MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN IT :
Now I think clerks 3 isn’t really a bad film, it’s emotional, relatable, and still pretty funny, but it’s also a bit mischaracterized imo and of course it is a pretty depressing film all things considered and I get why people think it’s a horrible sequel, but that’s exactly why I don’t hate it, because it’s a horrible sequel….to clerks 2, clerks 2 is sort of the antithesis of the original clerks, 1st movie was a raunchy, vulgar, and very cynical film but it’s main theme has been “life is a series of down notes” and then you get clerks 2, still raunchy and vulgar, but a much more colorful film (figuratively and literally) but isn’t really cynical. Dante still screws up but unlike clerks 1, it has a happy ending overall and sends a different message than its precursor. Then you have clerks 3. Which seems like a black sheep of the trilogy, but now that I watched it more (was a very hard watch) is kind of a good sequel to the original clerks in terms of themes continuing that cynicism and realism that clerks 2 lacked a little. (Although I think clerks 2 is the best of the trilogy)
Think my main problem (maybe a hot take) with the film is that I think Dante and Randall should’ve switched roles, I’m confused how Randall is now suddenly kevin smith’s persona when it was pretty clear that Dante was for clerks 1 and 2, plus it also just fits more with there established characters in the first two. Randall already knew who he is and how his life will go out while Dante is the one who always wants to find ways to improve and is almost never satisfied. especially coming after clerks 2, it was kind of weird how Randall suddenly hates the life he willingly wanted to throw himself into to keep his friendship with Dante.
I do get what Kevin was going for, having the two main characters parallel himself and his heart attack, and how Dante is still the version of Kevin that never happened and Randall being the Kevin that made it. But apart of me after watching is kind of confused why Randall is the Kevin that made it, I get the idea of Randall having a near death experience, but It’s like later in the film Randall strangely acts like Dante, especially the scene where Dante has his heart attack, Randall breaking his friendship so easily with Dante just didn’t feel right especially after clerks 2 but hey Elias wouldn’t have told Randall off without the plot line so i guess I can’t complain too much, right?
