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Mallrats
By Alex Orner,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
'90s Kevin Smith slacker classic has sex, drugs, cursing.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Mallrats
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Wonderful Project from Kevin Smith!
Tame for Smith, Funny but Lowbrow
What's the Story?
MALLRATS follows two recently dumped friends who seek refuge at a New Jersey mall. Brodie (Jason Lee) is a loud-mouthed comic book connoisseur who shows no compassion. T.S. (Jeremy London) is his devastated best bud, desperate for any reconciliation with his love. With the help of some mallrat friends, the two track down their recent ex-girlfriends at the mall and hatch plans to win them back. Their eccentric pals include punk loiterers, a guy fixated on Magic Eye pictures, and T.S.'s promiscuous high school fling. Discussions mostly revolve around sex and comics.
Is It Any Good?
This is one of Kevin Smith's best films. It's driven by mature dialogue and bizarre characters. Jason Lee is outrageous. His character's outlandish monologues provide the majority of the laughs. More clever stuff: There are subtle references linking Shannon Doherty to her ties with the TV series 90210. It does have rather limited appeal, however: Its sexually charged humor is directed toward older teens and early 20-somethings. Some teens will find it dated; others will find it brilliant.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies targeted to teens. What other movies would you put in this genre? How does this one compare or contrast with those?
How is this movie a product of its time (the '90s)? Does it feel dated? Why or why not?
If you remade this movie, how would you do it, and who would you cast?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 1, 1995
- On DVD or streaming: July 20, 1999
- Cast: Jason Lee , Jeremy London , Shannen Doherty
- Director: Kevin Smith
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong language, including sexual dialogue, and for some scenes of sexuality and drug content.
- Last updated: November 18, 2022
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