Clerks II (R)

More crude banter about sex, movies, drugs.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Metro-goldwyn-mayer Pictures, Metro-goldwyn-mayer Pictures
  • Directed By: Kevin Smith
  • Cast: Rosario Dawson, Jeff Anderson, Brian O'Halloran
  • Running Time: 98 minutes
  • Release Date: 07/21/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 11/28/2006
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: for pervasive sexual and crude content including aberrant sexuality, strong language and some drug material.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film is not for kids. The dialogue is rife with obscenities (over 130 f-words, to start), as well sexual talk (including references to oral sex, bestiality, masturbation, homosexuality, and pornography) and brief images (tongue-kissing, visual suggestion of a man about to masturbate and then penetrate a donkey). A fast-food clerk urinates and puts flies in customer's food. Characters are arrested for hiring/watching a bestiality act.

Families can talk about the "buddy movie" genre. Why do so many films celebrate the slacker lifestyle and men behaving immaturely? Are these characters likeable? They can also talk about the movie's over-the-top gross-out humor and where the line is between silly and offensive.

Message

Social Behavior:

Best friends worry and argue over one's impending marriage; man admits cheating on his fiancee; characters taunt each other, dirty food they're selling, purchase a human-animal sex performance via the Internet; jokes about religion (especially Christianity).

Consumerism:

Song lyrics refer to Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, McDonald's.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Jay and Silent Bob sell drugs and smoke dope; mentions of weed, coke, heroin; characters smoke cigarettes and drink liquor (Eli is drunk at end).

Violence

Store burns down at start of film; knee to the crotch.

Sex

Incessant sexual allusions, including crude slang for genitals and sex acts; a shot of full frontal male nudity, with penis tucked between legs; a hired performance (sex with a donkey) serves as joke/climax; explicit tongue-kissing; discussion of one-time unsafe sex (resulting in pregnancy); naked bottom (mooning); long discussion of "a-- to mouth" sex act.

Language

Over 130 f-words, plus other obscenities and sexual slang.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

Like the first movie (href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/review.php?id=3844&type=Video%2FDVD"> Clerks), the sequel takes place over one day. Now in their 30s, Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) work at a fast food joint, where Randal mentors younger coworker Eli (Trevor Fehrman) about sex and movies. Dante is engaged to Emma (Jennifer Schwalbach) and about to move to Florida to work for her father, and also attracted to his current boss at Mooby's, Becky (Rosario Dawson). The sequel focuses on conversation -- speedy, competitive banter. As before, Dante and Randal spar energetically, while other characters are shaped in lively language, including Jay (Jason Mewes) and (mostly) Silent Bob (Kevin Smith), and the briefly appearing customers played by Wanda Sykes, Jason Lee, and Ben Affleck. When Randal gives Dante a farewell party with a sex-with-a-donkey show, Eli drinks too much, the cops show up, Emma and Becky face off, and the clerks plus Jay and Silent Bob end up in a jail cell, where Dante and Randal finally find a way to make their friendship work.

Is it any good?

2
Essentially repeating the successful formula of the original, CLERKS II expands the universe of its titular heroes to include marriage and children. That's not to say that Dante and Randal grow up, exactly. But they are in their 30s now, and at least thinking about rethinking their life choices. It's telling that Emma does not engage in the film's many pithy, earnest debates over movies, sexual positions, religion, racism, and romantic love versus pragmatic life choices.

This last is the primary point of connection and contention between Becky and Dante, unable to admit they're in love with each other, even as each dreads his move to Florida with Emma. He displaces his worry onto being able to dance at his wedding, which allows for a surprisingly charming sequence (in sharp contrast to Randal’s twisted farewell party). Becky teaches Dante to dance as a boombox plays the Jackson Five's "ABC" on Mooby's roof. The music touches everyone, leading to a sweetly choreographed group number.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/26/08 by mikey01 Kid contributor, age 16

Very funny

I loved the movie and thought it was so much better than the first one. But I do have to say the language was kind of bad but that's to be expected in a movie that is as funny as Clerks 2 was.
4


Posted on 03/16/08 by go_charlie Kid contributor, age 13

OK

This movie was an okay movie... The first clerks was definately better. If you are looking for a laugh and have to choose between this and the first one, definately go for the first movie.
5


Posted on 08/19/07 by moviegeek222 Kid contributor, age 13

Hilarious

This was hilarious to say the least. Anybody with a sense of humor and a need for laughs should see this movie.
3


Posted on 01/18/07 by frogger35 Kid contributor, age 11

Awful!

This movie contains alot of drug use. Selling of drugs. Language is a HUGE issue! f-word is used alot! Show Emma's boobs and Jay's penis is tucked between his legs!eew! No one under 19 should watch this!
3


Posted on 12/23/06 by faisaf1 Adult contributor
5

Posted on 11/30/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

A fun, witty, somewhat heartfelt film

First of all, Clerks II was innapropriate: the language used was explicit, and the sexual content was semi innapropriate, although mostly implied through language. However, although Clerks II is a gross out comedy, it is heartfelt and good intentioned in the end, and, depending on the maturity of the child, is generally appropriate for kids entering high school: the language some kids use and hear is about equal to the content in the film.
5


Posted on 11/30/06 by monkey.po Kid contributor, age 14

I Laughed ALOT

It rocks out loud.
4

Posted on 08/09/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 07/25/06 by Dawgas Kid contributor, age 16

This is supposed to be HUMOROUS. If people actually attempt to do what is in this movie, they deserve all the consequences that arise from doing these activities, and seriously, by shielding kids from the 'f-word', you just encourage them to use it more. I say, let the kids watch it, it's an awesome film.
4


Posted on 07/25/06 by lifeisminty Adult contributor

Okay, so one of the premises of the film involves a donkey show. So the language is non-stop. This isn't a movie for kids, but that shouldn't stop those 17 years old or older from viewing it. The film actually does have its tender and redeeming moments, and as always is full of laughs (as most Kevin Smith pictures are.) If you're mature enough to not take everything so seriously, go see it and have a good time.

See all 10 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

3


Posted on 12/23/06 by faisaf1 Adult contributor
4

Posted on 08/09/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

4


Posted on 07/25/06 by lifeisminty Adult contributor

Okay, so one of the premises of the film involves a donkey show. So the language is non-stop. This isn't a movie for kids, but that shouldn't stop those 17 years old or older from viewing it. The film actually does have its tender and redeeming moments, and as always is full of laughs (as most Kevin Smith pictures are.) If you're mature enough to not take everything so seriously, go see it and have a good time.

Kids Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/26/08 by mikey01 Kid contributor, age 16

Very funny

I loved the movie and thought it was so much better than the first one. But I do have to say the language was kind of bad but that's to be expected in a movie that is as funny as Clerks 2 was.
4


Posted on 03/16/08 by go_charlie Kid contributor, age 13

OK

This movie was an okay movie... The first clerks was definately better. If you are looking for a laugh and have to choose between this and the first one, definately go for the first movie.
5


Posted on 08/19/07 by moviegeek222 Kid contributor, age 13

Hilarious

This was hilarious to say the least. Anybody with a sense of humor and a need for laughs should see this movie.
3


Posted on 01/18/07 by frogger35 Kid contributor, age 11

Awful!

This movie contains alot of drug use. Selling of drugs. Language is a HUGE issue! f-word is used alot! Show Emma's boobs and Jay's penis is tucked between his legs!eew! No one under 19 should watch this!
5

Posted on 11/30/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

A fun, witty, somewhat heartfelt film

First of all, Clerks II was innapropriate: the language used was explicit, and the sexual content was semi innapropriate, although mostly implied through language. However, although Clerks II is a gross out comedy, it is heartfelt and good intentioned in the end, and, depending on the maturity of the child, is generally appropriate for kids entering high school: the language some kids use and hear is about equal to the content in the film.
5


Posted on 11/30/06 by monkey.po Kid contributor, age 14

I Laughed ALOT

It rocks out loud.
5


Posted on 07/25/06 by Dawgas Kid contributor, age 16

This is supposed to be HUMOROUS. If people actually attempt to do what is in this movie, they deserve all the consequences that arise from doing these activities, and seriously, by shielding kids from the 'f-word', you just encourage them to use it more. I say, let the kids watch it, it's an awesome film.
See all 7 kids reviews >
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