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  • Movie Review: ‘The 4:30 Movie’

    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Opening in theaters September 20th is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.

    Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Moving away from the deconstructed horror and near-nihilistic meta comedy of his past few films (including the pure despair of his last one, ‘Clerks III’), Kevin Smith seems to be in a much better mood with ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ a semi-autobiographical teen comedy that draws heavily from his own early life and finds just enough of a sweet spot between his usual tasteless humor and some genuinely earnest coming-of-age romance to keep the film interesting and perhaps even attract a few new viewers to his walled cinematic garden.

    Smith’s latest joint benefits from nice performances by his young cast as well, which partially counteracts his usual tendency to park the camera and let scenes roll on for too long. At the same time, he can’t help but include a bunch of his trademark raunchy humor, and the list of guest stars from the vast canon of his View Askewniverse can be equal parts distracting, irritating, and funny.

    Story and Direction

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    For those of us of a certain age who grew up in the New York/New Jersey area – as Kevin Smith did – “The 4:30 Movie” was a holy after-school ritual every day. Broadcast on the local ABC-TV affiliate (Channel 7, back in the prehistoric days when cable was something you towed a car with and streaming was what rain did down your windows), the program fit both theatrical and made-for-TV films into a daily 90-minute timeslot. The show’s themed weeks, in which it would show all five ‘Planet of the Apes’ films or a string of Godzilla features, were an essential part of many grade-schoolers’ film education.

    We suspect Smith was a fan of that ‘4:30 Movie’ too, but that’s not the nostalgia that his new film ‘The 4:30 Movie’ harvests, sadly. Instead, the title refers to the showtime of a new R-rated film playing at the local multiplex in the New Jersey town of Atlantic Highlands (near where Smith grew up) that three friends – film-obsessed Brian (Austin Zajur), ladies’ man Burny (Nicholas Cirillo), and seemingly dim yet observant Belly (Reed Northrup) – plan on sneaking into after paying to see an earlier PG movie they’ve watched before. But there’s a new wrinkle to the plan: Brian has also invited his crush Melody (Siena Agudong) along. After failing to go to second base (with her encouragement and permission) in her pool last summer, Brian has remained infatuated with Melody and wants to take her on a proper date…with his two best friends along for the trip.

    ‘The 4:30 Movie’ takes place in the summer of 1986, right in the midst of Smith’s teen years and clearly inspired by events from his own life (the film was shot at the cineplex in which it takes place, which Smith now owns). As with all Smith films, the plot is only a loose framework on which to hang a bunch of character interactions and random incidents, most of which feature walk-ons from Smith regulars like Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Harley Quinn Smith, and of course ‘Clerks’ stalwarts Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran, and Jason Mewes (spoiler alert: they don’t play their regular characters here, but the movie is very much set in the View Askewniverse).

    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    There are plenty of moments, characterizations, and jokes in ‘The 4:30 Movie’ that fall flat, just as there are others that are crude or, in the case of the overbearing, self-important multiplex owner Manager Mike (Ken Jeong), borderline offensive. But there is a sweetness at the heart of the movie, exemplified by the relationship between Brian and Melody. He is shy, horny, and immature, but respectful where it counts, while she is self-possessed, confident, wise beyond her years, and direct in her eagerness to be Brian’s girlfriend. Their blooming romance comes into direct collision with Brian’s relationship to his two bros, Burny and Belly, with Burny in particular having a dim view of the female species that one hopes he’ll eventually grow out of. The situation brings the friendship between the three to a head, changing their dynamic in ways they don’t see coming.

    Those are the best parts of ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ where Smith hits at some genuine emotional truth among teenagers who are just starting to brush up against the feelings and experiences that mark their transition to adulthood. Smith’s empathy for that, as well as his genuine affection for the time, place, and cultural zeitgeist in which the film is set, makes this one of his better movies in recent years. The rest of it – the inert camerawork, staid compositions, jokes that just dangle helplessly in the air – in a weird way, they’re part of the charm too this time.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith's ‘The 4:30 Movie'. Photo: Saban Films.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

    Whether it’s the aging semi-professional slackers of ‘Clerks III’ or the insipid leads of ‘Yoga Hosers,’ Kevin Smith has a knack for casting people it can sometimes be difficult to watch. With ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ however, his two leads – Austin Zajur as Brian and Siena Agudong as Melody – are two of his better choices. Agudong in particular is a potential star in the making, radiating intelligence, charisma, and warmth, while Zajur is quite effective himself as a teen pulled in several directions while trying to find his own.

    Nick Cirillo and Reed Northrup both show their own flashes of wit and depth as Brian’s friends, with Northrup in particular having a standout scene late in the game. As for the rest of the cast – well, it’s a wonder than Ken Jeong manages to eke out some memorably funny lines and even a moment of humanity or two as the otherwise abrasive Manager Mike, while Genesis Rodriguez gets a brief spotlight as a box office cashier with a secret of her own. Everyone else – Smith’s usual coterie of pals and repertoire players – more or less walks through and waves.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    (L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    As we said above, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ is not likely to be a game-changer for Kevin Smith – he might gain a few more viewers for this one, but his style of filmmaking is what it is, and his fanbase is pretty much entrenched. When you sit down for a Kevin Smith film, you know what you’re going to get, and you’re either open to navigating that or not.

    Having said that, this movie does have a lot more warmth to it that his last few outings, and while Smith always pours his heart into his films, that heart comes through a little more clearly here. It’s an ode to what he himself describes in a long end-credits thank-you list as a “happy childhood,” and there are moments that many of us can relate to here (including sneaking from the PG movie into the R-rated one). Now we’d like to see a film about ABC’s “4:30 Movie” as well.

    ‘The 4:30 Movie’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    Three teenage friends (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out an afternoon outing to the local cineplex in the summer of 1986, but their plans to sneak into a new R-rated movie could be disrupted by the irritating theater owner and a host of other characters — not to mention one of the boys bringing his dream girl to the cinema as well.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

    • Austin Zajur as Brian David
    • Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
    • Reed Northrup as Belly
    • Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
    • Justin Long as Stank
    • Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
    • Kate Micucci as Melody’s mom
    • Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
    • Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, 'The 4:30 Movie', a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

    Other Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Clerks III’

    Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Releasing in theaters this week, Kevin Smith’s return to his “View Askewniverse” (named for his View Askew production label) with ‘Clerks III’ finds the filmmaker in thoughtful, nostalgic mood.

    Much as he did with his last visit to the world kicked off with ‘Clerks’ in 1994 – that would be 2019’s ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’ – this is Smith taking stock of his output.

    And even more directly than ‘Reboot’, ‘Clerks III’ serves as the director turning the clock back to where it all began, the Quick Stop convenience store at which he made the original ‘Clerks’ and a full return for the characters who populate it. His trademark mix of pop cultural references and sex jokes is present and correct, but this time he also leavens with a healthy mix of heart… in more ways than one.

    ‘Clerks III’ catches up with Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), the counter jockeys we first met way back when. Following a brief diversion to the fast food trade (in 2006’s ‘Clerks II’) They’re once more at the Quick Stop, still complaining about the customers, but this time co-owning and running the place.

    Justin Long, and Jeff Anderson as Randal in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Justin Long, and Jeff Anderson as Randal in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Our heroes are much as we remember them – Dante is still overworked and under satisfied, while Randal remains more confident but lazier. Yet in the middle of a one of his usual rants, Randal keels over, finding it hard to breathe. Turns out he’s in the middle of what is known as a “Widowmaker” heart attack (Smith here drawing from his own life and his own 2018 heart incident, which has led to a resurgence in his filmmaking career).

    When he recovers, he’s grateful, at least as much as Randal can be, and decides that his legacy will be a movie made within the environs of the store, featuring customers as characters. Which means he’s essentially recreating ‘Clerks’. It’s an inspired plot turn and leads to some of the strongest humor of the movie.

    It allows Smith to revisit his work through the lens (literally) of the filmmaker he has become in the 28 years since he maxed out his credit cards and shot that little black & white movie that would play at the Sundance Film Festival and launch his career.

    Though he’s obviously learned a lot through the film and TV he’s made since then, Smith keeps the aesthetic of the original (with monochrome for the movie-within-the-movie). And while detractors point to his lack of visual polish, the stark style works for a return to the convenience store.

    Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Also still hanging around are Smith stalwarts Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (the director himself, as always), the local drug dealers who have upgraded from slinging weed outside the next door video store to taking it over for a legal dispensary now video retailers have all but gone the way of the dinosaur.

    Though Jay and Bob here are a largely one-joke concept (Jay’s a filthy motormouth, Bob only talks when he has a good point to make), Smith has made strides in expanding their characters, and it really wouldn’t be ‘Clerks’ without them.

    Yet while it’s enjoyable to catch up with most of the characters, Trevor Fehrman’s Elias from ‘Clerks II’ is unnecessarily squeezed back in with the original gang. It’s no fault of Ferhman, who is committed to the role, but he’s burdened with a ludicrous subplot about rejecting his fervent Christianity after Randal’s heart attack and become an even more devout Satanist. It’s a step removed from the rest of the film and is uncomfortably unfunny.

    Likewise some others who crop up, albeit briefly, during Randal’s hospital stay and are surprisingly less effective even though they’re played by reliable performers including Amy Sedaris and Justin Long.

    Brian O'Halloran as Dante and Rosario Dawson as Becky in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Brian O’Halloran as Dante and Rosario Dawson as Becky in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    The movie is at its strongest when it stays within the store environs, focusing on Dante, Randall and the others, touching on plot points from both ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II’, the latter featuring a heartbreaking update on one of the best parts of that first sequel. It will certainly turn some off the movie, but it works as an emotional throughline and offers O’Halloran more layers to play than simple exasperation.

    Those who haven’t watched most of Smith’s work or heard one of his lengthy Q&As will be baffled by all of this, unmoved by the collection of cameos and call-backs, but if we’re truly honest, starting your dive into the Kevin Smith oeuvre with a movie called ‘Clerks III’ is a losing proposition to begin with.

    Diehard fans, though, will likely be thrilled, lapping up the references to the Salsa Shark scene (a recreation of which sparks possibly the best, angriest monologue Smith has ever written, and delivered with show-stopping force by O’Halloran), roof hockey, characters we haven’t seen since the original film and funny digs at the director’s own style.

    And while a scene featuring “local actors” auditioning for roles in the film begins to stretch the boundaries of self-indulgent (the likes of Ben Affleck, Ethan Suplee, Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood are among those showing up), it’s a minor part of the movie and offers enough chuckles to justify its existence.

    And more than even ‘Clerks II’, the third movie can be described as hurdling over the bar of worthwhile filmmaking, Smith’s brush with death giving this a depth that a planned previous attempt would likely have lacked. Plus, the writer/director can still spin a yarn and find funny turns of phrase. ‘Clerks III’ is a welcome return to a world that many first visited in their teens and early adulthood, and while its appeal will primarily be to those whose walls were graced by ‘Clerks’ posters, it’s not simply retreading old ground but reframing it.

    ‘Clerks III’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jeff Anderson as Randal and Brian O’Halloran as Dante in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
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  • Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’

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    Lionsgate in partnership with Fathom Events will release director Kevin Smith’s ‘Clerks III’ exclusively in theaters from September 13th – September 18th.

    The new movie is a direct sequel to ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II,’ and is the ninth film in Smith’s ‘View Askewniverse’ franchise.

    ‘Clerks III’ focuses on Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), who after having a heart attack decides to make a movie with Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) about their lives at the Quick Stop convenience store.

    In addition to Anderson and O’Halloran, the cast also includes Marlyn Ghigliotti, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Justin Long, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ben Affleck, as well as Jason Mewes and Smith as Jay and Silent Bob, respectively.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Smith about his work on ‘Clerks III,’ making the sequel, revisiting the characters, the original’s cult status, his overall career, and how his heart attack changed his outlook on life.

    'Clerks III' director and writer Kevin Smith.
    ‘Clerks III’ director and writer Kevin Smith.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Smith, Jason Mewes, Brian O’Halloran, and Jeff Anderson.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what do you think ‘Clerks’ would look like if you first made it in 2022 rather than 1994?

    Kevin Smith: It exists. You can watch it. There’s a guy on TikTok, I got to learn his name. He’s a comedian. He’s very funny. He’s got a mustache and he’s a younger kid, and he works at Ikea or did work at Ikea. So, his bit on TikTok is like, he’ll do an Ikea customer complaining and then he moves the camera dramatically on himself, the music kicks in and he bitches back at the person who’s complaining.

    That would be the modern day ‘Clerks.’ You wouldn’t make 90 minutes of a movie. You would just have somebody be like, “This is what we deal with on my job,” and then move on. I don’t think you could do ‘Clerks’ today, or at least I can’t. Number one, you got to work in retail. You got to be in the trenches. I haven’t been in the trenches for a long time. Now I own the trench.

    But that’s what I could bring to it. I could bring the movie to it. Somebody online was trying to tag me a couple months ago saying, “Oh, his last three movies have been about movies and making movies.” And I’m like, well, that makes sense. My first movie is about working at a convenience store because guess what? That’s what I did. Now I make movies. I’m not that creative. I just crib from my own life and change the names around. So, at the end of the day, whatever’s happening in my real-life winds up in the work.

    MF: What would you say to someone who is watching ‘Clerks III,’ but hasn’t seen ‘Clerks’ or ‘Clerks II?’

    KS: I’d be like, did you see that there’s a three in the title? Are you curious about the one and the two by any chance? At one-point Lionsgate said to me, “Do you want to do test screenings?” I was like, why? The movie’s got a three in the title. The only people who are coming are people who liked one or two. Their point was, no, I think the movie works. I was like, what do you mean? They were like, “I think it works without one at two.”

    I was like, you’re out of your mind. They’re like, “No, you actually retell ‘Clerks’ and ‘Clerks II’ in ‘Clerks III.’” I was like, you know what? I can’t argue with that. So, I think there are people that can watch this movie and not be lost even though they didn’t see the other ones. But if they’re in a theater with other people, and other people are laughing at literally every reference, they might be like, “I think I’m missing something here.”

    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, 'Clerks III.'
    Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Bayer/Lionsgate.

    MF: ‘Clerks’ has become a cult classic, at what point did you realize that you had created something special that was really resonating with audiences?

    KS: I think when at Quick Stop, people started making the pilgrimage. So, you’d get people coming in from out of state, first. New Yorkers would come and take pictures in front of Quick Stop. Then you had people coming from outside of the East Coast, then you had people coming from outside of America, all to stop by this little convenience store and take pictures with Gatorade and stuff like that, and stand behind the counter. So, I realized at that point.

    Early on, somebody described it as a cult movie and as a big movie fan, I was like, oh, that’s good because that doesn’t mean worldwide popularity, but it means a hardcore love by a certain amount of people that’ll keep you alive for a while. So, once we got 10 years in and people started floating the term cold classic, I was safe. It felt like no matter what happens for the rest of my career, I got one. I got a movie that they’re going to remember, good or bad, I made an Impact. Then years later, if you’re still in a career, you get to a place where you’re like, let’s make a movie about that movie.

    MF: In the film, after having a heart attack Randall has a big epiphany that he wants to be a film director. Did you have a big epiphany after you had your heart attack?

    KS: There was that aspect of it. Also, the fact that you’re painfully aware of living on borrowed time, so you’re like, well, act accordingly. So, that means I’m going to get to ‘Clerks III.’ It means make ‘Clerks III’ happen sooner rather than later. Because I’ve changed my life, I want vegan, and I lost weight. But my heart attack was more about my genetics than anything else. I can’t change that.

    So, the heart attack could come back around. Best to be on a movie set when that happens. Not dreaming about, well one day I’ll do it, actually doing it. Because that’s been my whole career, my whole life. Nobody’s going to give you permission. Nobody’s going to give you help. Help is never coming. Do it yourself. So, that kicked back in a big bad way after the heart attack.

    MF: Finally, does it feel like it’s been 28 years since you made the first ‘Clerks?’

    KS: Yes, but not in a bad way. Not where I’m like, oh my God, what a life. But I know that we’ve been around. I know we’ve done a lot of stuff. I was waiting for this moment in the beginning. I was always fixated on the future because I wanted to get to a place where people considered me seriously because I’d been around for a while. They don’t treat you that seriously or consider you that seriously off the first movie. My second movie almost killed me. ‘Mallrats,’ oddly enough, a movie that people love now, but when it came out, it didn’t do that well.

    So, I dreamed of being in a place in my career where people were like, “Oh, director Kevin Smith.” That people knew my name and that people knew what I did. So, I was always dreaming about getting here, having a decade, two decades, three decades in. What I never dreamed about was that we would continue the story. The first ‘Clerks,’ when we shot it ends with Dante getting killed. So, it’s clearly not a guy going like, “Wait till ‘Clerks II.’” That came kind of later on. So yeah, after the heart attack, it just became about ramping things up, and getting there faster.

    Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in 'Clerks III.'
    (L to R) Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in ‘Clerks III.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
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