MovieChat Forums > Clerks (1994) Discussion > I didn't laugh once...

I didn't laugh once...

posted 11 years ago by imdbowley
69 replies | jump to latest

I don't think I ever put a movie on were I was so keen to laugh, I saw the reviews and the rating on imdb, and straight away went "this will be awesome"

I really tried so fu*king hard to like it but I just sat there and watched it had a little giggle at a couple of parts but most the time I felt like falling asleep...

Do you have to be smoking pot to find it funny or what? I am missing something for sure cause this does not make sense...
I can like almost all movies for a reason, I always go in open hearted and try and understand why the director made the movie and its strong suits but I really just don't understand haha..

And It's the same for allot of his other movies ( dogma, clerks 2, cop out)haven't seen chasing Amy or mallrats yet. I didn't mind Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and red state was great (not a comedy, but still great)

Safe to say I'm not a fan, But I want to be.

So..... Am I missing something or maybe I will just never get it.

[–] The_Great_Pantubo 10 years ago

It was considered edgy in 1994.

We didn't have reality TV back then, so seeing young people talk about sex as they do in the movie was considered original. A lot of the dialog is borderline porn and you just didn't see much of that in the mid-nineties. So the 20-somethings ate it up, and now they are all 40-somethings, and they won't shut up about it.

But no, this movie does not hold up well at all.

[–] creegah-3 10 years ago

My daughter had a boyfriend over one evening and we all watched "Caddyshack". He never cracked a smile during the entire movie. I didn't understand him and I don't understand you all who don't think that "Clerks" is funny.

God might, I won't.
-JCVD

[–] sasnak29 10 years ago

You are right - I saw it when I was 20 - and now I'm 41 and the movie still rules - sorry lol Cult classic.

[–] ilon 10 years ago

Looks like Smith is a love or hate thing.
I love his films and I watch a Kevin Smith movie at least once a month since Dogma came out. His movies are honest and at the end I'm with a very good positive feeling.
Sorry it doesn't work for you.

[–] rweeks 10 years ago

As with all things..... To each his own. I always find it odd when people start these "I really tried to like it but... " threads. But again, to each his own.

[–] rphilip1 10 years ago

Nowadays it would be a youtube video. But in 1994 it was something cool. Kevin Smith is one lucky *beep* in his choice of what part of history to make movies.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Expresso79 10 years ago

It's not that kind of comedy, something like "dump and dumper" or a stand up comedy.

It's fast paced, with witty dialogues, realistic characters and some inspired moments that stick to your mind. It's not just comedy, there are other aspects in this movie.

[–] silvercometred1 10 years ago

"I really tried so fu*king hard to like it but I just sat there and watched it had a little giggle at a couple of parts but most the time I felt like falling asleep..."

Yeah, I couldn't really watch it either; it's sort of sucks.

[–] silvercometred1 10 years ago

[–] JamieWJackson 10 years ago

I had the exact same reaction: a few chuckles, but otherwise, it was just boring and pointless. I didn't care about any of the characters or situations and the writing was only so-so. The humor was mostly obvious and often shallow. I actually stopped halfway through, and that is something I almost never do. I gave it a 3, which I feel is somewhat generous, only because at least the editing and acting were pretty solid.

Some things I find worth mentioning:

Silent Bob: was there any reason for that character to even be in the movie? What did he do other than smoke cigarettes?

Jay: always profane and disgusting, mildly amusing at times, just obnoxiously gross at others. What is the big deal about this character? I thought Mewes was funnier than this in "Bitten" and that wasn't anything great.

The girl was OK, and Dante was OK. But I didn't care about them.

The "ruling class" guy character was just annoying.

All the other characters (in the first half, anyway) were gimmicks.

Why was it in B&W (or was it grayscale?)? That was distracting to me.

If you enjoyed this, as obviously most people who rate it have, then I'm happy for you, but ugh. Maybe I would have liked it more if there had been anyone in it whom I could relate to. The girl and Dante were the only two who I could even stomach for more than a minute. Well, Silent Bob, heh.

For context's sake: I mostly liked "Dogma", and mostly didn't like "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back".

[–] mrpinbert 10 years ago

Well It sounds like you went in expecting a laugh riot. But Clerks, in my opinion, is more a lighthearted slice of life film with allot of funny and witty dialogue. It is also very relatable in that way.

[–] user_whatever_1977 9 years ago

Just saw this for the first time after seeing the trailer for the biopic Shooting Clerks on imdb and wow, it's a great little movie. Grungy and *beep* as it looks it's a blast. I laughed a good few times. It kinda captures the time like a time capsule. So 90s which I love since I grew up then. Normally I dont watch indie movies but this, as well as Reservor Dogs are the only ones i saw that i did enjopy.