The Heartfelt Maverick: Ranking the Best Kevin Smith Movies

 

The Heartfelt Maverick: Ranking the Best Kevin Smith Movies

From Redbank, New Jersey, came one of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood and probably the one with the biggest heart, Kevin Smith. He has definitely made a name for himself. He might not have the most acclaimed films as a director, but he still remains a genuine Maverick in the industry. Smith has been a blueprint for independent filmmaking. He paved the way for more DIY filmmakers to emerge outside colossal studios, shoot with local actors in one’s hometown, and maintain a style that emphasizes the artist's vision. For the case of Kevin, that is comprehensive dialogue (and lots of it), raunchy or crude humor, and all wrapped in a big warm heart each time.  

9. Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie! (2013)

This animated Jay and Silent Bob adventure, where the pair finally get a chance to live out their lives as superheroes Bluntman and Chronic, is unfortunately for the diehards only. It does feature a few amusing references to Smith’s past work and some superhero properties, the joke runs stale even with a short runtime. Smith’s reference-heavy humor may have felt novel in 1994, but with the explosion of geek culture in the ensuing 20-plus years, it just feels tiresome here. On top of that, the animation looks cheap and is a significant step down from short-lived scrapped Clerks animated series. 

8. Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) 

Over the years, Kevin Smith’s movies have increasingly felt like excuses to get the band back together for one (or five) more adventures. Yet never have these reunions felt so brazen in their intent as Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Smith’s first View Askewniverse movie since Clerks 2 came out 13 years earlier. And to be sure, there is an ungainly, shaggy quality to a movie that shamelessly repeats the general plot line of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back to diminishing results—only now Jay’s a father!

Yet as the first movie that Smith made after a life-changing heart attack, there is a tangible determination by all involved to really enjoy being back together, and the sentiment is sweet if underserved in a mediocre movie. Smith would use that trick to better effect later on, and here even admits to the camera that he “guilted my friends” to be in this, but it’s kind of nice just to see everybody have a good time. This includes having Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams close the loop on their recurring Chasing Amy characters with a little more grace than Jay and Silent Bob can manage.

7. Clerks 3 (2022) 

After over a decade of Smith making films that felt more like whims and podcast jokes come to life, it took a heart attack for Smith to return to a more personal tone in his filmmaking. With his third return to the Quick Stop, Randal (a never-better Jeff Anderson) decides to make a movie about his years at the convenience store after suffering a heart attack. Clerks 3 becomes both a recreation of Smith’s time making his first film, with winks to the fans who know this story by heart, and a look at his character’s fears of what their legacy will be after facing the possibility of death. After the ending of Clerks 2, where Randal admits that he loves Dante, Clerks 3 starts from this place of love, with two best friends who have their frustrations, but deeply mean the world to each other. Clerks 3 is also a celebration of Smith appreciating those who helped him get to where he is today, and potentially saying goodbye to these characters that he started his career with. While this might be a surprisingly dark turn for Dante and Randal, Clerks 3 is also one of the most moving and personal stories Smith has ever told.

6. Clerks 2 (2006)

Five years after (supposedly) closing the book on the View Askewniverse, Smith returned to this world once more with Dante and Randal, who now work at a Mooby’s fast food restaurant after the Quick Stop burns down. Like a lot of Smith’s films, Clerks 2 is clunky in parts, but the intention is good, as this basically becomes a love story between two best friends, as Randal gets prepared to say goodbye to Dante, who is finally moving out of New Jersey. Smith returns to this universe with a renewed sense of vigor, and he’s trying out new things with his filmmaking. For a Smith film, this has some of his most technically interesting shots, from a spinning shot around Dante and Randal during an argument, to a wonderfully charming dance number set to the Jackson 5. And I might sound like a broken record at this point, but it’s the heart that really makes Clerks 2 shine. The scene where Randal admits that he loves Dante is one of the best things Smith has ever written, and the absolutely perfect ending of these two friends rebuilding the Quick Stop together is maybe Smith’s most touching conclusion. Smith combined the sentimentality he found with Jersey Girl, mixed it with his beloved characters, and made one of his best films.

5. Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back (2001) 

Smith first said goodbye to his View Askewniverse with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, a cartoony cross-country adventure that put the two drug dealers at the forefront of their own story. At this point, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back also feels like the most early 2000s comedy possible, not just because of the never-ending string of gay jokes (never mean-spirited, but certainly noticeable now), but, I mean, this is a movie where Jason Biggs makes a Loser reference. Doesn’t get more 2000s comedy than that. In retrospect, it’s sort of insane that this movie exists, since this is essentially a collection of inside jokes for fans of Smith’s four indie movies. But that’s also sort of the point, as Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back is like Smith’s thank you to his loyal audience, a silly sendoff packed with cameos and references that was a fitting goodbye for these characters.

4. Mallrats (1995)

It may be bold to consider Mallrats so highly since it was the subject of harsh criticism upon its release, but the film (like most of these films) developed a cult following and is placed on a high pedestal by Askewniverse fans. It's not hard to see why it shouldn't be as it's a natural successor to Clerks, although the film serves as a prequel in the timeline. Mallrats has all the blue humor, plot points about love and friendship, and a stellar cameo by the great Stan Lee. There may be some weak moments of dialogue that made it hard to stand up to its predecessor, but one would be hard-pressed to find a film that sums up the Askewniverse like this one.

3. Clerks (1993) 

Clerks are not only the big bang for the Askewniverse but a landmark in independent filmmaking. It's more than impressive considering that this was a small film with a shoestring budget that was shot in the store that Smith worked in. Clerks cemented its iconic status with the universal appeal of Dante's angst that many felt in the early '90s. What's difficult for Smith is that the quality and popularity of his first film set the bar so high that every film he's done after has been compared to this black-and-white movie about disgruntled store clerks. Clerks is the only film in his discography that earned a spot in the Library of Congress, where it is supposed to be there today and every day.

2. Chasing Amy (1997)

Many consider Chasing Amy Smith's best film (including Smith himself). There's a stunning performance from Joey Lauren Adams, as Holden's girlfriend questions her lesbian identity after meeting comic creator Holden McNeil (played by Ben Affleck). While some viewers may wince at the character Banky's crass nature, this movie poignantly examines LGBTQ themes and larger issues of human sexuality that are way ahead of their time. Far from being a story of a straight man who converts a lesbian, it explored the fluidity of everyone's sexuality and how insecurity around masculinity can get in the way of happiness. Likewise, the movie’s portrayal of Alyssa, the object of Holden’s romantic interest, is labeled as “gay,” but is more of an example of sexual fluidity—misunderstood at the time. Whether you think it's his best or not, Chasing Amy is certainly Smith's most mature film.

1, Dogma (1999)

Probably his biggest all-star cast. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino, Jason Lee, and many more guide the audience through a fascinating parable about how two angels merely wanting to go home could accidentally tear apart the very fabric of reality. How one feels about Dogma may be informed by where, exactly, one first watched Dogma. Kevin Smith’s simultaneous ode to and condemnation of his native Catholicism as a midday TV movie on Comedy Central in the early aughts, then Dogma is certainly one of Smith’s best creations. Dogma is a quick, breezy, and wildly entertaining jaunt about the contradictions of religious dogma and the complex mysteries of faith. Dogma is also responsible for gifting us one of the funniest performances from one of the greatest comedians/philosophers to walk the earth, Mr. George Carlin. Dogma really is Kevin at his most fantastical. 

Kevin really is one of a kind, we are truly blessed to have such a kind hearted soul like him. Someone who acknowledges/engages at conventions with fans, opens up a comic book shop and fast food restaurant all filled with cultural significance from his entire filmography that fans till this day adore. What’s everyone else's favorite film in the View Askewniverse or outside and just from Kevin Smith in general? Let us know in the comments down below!

Like Movies.... Follow our monthly Movie Podcast for Free!

By Danny Manna @Cinemanna24