# Clerks - am I supposed to like this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876 "2011-05-31T19:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/81 "2011-06-01T13:00:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I usually try so-called “famous” movies at least twice. You never know, maybe something that didn’t appeal to you the first time will grab you the second time. Still, I am not heartbroken - it’s called a cult movie for a reason, right? My boyfriend claims that certain movies have “sides.” I didn’t like DKR the first time I watched it. We went back and re-saw it but switched sides of the theater and I did appreciate it more. Personally, I think it was the company 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/82 "2011-06-01T13:08:14Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > My boyfriend claims that certain movies have “sides.” > > I didn’t like DKR the first time I watched it. We went back and re-saw it but switched sides of the theater and I did appreciate it more. Personally, I think it was the company 🙂 Donkey Kong Revolution? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/83 "2011-06-01T13:09:07Z")
DKR? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/84 "2011-06-01T13:09:25Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Donkey Kong Revolution? 😕 Danish Krone, the official currency of Denmark? ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/85 "2011-06-01T13:27:03Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > DKR? Sorry - Dark Knight Returns. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/86 "2011-06-01T14:34:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > First of all, anyone who complains about a film being in black and white immediately loses all credibility. > > **Clerks** was one of the great debut films of all time. It’s about characters and dialog, so if you’re used to action and plot, then you’re bound to be disappointed. There is no plot, other than a day in the life of a minimum wage worker. It’s wickedly funny (and was groundbreaking in how it handled the routine obscenities of everyday life) and filled with weirdness. > > I could see how people used to action films and plot-driven movies wouldn’t understand it, though. It requires a grown-up attitude, and films are not aimed at grown-ups these days, so that sort of movie will go over a lot of people’s heads. \*12 Angry Men \*is a classic and I love it. And yet…it’s black and white! And completely relies on dialogue and has zero action! _Clerks_ requires a grown up attitude? Is that a whoosh? The main thing that sticks in my memory from that movie is the main character (Dante, is it?) opining about all the blow jobs his girlfriend has given other guys. I would call that the opposite of grown up humor. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/87 "2011-06-01T14:53:14Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > jk1245 writes: > > \> El Mariachi was made around the same time and also famously had a $7000 > \> budget. Anyone know what cost “so much” in Clerks? > > It’s impossible to make a feature-length film for $7000 unless you’re given a lot of things. Apparently _El Mariachi_ cost so little because someone gave the director some film stock, let him use a camera, and let him use an editing machine, all for free. The cheapest you could make a film (and this was back in the early 1990’s) was about $30,000, even if everyone works for free. Agreed. A friend of mine is a cinematographer that’s trying to break into the biz. He’s got a second job because the shooting doesn’t always pay the bills. It’s expensive to make a movie. Even if all the actors work for free, the filming isn’t cheap - you need good equipment to make something decent, even if it ends up with the production quality of Clerks. Then there’s lighting and filming costs, even if lots is donated or created on set. Then there’s marketing, and I think that’s where the real costs are. If it’s something that you believe in, you want others to see it, which means DVD costs and costs of renting out local moviehouses and costs of shopping it to various festivals to try to get larger backing. It’s hard, and it all costs money. My friend made a feature with some of his colleagues that’s got a similar feel to the production/acting values of Clerks (his is in color, though). I’d say that they spent $30 - $50K getting their picture made, even with similar arrangements with actors and artists and such. You can’t just shoot with a hand-held digital camera you bought at Best Buy and expect to create something that someone else would actually pay money to see. It’s hard work, and costs a lot more than you might expect. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/88 "2011-06-01T14:53:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Donkey Kong Revolution? 😕 Donkey Kong Reloaded was better. I liked Clerks, but I think I was the target demographic. It came out right as I was at the “I’m finishing college, what the fuck am I going to do with my life?” age. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/89 "2011-06-01T15:28:59Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Because I’ve tried twice now and it’s been completely unwatchable, I mean from Moment 1, both times. Movies like _Clerks_ won’t be enjoyable for a segment of the populace. _Clerks_ was a low-budget film. _Like El Mariachi_, and _The Hollywood Shuffle_, there wasn’t money to have bankable stars appear. The plot was simple: A guy who comes to work out of the goodness of his heart has his day go to shite. Hasn’t that happened to you? No? Then you won’t have a reference point. Ever have any customers you want to bitch slap across the room? No? You won’t get Randall. Did you ever smoke pot? Know any pot smokers/stoners/burnouts? If not, you won’t get Jay. Ever know anyone that is normally quiet, but when they speak, they need to be heard? No? You won’t get Silent Bob. If you’ve tried twice and not liked it, I say give up and go rent _Mallrats_. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/90 "2011-06-01T15:35:07Z")
Jay and Silent Bob are awesome. For those gen-x’ers who liked it (like me) there was also an [animated series.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks:_The_Animated_Series) It’s of course toned down for TV but it’s not half bad if you liked the movie. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/91 "2011-06-01T17:09:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You really should see _Chasing Amy_. It is by far Smith’s best film. :smack: I forgot. I did see that one, and agree that it’s much better than Clerks. To me, it’s a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, though- I see Clerks as a stand-alone, one-of-a-kind movie. Sequels notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/92 "2011-06-01T17:19:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You really should see _Chasing Amy_. It is by far Smith’s best film. I quite agree. Silent Bob’s explanation of the title is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/93 "2011-06-01T17:21:12Z")
NM. Stupid vB autocorrect. If I can’t post the way I want, I won’t post at all. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/94 "2011-06-01T17:33:01Z")
It’s weird. I liked Mallrats, which was the first of Smith’s movies I ever saw (I was young and it was so comedically juvenile), I liked Dogma, I liked Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, I liked Clerks 2, I haven’t seen Chasing Amy but I’d probably like that, I loved the animated series… …And the two times I tried to watch the original Clerks, I just could not get into it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/95 "2011-06-01T17:42:49Z")
My wife hasn’t seen it and I noticed it was coming onto Netflix streaming (I think today) so I’m curious to watch it again and see how it’s held up. My wife said “No, I haven’t seen it but i know how it ends” which is kind of weird because – I’m guessing she means the dude in the bathroom – I never really thought of the ending as all that important. Be interesting to see if she enjoys/tolerates/hates it. I agree with it being a product of its time and probably requiring a certain frame of reference to get into it. I was in college at the time and could definitely relate. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/96 "2011-06-01T18:28:10Z")
Personally, I thought [Friday](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113118/) was a much better execution of the concept. Have you seen that one, Anaamika? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/97 "2011-06-01T18:34:29Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My wife hasn’t seen it and I noticed it was coming onto Netflix streaming (I think today) so I’m curious to watch it again and see how it’s held up. My wife said “No, I haven’t seen it but i know how it ends” which is kind of weird because – I’m guessing she means the dude in the bathroom – I never really thought of the ending as all that important. Be interesting to see if she enjoys/tolerates/hates it. > > I agree with it being a product of its time and probably requiring a certain frame of reference to get into it. I was in college at the time and could definitely relate. She’s probably referring to the original ending. In the original cut of the film, someone robbing the Quikmart shoots and kills Dante. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/98 "2011-06-01T18:47:35Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > Personally, I thought [Friday](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113118/) was a much better execution of the concept. Have you seen that one, Anaamika? What concept do Clerks and Friday share in common? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/99 "2011-06-01T19:48:46Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Movies like _Clerks_ won’t be enjoyable for a segment of the populace. > > _Clerks_ was a low-budget film. _Like El Mariachi_, and _The Hollywood Shuffle_, there wasn’t money to have bankable stars appear. > > The plot was simple: A guy who comes to work out of the goodness of his heart has his day go to shite. Hasn’t that happened to you? No? Then you won’t have a reference point. > > Ever have any customers you want to bitch slap across the room? No? You won’t get Randall. > > Did you ever smoke pot? Know any pot smokers/stoners/burnouts? If not, you won’t get Jay. > > Ever know anyone that is normally quiet, but when they speak, they need to be heard? No? You won’t get Silent Bob. This post certainly explains why I mostly didn’t get the movie. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876/100 "2011-06-01T20:39:17Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > What concept do Clerks and Friday share in common? The “Buddy movie”, where two friends go through some sort of danger/drama to strengthen their friendship, and in so doing reveal chinks in their respective armor. Two buds (pardon the pun) hang out. One pair (Randall and Dante) is at work; the other (Craig and Smokey) is at home. Both feature one male lead being involved in a relationship with one woman, while being attracted to another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clerks-am-i-supposed-to-like-this/583876.md?page=6)