Mallrats

October 20th, 1995







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Mallrats

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Still of Shannen Doherty and Jason Lee in MallratsStill of Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in MallratsShannen Doherty at event of MallratsStill of Shannen Doherty, Kevin Smith and Jason Lee in MallratsStill of Shannen Doherty and Jason Lee in MallratsStill of Jason Lee and Jeremy London in Mallrats

Plot
Both dumped by their girlfriends, two best friends seek refuge in the local mall.

Release Year: 1995

Rating: 7.1/10 (62,255 voted)

Critic's Score: 41/100

Director: Kevin Smith

Stars: Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee

Storyline
Brodie Bruce, a Sega and comic book obsessed college student, and his best friend, TS Quint, are both dumped by their girlfriends on the same day, and to deal with their loss, they both go to the local mall. Along the way, they meet up with some friends, including Willam, a guy who stares at Magic Eye pictures, desprately trying to see the hidden image; Gwen, one of TS's ex-girlfriends; and Jay & Silent Bob, of Clerks fame. Eventually, they decide to try and win back their significant others, and take care of their respective nemesises (TS's girlfriend's father, and a store clerk who hates the two for not having any shopping agenda).

Cast:
Shannen Doherty - Rene
Jeremy London - TS Quint
Jason Lee - Brodie
Claire Forlani - Brandi
Ben Affleck - Shannon
Joey Lauren Adams - Gwen
Renée Humphrey - Tricia (as Renee Humphrey)
Jason Mewes - Jay
Ethan Suplee - Willam
Stan Lee - Himself
Priscilla Barnes - Ivannah
Michael Rooker - Svenning
Carol Banker - Security Guard
Steven Blackwell - Arresting Cop #2
Kyle Boe - Pull Toy Kid

Taglines: Get off your TV watching brown eye and come see our movie!



Details

Official Website: View Askew's "Mallrats" page |

Release Date: 20 October 1995

Filming Locations: Eden Prairie Center Mall - 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross: $2,122,561 (USA)



Technical Specs

Runtime:  | (extended version)



Did You Know?

Trivia:
When Brody is trying to cut in line at the comic book store and is being yelled at, the "fan boy" says, "Tell 'em, Steve Dave!" The man named Steve Dave yelling at Brody is played by Bryan Johnson, and the fan boy is played by Walter Flanagan. This catchphrase was later used as the title of a podcast that Johnson and Flanagan both take part in.

Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Early in the movie TS tells Brodie that callow means "frightened and weak-willed", when in fact it means inexperienced and/or immature.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Brodie: [voice-over] One time my cousin Walter got this cat stuck up his ass. True story. He bought it at our local mall, so the whole fiasco wound up on the news. It was embarrasing for my relatives and all, but next week, he did it again. Different cat, same results, complete with another trip to the emergency room...



User Review

Very funny if you live in Smith's world

Rating:

I guess that people can be split in two ways - those that like Kevin Smith's films and those that don't. From watching his films, he seems to like his characters to exist in his strange world where things are exaggerated and ridiculous characters do unrealistic things.

That sums up Mallrats - it's the story of two friends who both lose their girlfriends and then spend the rest of the day hanging around in the local mall. Whilst hanging around they meet friends and get into scrapes as they strive to get their girlfriends back.

I suppose if you looked at it coolly it's all a bit silly - fully of ridiculous situations and scrapes that are resolved in unbelievable ways. But then if you accept Smith's world of comic book style adventures and cartoon film making then this is great. Whereas his later Chasing Amy brings adult subjects into the comedy - this is pure cartoon comedy, although understand it's not dumb like slapstick - but crazy, clever humour with plenty of jokes occuring all around the main action.

OK the overall plot is weak at best, but the story is more about the characters and the situations along the journey to the end of the film and here is where Smith wins. He has created crazy characters that are funny and often exaggerated versions of people or of people's reactions to situations (witness the magic-eye poster guy for an example of exaggerated humour).

Lee is fantastic, this is the role he was made for - he reacts in an exaggerated way to everything and really hams it up. I suppose he's a comic-book reading loser but in this world he is funny and in control. He is loud and abusive to others and it's great! Jeremy London is a weak straight man and doesn't really convince.

Jay & Silent Bob are good as always - although for most of the movie they exist in their own little subplot of taking on the mall police. Again their adventures are exaggerated for humour.

If you hated Clerks and Smith's other movies then you'll hate this. However if this world is one that appeals to you then you'll love this movie's reckless abandonment of reality and enjoy the adventures involved in a trip to the mall.





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