Mallrats (1995): Kevin Smith’s Sophomore Jinx, Inept Studio Movie, Starring Shannen Doherty, Jeremy London, Jason Lee

After his splashy Sundance Fest debut, Kevin Smith struck a deal with Universal, which led to the making Mallrats, a Gen-X hang-out movie which takes place in a Clerks-like universe, where nothing seems to happen, yet a lot does.

Mallrats
Theatrical release poster

Our Grade: C (*1/2* out of *****)

Ragged and ribald, this studio-made comedy, which takes aims at the shopping malls subculture, is a sophomore jinx–flat and unfunny.

Several cast members, including Lee, Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams, have gone on to work in several other Smith films. Comic-book icon Stan Lee appeared, as did Brian O’Halloran, the star of Smith’s breakout feature Clerks.

In this male buddy comedy, college student T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) is preparing for trip to Universal Studios in Orlando with Brandi Svenning (Claire Forlani), during which he plans to propose to her.

However, Brandi tells him she cannot go due to her volunteering to as a contestant on Truth or Date, her father’s dating game show; the original contestant had died from embolism in her brain while swimming 700 laps at the local Y.M.C.A following T.S.’s comment regarding her weight.

Brandi and T.S. argue over his responsibility and the two break up. T.S. then turns to his best friend Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee), who has been dumped by his girlfriend Rene, and Brodie suggests the two might find comfort at the local place.

Marred by inept slapstick and draggy pacing, the $6 million movie was an artistic and commercial flop, earning 2 million at the box-office.

In his defense, Smith claimed, “I just wanted to make the kind of kids-lost-in-a-mall type of comedy I grew up watching. I wore the studio label like a badge of honor, but I got crucified for it.” Smith was castigated by the indie community for a perceived sell-out, and most reviewers declared Mallrats a total failure.

But for Smith, the experience was liberating: “I would wish a flop on everybody, because you feel afterwards like you have nothing to lose.”

Versions

Mallrats has had three versions released, with the main version released amongst an extended version and a theatrical version.

The theatrical release has numerous differences between the extended and original version.

The conclusion reveals that T.S. marries Brandi at Universal Studios while on a “Jaws” attraction, Tricia’s book is a bestseller, Shannon is imprisoned (and raped), Willam eventually does see the sailboat, Brodie becomes the host of The Tonight Show (with Rene as bandleader), and Jay and Silent Bob get orangutan named Susanne.

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