. “I’m real close – four or five blocks? No, I wouldn’t say four or five blocks, yeah – close. I was trying to figure out the distance, but I’m not real good. It could be a couple miles, but I could be totally wrong. It’s a five minute drive – put it that way.”

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About.Com – “Interview: Rosario Dawson”

“…I have to say it’s a really odd thing. You know, for me personally I think Kevin is so amazing. I was so excited to be called and to be a part of this film – to be on any list to have a position to say yes. I was really grateful for that. Especially for it being based off the first film he ever did. There is a nostalgic factor even for that for me. Being 10 years later and looking at that and starting to get into producing and in the industry for a while and going, ‘This is what I want to do.’ Like the exact same thing as [Kevin’s] doing. Maintaining your integrity, still stretching yourself, but still pushing your boundaries and being able to show both films and see how much he’s grown today – both of which hold up today. And, to me, that’s an amazing thing. To be in a position where he’s grateful for me to be a part of it is so odd for me because I’m so grateful to be a part of it myself.

I think it’s something I’m proud of, that I’ve worked hard enough to be in this position. But it’s also something I think is really funny, because he as well as on the first day realized, this doesn’t fall too far from the tree as much as I think it does. I think a lot of other people, at least my friends and family who watch this movie, will see that this character is a lot closer to my personality, and this movie is, more than anything I’ve done before.”

“At the end of the day I can only do what I can do,” Clerks 2 director-writer Kevin Smith says to L.A. Times writer Mark Olsen in a 7.16 piece. “You read a lot of reviews where people say, ‘You should stretch. He should learn to stretch as a filmmaker.’ After a dozen years now, don’t they get it? This is what I do, this is the storyteller I am.

“Do I let myself off the hook by saying, ‘I’m just not that talented?’ Probably. But also I think it’s important to know your limitations. I’ve kind of embraced mine. And I’ve had seven films’ worth of practice to figure that out.”

I don’t entirely believe this. The reason Smith is great on the college-lecture cricuit is that he’s excellent at au contraire-ing — arguing, debating, puncturing balloons. And to me that means he could write a really superb play about a GenX marriage gone bad — a latter-day “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf with a little 2006 “My Dinner with Andre” thrown in. Smith is married and has gone through some trying married-couple stuff…this has to have happened. All he has to do is put it into shape. A play first, and then a low-budget film.

Smith has said he’s too content with his life and too mild-mannered go to in this direction, but as Montgomery Clift’s Pvt. Prewittt says to Burt Lancaster’s Sgt. Warden in From Here to Eternity, “A man should be what he can do.”

One post, to cover all the bases…

The No-Name Guy wrote: “Haha… Daniel Zelter gets slammed.”

I write: Hardly. I certainly wasn’t spoiling for a fight; just correcting what I saw as misinformation (re: Hughes movies and “Fletch Won”).

Let’s not turn this into something it wasn’t, though. I’m getting too old for internet battles, y’know? In the words of the poet: “My name is Kool Rock, and I’m a lover not a fighter.”

Zac wrote: “For what it’s worth, I think it’s refreshing to hear a filmmaker…”

I write: Thanks for the props, sir.

CCA wrote: “Look at Kevin Smith breaking out both the “you direct it” (read: I work, you don’t so don’t say shit to me) AND “I’m successfull” (read: I make movies and you don’t) arguments in practically the same breath.”

I write: That wasn’t the aim, but in re-reading what I wrote, I guess it could be taken that way. It wasn’t the intention. The “You direct it” part was more tongue-in-cheek; not a throwing-down of the gauntlet. The “I’m successful” part was just pure wise-assery.

CCA also wrote: “As for your work, I’m sorry you’re content at the level you reached twelve years ago.”

I write: Gonna have to disagree with you here. If what you’re saying is that I haven’t done anything but the same movie for a dozen years, that’s just silly. “Chasing Amy” is as different from “Clerks” as “Dogma” is from “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Jersey Girl”. The “level” that I’m happy with working on is simply this: I like making talky movies about relationships. That’s why I got into film in the first place: to make films of that nature.

If, however, the point you’re making is that I’ve not gone beyond those types of films, then yes – you’re right. But honestly? I’ve never aspired to.

CCA also wrote: “Not because I think you’re unfufilled or struggling but because I (me, me, me) am disapointed you haven’t delivered on the (again, as perceived by ME) promise of CLERKS.”

I write: I (ME) do appreciate you stressing that this is your opinion. The ‘net would be a much nicer place if more people took the time to do the same.

However, I don’t understand what promise you saw in “Clerks” that I never delivered on. I feel that “Clerks” promised nothing but dialogue-heavy flicks that (hopefully) make you laugh. It’s not like anyone could’ve possibly watched “Clerks” and said “One day, this guy’s gonna give us the next ‘Star Wars’.” A film about people talking about the next “Star Wars”? Sure. But I truly feel I’ve lived up to whatever unspoken promise I made/showed with “Clerks”: I still make talky, (hopefully) funny films.

CCA also wrote: “Good for you that you have a nice life writing stories and selling merchandise, God bless, but I reached the same conclusion (that you do what you do, and that’s all you’ll ever do) a long time ago. Forgive me if I — lo those many years ago — thought yor work might continue to speak to me like CLERKS did.”

I write: Can’t say much to that except that maybe “Clerks II” can do that. But if my flicks are no longer your cup of tea, I’d understand you having zero desire in checking the new one out.

Then, CCA closed with: “BTW, here’s my career advice: Do stand-up or something of that ilk, because you’re a damned entertaining speaker, son.”

I write: Thanks, man. But comedians stand before an audience and generate. All I do is answer questions.

Monty wrote: “Across all six films so far (haven’t seen Clerks 2 yet), he’s shown a marked improvement in each, both in getting even better at writing dialogue, and even better in framing a shot and moving a camera.”

I write: Careful there, Monty: you’re being too reasonable. That kinda behavior might get you kicked off the internet.

Thanks for the kind (and what I feel are true) words.

Osama wrote: “See, Smith embraces his shortcomings as a filmmaker. he knows he has very little talent and is happy with the little he can do. the rest of you American jackals should follow suit with this puny, fat man and realize you too are inferior as he admits to being.”

I write: How can someone be puny and fat at the same time?

Oh, right… my dick.

Harry Lime wrote: “Isn’t it nice for a filmmaker to get advice from message posters including the author of the website himself who have never once made a movie…”

I write: CCA had a point. It’s not like I make the flicks to put on a shelf, never to be seen. Manufacture for use. Once I put ‘em out there, I gotta expect folks will have an opinion on what I do. And sometimes, that opinion won’t be particularly pretty.

However, once folks put their opinion out there, they’ve gotta expect I might not agree with it, and might express that, from time to time: a critique of the critique, if you will.

“Tim Burton” wrote: “I make movies for a living. My movies have made WAY more money than Kevin Smith’s. I think he’s talentless. By Harry Lime’s logic, I win. End of argument.”

I write: That was more entertaining than the “Planet of the Apes” remake.

For the record, though: I think Tim Burton really is a way better filmmaker than me. I think most filmmakers are way better filmmakers than me (PTA included, naturally). Just felt I needed to put that out there, as some people seem to think that because I’ve cracked wise about my “betters” that I don’t respect what they do or their craftsmanship. Not so.

The man who started it all, Daniel Zelter, wrote: “Weren’t you making fun of Home Alone?”

I write: In “Dogma”? Yes. But like I wrote in my first post: “I’m on record as being pro-director Hughes across the boards – even ‘She’s Having a Baby’.” Maybe it’s splitting hairs, but “Home Alone” wasn’t directed by Hughes.

Daniel Zelter also wrote: “So what the f**k was Jersey Girl?”

I write: Not your brand of whimsy, I take it.

Daniel Zelter then went on to write: “And how can a guy who’s proven himself in a popular NBC sitcom not be the lead?”

I write: Sir, you’re preaching to the choir. Talk to Harvey.

Daniel Zelter then wrote: “As for Clerks 2, fine, but I would have prefered the animated film.”

I write: For the moment. Perhaps you’ll wind up liking the flick more than you currently imagine you can. I’ve been getting a lot of that from journos for the last few weeks, during the press tour. Even if you don’t, however, I appreciate you giving it a shot regardless.

Daniel Zelter wrote: “Singer was able to do both kinds of movies. I’m sure you can, too.”

I write: Brian Singer is a much better filmmaker than me, and he has an interest in making larger films. I don’t. I didn’t get into film to make bombastic flicks. I love watching flicks like that, but have zero interest in making one.

Daniel Zelter wrote further: “Actually, I’m a lot less critical than some people, because I’m a fan who just wants to see you move up like Raimi, not down like Burton.”

I write: See my Singer comment above, and swap “Raimi” for “Singer”.

The No Name guy wrote: “Jersey Girl is a good (or bad) film that had something to say about being a man and a father.”

I like your take on it, sir. Most people simply dismiss it as “Gigli 2”. I get that there are plenty folks who didn’t like the movie, but I do honestly believe that had I pulled the Stephen King/Richard Bachman switch and released that movie under a pseudonym, the reviews wouldn’t have been nearly as harsh. Sure, the box office would’ve been the same, but the flick wouldn’t have been written off with stuff like “How could the guy who made ‘Dogma’ make something this conventional and lame?” or “This is a movie Dante and Randal would’ve made fun of in ‘Clerks’.”

This has been fun. I thank all for not smelling blood in the water and turning this into an AICN Talkbacks feeding frenzy. I feel like, even though some of us disagree, we were able to do so with little bitchiness. You HE comments sections folks are alright in my book.

…Rosario Dawson suggested that when they were shooting under the original title, there was even more religion in the film. “There were a lot of times where Kevin was going for a record amount of times you could say Jesus,” she said. “Sometimes a sentence, but definitely in the movie. And sometimes he’d do a scene and be like, ‘OK, do it faster and you say Jesus before that line, you say Jesus after that line and if you can say Jesus in the middle of your line that would be great. And if you want to put a couple of curses in there, go. Action!’ It was pretty funny. It was a very relaxed setting I must say.”

“…My feeling is like I didn’t get into filmmaking to make movies like Green Hornet or big movies. The movies that inspired me to be a filmmaker were Slacker and Hal Hartley’s Trust, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, movies about people who relate and talk to one another. They’re all conversation. That’s what made me want to be a filmmaker and I never said, ‘I’ll do those movies until I get the chance to do a big movie.’ I just don’t really have an interest. I like watching big movies, don’t’ want to make one myself. After 12 years, I wish people would kind of get the heads around the notion of this is it. this is all. This is as talented as I get. I can’t do any better than this.”

But Smith can’t win. If he makes a more mainstream, heartwarming tale like Jersey Girl, critics say the d*ck and f*art joke guy has no right to enter that territory. “Yeah, it’s weird. Like on Jersey Girl you get the reviews where people are like, ‘This is the movie Dante and Randall would have made fun of.’ Or ‘Guy who made Dogma shouldn’t be making this movie.’ So I don’t know.”

“…As a producer, Dawson also admires the empire Smith has grown with his devoted fan base. “I have a lot of respect for Kevin. He started out with the first Clerks, it was in black and white, it was very artistic, it was at the height of new independent film and new artists and directors coming on. He brought such a fresh new voice to filmmaking which was awesome. But he’s also maintained that over the years. He’s definitely always known that his audience is smart and that rather than watering down and trying to be successful and making a bunch of movies he thinks everyone will enjoy, he makes movies that he knows he really enjoys, his friends really enjoy and probably his fans enjoy. And that’s good enough. That integrity for what he’s done for what he’s done has really carried his fans for so many years. And he had me there excited to read the script when it got sent to me.”