Let's Go To The Mall

Mallrats is a movie I had not heard of until I started following Kevin Smith’s work.  While this movie failed financially at the box office, it has since become a cult classic and a favorite among fans.  While I personally think it is Smith’s weakest film, I still enjoy the movie very much.

Mallrats is the story of two friends who go to the mall after their girlfriends break up with them.  One of the things I enjoy most about this movie is that it is a time-capsule movie.  Everything about Mallrats oozes the 90’s.  This movie is also special because it reminds you that at some point in your life it was cool to just go to the mall and chill.

Jason Lee plays Brodie and Shannon Doherty plays his girlfriend, Rene.  The character of Brodie is one that was ahead of his time back when Mallrats was released in 1995.  Brodie is a man who loves comics, however comic book readers were looked down upon in those days, unlike today when they are at the top of the pop culture totem pole.  He is also a lazy idiot who goes to the mall and worships it like a shrine, and has no clue that he has a great girl to call his own.  Jason Lee does not have to try too hard to play this character because he is essentially playing himself.  Rene wants a man who has ambition so she starts seeing this rich prick who owns a store at the mall.  However, she does feel bad for leaving Brodie because she really did love him.  Shannon Doherty is one of the best things about the movie.  You really believe every word she says to Brodie, and you also want her to find someone better than Brodie even though the two are made for each other.  I enjoy characters like that, and Doherty plays it perfectly.

Claire Forlani and Jeremy London play Brandi and T.S., respectively.  Their relationship is similar to Brodie and Rene’s.  T.S. is an asshole so Brandi breaks up with him, and it is only after some major soul-searching that T.S. realizes that Brandi is the one for him.  I like the fact that T.S. professes his love for Brandi on TRUTH OR DATE in front of complete strangers.  It takes guts to do something like that.

Mallrats is a cult classic in every sense of the word.  Again, while it failed financially at the box office it did prove that Kevin Smith can handle a multi-million dollar production.  If you are fan of Kevin Smith, you should definitely check this one out.