(NOTE: This review refers to the extended version of the film. The original version is covered in capsule review available here.)
What a difference a year makes. In 1994 Kevin Smith became famous for Clerks, his debut film shot in black-and-white, produced with microscopic budget that made it look like an amateurish effort. Despite everything, it became a success and in 1995 Smith made the film that, despite sharing the same fictional universe, looked like it belonged to another world with its colour cinematography, much larger budget and cast made of present day and future stars. That film was Mallrats, comedy that would soon afterwards, despite bad box office and less than enthusiastic reviews, receive a minor cult status.
The protagonists are two young men - college student T. S. Quint (played by Jeremy London) and his best friend Brodie Bruce (played by Jason Lee). At the beginning of the film both are dumped by their girlfriends. T. S. loses Brandi Svenning (played by Claire Forlani), college student who couldn’t forgive his role in bizarre accident that humiliated her father Jared (played by Michael Rooker), owner of local television station. Brodie discovers that his girlfriend Rene Mosier (played by Shannen Doherty), sales clerk in local shopping mall, left him for Shannon Hamilton (played by Ben Affleck), arrogant manager of clothing store. Heartbroken and with nothing left to do they decide to hang out in shopping mall, where they meet old acquaintances – Jay (played by Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (played by Kevin Smith), pair of pranksters and small-time marijuana dealers. Duo, which tries to take out dreaded chief security guard La Fourse (played by Sven Ole-Thorsen), decide to help sabotage television dating game which is being aired from the mall and in which Brandi serves as participant. In the meantime, Brodie meets his idol, legendary comic book author Stan Lee (played by himself).
Although it was made with relatively big budget (at least compared with Smith’s previous film), Mallrats looks a little rough around the edges. This is especially so in the opening of the film, where Smith tries (and in many instances fails) to add broad satire on politics and media. Only when the film is firmly set in shopping mall it gets proper focus. What at first glance looks like a variation of 1980s teen sex comedies turns out to be film with somewhat stronger anti-establishment alignment (obviously inspired by Animal House) and some unpleasant observations about life of young Americans at the bottom of corporate ladders and those who were left out of corporate world completely. Smith skilfully mixes verbal humour with some slapstick provided by characters of Jay and Silent Bob. Smith also uses plenty of pop culture references; many of them will be appreciated by comic book fans, but also by cinephiles, especially those dealing with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Cast is very good, especially former professional skateboarder Jason Lee for whom role in Mallrats served as springboard for successful acting career. Jeremy London, playing something of a straight man to more anarchic Brodie, is less impressive, just as Claire Forlani, despite her angelic beauty, leaves less impression than experienced television star Shannen Doherty or Joey Lauren Adams in supporting role of Rene’s friend. Ben Affleck is very interesting in the role of villain, which became rarity during the rest of his career.
Although slightly overlong and having jokes that might look in poor taste or problematic (like those involving 15-year old sex researcher played by Reneee Humphrey), Mallrats is still very entertaining film that could be recommended even to audience that doesn’t care much about comic books or cult cinema.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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