This is a list of major and recurring characters in
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy film '' Clerks'' (1994), which he wrote, directed, ...
's fictional universe known as the
View Askewniverse
The View Askewniverse is a fictional universe created by writer/director Kevin Smith, featured in several films, comics and a television series; it is named for Smith's production company, View Askew Productions. The characters Jay and Silent ...
.
''Clerks'' (1994)
Dante Hicks
Dante Hicks, played by
Brian O'Halloran
Brian Christopher O'Halloran (born December 20, 1969) is an American actor, producer, and podcaster best known for playing Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith's debut 1994 film '' Clerks'' and its 2006 and 2022 sequels '' Clerks II'' and '' Clerks III' ...
, is 22 (33 in ''
Clerks II
''Clerks II'' is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, the sequel to his 1994 film ''Clerks'', and his sixth feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse. The film stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Daw ...
, 49 in
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
''), works at the Quick Stop Market in
Leonardo, New Jersey
Leonardo is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. , and still lives with his parents. He feels that because he runs the store, he is responsible and successful in life, and yet, he is a push-over who often agrees to work when he doesn't have to (hence his catch phrase, "I'm not even supposed to be here today!"). He frequently gets into debates ranging from
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
to ''
Star Wars'' with his best friend, fellow clerk Randal Graves, who works at the adjacent RST Video Store.
Dante is laid-back, personable, articulate, and logical (especially when compared with his best friend Randal), and is easily angered by Randal's actions or behavior, particularly when Randal's actions lead to negative consequences. For example, Dante often scolds Randal for disrespecting customers, while Randal often tries to defend his actions.
The film centers on the
surreal
Surreal may refer to:
*Anything related to or characteristic of Surrealism, a movement in philosophy and art
* "Surreal" (song), a 2000 song by Ayumi Hamasaki
* ''Surreal'' (album), an album by Man Raze
*Surreal humour, a common aspect of humor
...
events of a day at the Quick Stop that Dante must deal with. Among other problems, Dante becomes the target of an anti-smoking mob who pelt him with
cigarette
A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...
s, and he is issued a
summons and fined for selling cigarettes to a four-year-old, a crime Randal had in fact accidentally committed. In addition, he is continually
stalked by
Jay and Silent Bob
Jay and Silent Bob are fictional characters portrayed by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, respectively, in Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse, a fictional universe created and used in most of the films, comics, and television programs written and produ ...
(
Jason Mewes
Jason Edward Mewes (born June 12, 1974) is an American actor, comedian, film producer, and podcaster. He is best known for playing Jay, the vocal half of the duo Jay and Silent Bob, in longtime friend Kevin Smith, Kevin Smith's films.
Early lif ...
and
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy film '' Clerks'' (1994), which he wrote, directed, ...
), two drug dealers who loiter in front of the store all day and often like to go inside and steal. A running gag throughout the film is the scent of
shoe polish on him, as he uses some to write a makeshift open sign to hang over the stuck window shutters of the store.
The film also deals with Dante's stressful romantic relationships. He has difficulty dealing with his girlfriend Veronica, especially her extensive history of performing
fellatio
Fellatio (also known as fellation, and in slang as blowjob, BJ, giving head, or sucking off) is an oral sex act involving a person stimulating the penis of another person by using the mouth, throat, or both. Oral stimulation of the scrotu ...
(on 37 different men, including him) — even though she seems to genuinely love him, going so far as to bring him
lasagna
Lasagna (, also , also known as lasagne, ) is a type of pasta, possibly one of the oldest types, made of very wide, flat sheets. Either term can also refer to an Italian dish made of stacked layers of lasagna alternating with fillings such as ...
at work and help him fix a tire. At the same time, Dante is besotted with ex-girlfriend Caitlin Bree and seems intent on rekindling that relationship. In the end, Dante ends up with neither woman; Randal ends the relationship by telling Veronica that Dante never got over Caitlin, and Caitlin is hospitalized after accidentally having sex in a dark bathroom with a
corpse
A cadaver or corpse is a dead human body that is used by medical students, physicians and other scientists to study anatomy, identify disease sites, determine causes of death, and provide tissue to repair a defect in a living human being. Stu ...
, whom she had believed to be Dante.
After an argument with Veronica, Dante gets into a physical altercation with Randal, and he rants about his anxieties including the loss of his girlfriend and Caitlin, as well as his overall miserable life. He is left speechless when Randal explodes at him, accusing him of blaming everyone else and not taking responsibility for his-own lack of initiative. The two reconcile and clean up the Quick Stop. In the final scene, he tells Randal that he is going to try and work things out with Veronica. It is implied that he will try to find direction in his life.
In the film's original ending, after Randal leaves the Quick Stop to go home, a customer comes in, with Dante telling him that the store is closed. The customer responds by pulling out a gun and killing Dante before taking the money from the cash register and leaving. The scene is meant to reference Dante & Randal's earlier discussion; that "'Empire' was a better film, because it ended on such a down-note". Kevin Smith's mentors criticized this ending; under the advice of one of the mentors,
John Pierson, Smith edited out that ending. Therefore, the theatrical version ends when Randal leaves.
In ''
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' is a 2001 American satirical stoner buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of h ...
'', Dante, like Randal, has a
cameo early in the film in which the two clerks have Jay and Silent Bob arrested for loitering in front of Quick-Stop as well as for selling drugs in front of the store. As a result, a
restraining order was placed on Jay and Silent Bob, who were not allowed within a hundred feet of the store. He and Randal attend the ''Bluntman and Chronic'' movie premiere, where Dante expresses chagrin that
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...
played him in the movie.
In ''Clerks II'', Dante and Randal are forced to work at a Mooby's fast food restaurant after Randal accidentally leaves a coffee pot on in the Quick Stop, causing the store to burn down. It is revealed that Dante is engaged and is planning to move to
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
with his fiancée Emma. This leaves Randal feeling
depressed, but does not express his upset at Dante over the decision until near the end of the movie. Randal also expresses his fears of losing Dante; under the persuasion of Randal, Dante decides to stay in
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. With the two having been fired for Dante's very unconventional bachelor party at Mooby's, the two purchase the Quick Stop and the RST Video, which they restore and co-manage. He also calls off his engagement with Emma in favor of his boss, Becky.
Dante briefly appears twice in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
''. The first is at the film's opening where he arrives at the Quick Stop to open the store and is quickly pulled aside by police officers. Not knowing what's going on, Dante assumes they are looking for Randal and offers to reveal his location. The second is at the film's end where he complains about the steel shutters being once again jammed with chewed gum, not even noticing Jay, Silent Bob and Jay's daughter Milly. Jay then revealed to Milly that he and Silent Bob had been pranking Dante by purposely putting in chewed gum in the locks for the past twenty-five years.
In ''
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
'', Dante is still working in the Quick Stop with Randal. He is mourning the loss of Becky, who was killed by a
drunk driver. After Randall survives a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
, Dante agrees to help him make an
independent film about their time working together at the Quick Stop. Throughout the film, Dante imagines himself talking to Becky, who offers him words of encouragement. After tensions grow, Dante and Randall get into a serious argument, and the stress causes Dante to similarly suffer from a heart attack. Randall, feeling remorseful, sneaks into the hospital and shows Dante their completed movie. Dante, touched by the film, peacefully passes away, imagining himself
walking away with Becky.
Randal Graves
Randal Graves, played by
Jeff Anderson
Jeffrey Allan Anderson (born April 21, 1970) is an American film and television actor, director, and screenwriter best known for starring as Randal Graves in ''Clerks,'' ''Clerks II,'' and ''Clerks III''. In between, he has appeared in other Kevi ...
, is a clerk at RST Video, located next door to the Quick Stop convenience store in
Leonardo, New Jersey
Leonardo is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. . Chris Smith in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' described this character as a "smart-ass", while multiple reviewers have described him as a "super slacker". In the first film and the cartoon, Randal is a prime example of the typical
slacker
A slacker is someone who habitually avoids work or lacks work ethic.
Origin
According to different sources, the term ''slacker'' dates back to about 1790 or 1898. "Slacker" gained some recognition during the British Gezira Scheme in the early ...
: He works in a dead-end job, has a hatred for customers, and arrives at work late every day. He periodically closes the store (during work hours) to chat with his best friend Dante Hicks, a Quick Stop clerk. Whereas Dante believes that title dictates responsibility, Randal does whatever he pleases.
Randal is usually quite aggressive and offensive (mainly to customers) and does not really seem to care much about what others think about him. He regularly arrives at the video store at least 15–30 minutes late and charges late fees to customers who have been waiting for the store to open. Often, he ignores customers' requests to recommend a movie, explaining that he does not meddle with other people's affairs (except perhaps those of Dante). He has been known to order
porn
Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults, movies for the store in front of children, spit water in customers' faces, and intrude on private conversations about
sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
.
One of Randal's ancestors, who was
Scots-Irish, immigrated to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
in the 17th century. Randal is related to Brodie Bruce of ''Mallrats''. The two share a mutual "Cousin Walter", who is known for performing bizarre sexual acts, such as
masturbating
Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinati ...
on a crashing aircraft and eventually killing himself while attempting to perform
autofellatio
Autofellatio is the act of oral stimulation of one's own penis as a form of masturbation. Only a limited number of males are physically capable of performing autofellatio.Savage, Dan. Savage Love', page 242 (Plume 1998).
History
Egyptologist ...
. Both Brodie and Randal also mention stories regarding their grandmother. Brodie once mentioned she became a lesbian on her sixtieth birthday, while Randal mentioned that she used racial slurs in front of him as a child. The latter scenario influenced Randal into using the term "
porch-monkey" in front of an
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
couple while working at Mooby's. However, Randal did not know at that point that he used a racial slur and claimed he used the term to refer to lazy people of all racial backgrounds in general.
Randal's behavior at times appears contradictory; for example, he says that he hates people but loves social gatherings, and says, "This job would be great if it weren't for the fucking customers". Such behavior spills into his relationship with Dante, whom he often coerces into highly unlikely, theoretical situations by manipulating him into feeling guilty. Randal goes off on an analytical theory of something outlandish, before going to the complete opposite. He frequently causes problems in Dante's personal life by spilling secrets to those he should not.
Despite his toxic personality, Randal truly cares for his best friend Dante. He even once said to Dante's ex-girlfriend Caitlin, "Hey Caitlin. Break his heart again, and I'll kill ya. Nothing personal." To this, Caitlin remarks that he has always been very protective of Dante. Randal sees Dante as the "counterbalance" to the former's dislike of other people. Randal only goes to the Quick Stop instead of staying in the video store to talk to Dante about whatever comes to mind. Randal does his best to offer whatever advice he can to Dante, though Dante generally doesn't take it because of Randal's rather rough way of putting it. Randal has also attempted to do favors for Dante, although they often backfire. For example, in ''Clerks 2'', Randal set up a
donkey show
A donkey show is a type of live sex show in which a woman engages in bestiality with a donkey, which, according to urban legend and some works of fiction, were once performed in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, particularly in the mid-20th ...
as a going-away gift for Dante, who was to move to
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
with his then-fiancée, Emma. However, the show results in Dante and Randal getting arrested (alongside co-worker Elias, Jay, and Silent Bob), leading to a near-breakdown in their friendship. Another example was in ''Clerks'', after Randal told Veronica that Dante left her for his ex-girlfriend, Caitlin Bree. However, not only was Randal unaware that Dante reconsidered his decision to leave Veronica for Caitlin, but a fight occurs between Randal and Dante after Veronica told him what Randal told her.
In ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Randal, like Dante, has a cameo early in the film, in which the two clerks have Jay and Silent Bob arrested for loitering as well as for selling drugs in front of the Quick-Stop. As a result, a restraining order was placed on Jay and Silent Bob, who were not allowed within a hundred feet of the store. He and Dante attend the ''Bluntman and Chronic'' movie premiere, where Randal mentions putting up another restraining order on Jay and Silent Bob because he is going to give the movie a scathing review on the Internet.
Randal's life centers on movies,
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
s, and pornography. He often quotes dialogue and discusses films, goes to other video stores to rent porn, and is often depicted in ''Clerks: The Animated Series'' with a porn magazine. His love life is nonexistent (at least in a romantic sense). The few relationships he had never lasted; his ex-girlfriends were subsequently so fed up with men that they became
lesbians. In contrast, it is implied he has a budding sex life, despite his overall aimless existence; he frequently has girls over to his house, and brings them over to the Quick Stop when his mother is home. In ''Clerks II'', it is stated that many of his sexual exploits are with "barely-legal pussy" (18-year-old girls), thanks in no small part to their willingness to take part in taboo sexual acts (such as what he and others refer to bluntly as
ass-to-mouth). As evidenced in a scene in ''Clerks II'', Randal's favorite band is
King Diamond
Kim Bendix Petersen (born 14 June 1956), better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto ...
and he is a fan of 80s
speed metal
Speed metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) roots.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' (Berg Publishers, 2007), , p. 31. It ...
and
black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, a shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, raw (lo-fi) recording, unconventional song structures, and an emp ...
; he dislikes other music, such as the funk/soul band
The Time. He is a fan of the novel ''
Catcher in the Rye
''The Catcher in the Rye'' is an American novel by J. D. Salinger that was partially published in serial form from 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst ...
'' because it "recognizes the sheer volume of phonies in the worl
Randal is also a fan of the ''
Star Wars'' trilogy and ''
Ranger Danger'', and staunchly hates the ''
Lord of the Rings
''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...
'' and ''
Transformers
''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms ...
''.
Randal is also frequently the cause of the problems that he and Dante get into, much to Dante's constant annoyance. ''Clerks: The Animated Series'' shows this at least once per episode, and it is mentioned in ''Clerks II'' that Randal is responsible for several of Dante's ruined relationships. This trait reaches its apex in the third episode of the animated series, where he almost gets
Leonardo Leonardo destroyed by the
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
after he mistakes the villain's
food poisoning for the
deadly motaba virus. It's also revealed here that he got his and Dante's jobs throughout the films and show; when Dante is teasing Randal for always being wrong, Randal retorts, "What about that time I told you about those two open jobs down the street? You know we'd stay there for a while, earn some money then move on with our lives." He then realizes that they have spent practically a decade at their jobs and yells, "Oh my God, you're right, I'm always wrong!" Randal is based on Smith's long-time friend
Bryan Johnson.
Randal does not appear in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
'', but is mentioned by Dante at the beginning of the film when Dante offers to tell the police where Randal is.
In ''
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
'', Randal is still working in the Quick Stop when he suffers a
widow-maker heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
. Falling into a depression, Randall decides to
make a movie about his life working at the Quick Stop, with the help of Dante, Jay and Silent Bob, and other locals. After Dante passes away from a heart attack, Randall mourns his loss, but continues to work at the Quick Stop, promoting Elias to be his "new best friend."
Veronica Loughran
Veronica Loughran, played by
Marilyn Ghigliotti
Marilyn Ghigliotti (born August 10, 1961) is an American actress, producer, director and make-up artist best known for playing Veronica Loughran in ''Clerks''.
Life and career
''Clerks'' director Kevin Smith cast her for her ability to cry while ...
, is Dante's girlfriend in the beginning of ''Clerks''. She is currently attending college and frequently makes attempts to encourage Dante to quit his dead-end job at the Quick Stop. Tensions arise between the two during a conversation about sexual relations, when Dante admits to having sex with 12 different women (including Veronica) and Veronica reveals that she performed oral sex on 37 men (“In a row?”), including Dante. Later, as an apology, Veronica returns to the Quick Stop with some lasagna for Dante. The relationship ends badly when Randal tells Veronica at the video store that Dante is dumping her to get back with Caitlin, despite the fact that Dante reconsidered this decision; as a result, Veronica storms in at the Quick Stop and attacks Dante before leaving.
Veronica does not appear in the sequel, but she is mentioned in a deleted scene, where Randal calls out Dante for going to
Brookdale Community College
Brookdale Community College is a public community college in the Lincroft section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1967, the college also has regional locations in Neptune Township, ...
just to appease Veronica. This implies they made up after the argument in the first film but subsequently broke up.
Veronica appears in ''
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
'', having been inadvertently brought on board Randall's independent movie to play herself. She and Dante reconnect briefly, and
have sex to blow off steam. She later attends Dante's funeral after he passes away.
Jay and Silent Bob
Willam Black
Willam Black was played by longtime View Askew film editor and producer
Scott Mosier
Scott A. Mosier (born March 5, 1971) is an American film producer, director and editor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he occasionally co-hosts the weekly podcast, ''SModcast''.
Early life
Mosier was born in Vanco ...
in ''Clerks'', ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', ''Clerks II'', and ''Clerks III''. He was played by Ethan Suplee in ''Mallrats'' and ''Clerks III''. Willam is referred to as an "idiot man-child" by other characters in the View Askewniverse, mostly because of his limited intelligence and demeanor (glazed eyes, unkempt hair and beard, and lack of coordination). He has an oddly profane sexual taste, which includes
snowballing, thus giving him his other nickname, "Snowball". He is often seen staring at ceilings and saying "That's beautiful, man!"
Caitlin Bree
Caitlin Bree first appeared in ''Clerks''. She was portrayed by
Lisa Spoonauer. She was one of Dante's old girlfriends. Both of them express a desire to restart their relationship. At the end of the film, however, she has sex with a corpse at the Quick Stop bathroom, believing it to be Dante. After discovering this misunderstanding, she becomes catatonic. She is sent a mental institution to deal with her trauma afterward.
It was revealed in ''
Chasing Amy
''Chasing Amy'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The film is about a male comic artist (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian woman ...
'' that Caitlin and
Alyssa Jones
''Chasing Amy'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The film is about a male comic artist (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian woma ...
had a
homosexual relationship that included
fisting.
In the comic book ''
Clerks: The Holiday Special'', Dante visits Caitlin at the
asylum
Asylum may refer to:
Types of asylum
* Asylum (antiquity), places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome
* Benevolent Asylum, a 19th-century Australian institution for housing the destitute
* Cities of Refuge, places of refuge in ancient Judea
...
located in
Marlboro
Marlboro (, ) is an American brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Philip Morris USA (a branch of Altria) within the United States and by Philip Morris International (now separate from Altria) outside the US. The largest Mar ...
. Caitlin has not spoken a word since the incident, prompting Randal to suggest that Dante
fornicate with Caitlin using a
candy cane
A candy cane is a cane-shaped stick candy often associated with Christmastide, as well as Saint Nicholas Day. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, but they also come in a variety of other flavors and colors.
...
. Caitlin awakens from her catatonic state, but is furious and does not want to see him again.
Caitlin was also mentioned in ''
Clerks: The Lost Scene'' and ''Clerks II''.
In Kevin Smith's never-produced script ''Superman Lives'', the governor is named Caitlin Bree. It is assumed, but not confirmed, to be the same Bree from "Clerks".
Smith named the character after his favorite ''
Degrassi
''Degrassi'' is a Canadian television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler in 1979. It is centred on a multigenerational teen drama about an ensemble cast of teenagers attending the namesake Toronto school as they navigate their ...
'' character,
Caitlin Ryan.
Julie Dwyer
Julie Dwyer was first mentioned in ''Clerks'' as an old high school friend of Dante Hicks and Randal Graves who died at a
swimming pool at a
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...
. Her funeral scene was eventually shown (in animated form), in ''
Clerks: The Lost Scene'', which appeared on the ''Clerks X'' DVD set. In ''Mallrats'' (which takes place the day before ''Clerks.''), Dwyer is told that the camera adds 10 pounds, so she over-exercises before her appearance on the game show ''Truth or Date'', which leads to her death. She is mentioned in ''Chasing Amy'' as a friend of Alyssa Jones. She is referred to again in ''Clerks II'', where Randal mentions going to her funeral and his claim that Dante said he needs to "shit or get off the pot" (which Dante claims was actually said by Randal).
Rick Derris
First appearing in ''
Clerks
A clerk is someone who works in an office. A retail clerk works in a store.
Office holder
Clerk(s) may also refer to a person who holds an office, most commonly in a local unit of government, or a court.
*Barristers' clerk, a manager and adminis ...
'', Rick Derris was played by
Ernest O'Donnell
Ernest O'Donnell (born November 24, 1968) is an American actor who is known for his roles in various Kevin Smith films, most notably ''Clerks''.
O'Donnell was the best friend of writer/director/actor Kevin Smith in high school. They had a brief ...
, (a childhood friend of Kevin Smith). Rick is a sexual deviant in the Askewniverse. In ''Clerks'', while bragging about being more physically fit than Dante Hicks, he reveals to Dante that he had sex with his ex-girlfriend Caitlin Bree during their five-year relationship.
In ''
Mallrats
''Mallrats'' is a 1995 American buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Jason Lee, Jeremy London, Shannen Doherty, Claire Forlani, Ben Affleck, Jason Mewes, Joey Lauren Adams, Michael Rooker, and Smith as Silent Bob. ...
'', Gwen Turner, T.S. Quint, and Brodie Bruce recall an incident at a costume party in which Derris and Turner had sex on a pool table. While Turner thinks it was a trivial event, Bruce and Quint remember the event very well because Derris and Turner were having sex on a pool table while dressed as
Jackie Gleason
John Herbert Gleason (February 26, 1916June 24, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, writer, composer, and conductor known affectionately as "The Great One." Developing a style and characters from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, he was know ...
and
Burt Reynolds, respectively, from ''
Smokey and the Bandit
''Smokey and the Bandit'' is a 1977 American road action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follows ...
''. In ''
Chasing Amy
''Chasing Amy'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The film is about a male comic artist (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian woman ...
'', Derris and his friend Cohee London engaged in a three-way with Tricia Jones's older sister
Alyssa Jones
''Chasing Amy'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The film is about a male comic artist (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian woma ...
during high school, which gave her the nickname "Finger Cuffs". When Alyssa is confronted by Holden McNeil about this occurrence during ''Chasing Amy'', Ernest O'Donnell makes a cameo sitting next to them and listening in. He was planned to be Jay's older brother, but as the movie in which this point would be addressed was never produced, Kevin Smith has stated that this is no longer the case.
Old Man
An unnamed elderly man, played by Al Berkowitz, approaches Dante and asks to use the restroom, which is normally for employees only. He disappears into the restroom after harassing Dante for both a softer roll of toilet paper, because the restroom's toilet paper roll is pretty rough, and a porno magazine to read. It is later on revealed that he died of a heart attack while masturbating over the magazine. His body maintains an erection as a result of
rigor mortis
Rigor mortis (Latin: ''rigor'' "stiffness", and ''mortis'' "of death"), or postmortem rigidity, is the third stage of death. It is one of the recognizable signs of death, characterized by stiffening of the limbs of the corpse caused by chemic ...
. Dante does not take notice of this due to him closing the store to play hockey on the roof and attend Julie Dwyer's wake. In addition, the restroom light shuts off automatically at 5:14 p.m. for reasons unknown. As a result, Caitlin Bree winds up having sex with the elderly man's corpse, mistaking it for Dante.
Wynarski
A disgruntled RST Video customer, played by Lee Bendick, walks into the Quick Stop and confronts Dante about RST Video not being open. When Dante tells him Randal will show up soon, he comments that he once saw Randal sleeping. Dante says he wasn't sleeping, just resting his eyes. After the customer claims Randal isn't an air traffic controller, Dante sarcastically says it's Randal's night job. The customer then claims the reason Dante's working at Quick Stop and not "working a steady job" is because he (Dante) is a wise-ass. He then tells Dante to make sure Randal gets his VHS rental back and tells him his number, 812, and his name, Wynarski. He then leaves to go to Big Choice Video but leaves his keys on the counter, which Dante then throws away. When Randal arrives, Wynarski stops him outside the store and asks if he's seen his keys, to which Randal replies "
No time for love, Dr. Jones" and leaves. Wynarski then says "Fucking kids" as he continues to search for his keys, not knowing Dante had thrown them out.
Chewlies Representative
A customer, played by Scott Schiaffo, pays for a cup of coffee and asks Dante if he can drink it beside the register counter. He then confronts a younger customer who is about to buy a pack of cigarettes, pulling out a cancer-ridden lung out of his handbag and showing him several effects of smoking before persuading him to buy a pack of Chewlies gum instead. Later on, he instigates a small demonstration to a crowd in the store by calling Dante a "cancer merchant" and comparing him and other cigarette sellers to the
Nazis
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in N ...
just because they both were "a group of hate-mongers just following orders". He then encourages the customers to throw cigarettes at him and to buy Chewlie's Gum instead. The revolt is stopped by Veronica, who sprays everyone with a fire extinguisher before stopping the customer from exiting. After discovering that he is a Chewlies representative, staging the anti-cigarette protest in order to strike up gum sales, she tells him to leave before telling the other customers to go back to their jobs.
Olaf the Russian Metalhead
Olaf, played by John Henry Westhead, is introduced by Jay as Silent Bob's
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n cousin. He is from
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
and speaks very little English, but according to Jay, he runs a heavy metal band back in Russia and is looking to do a gig in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. A running gag throughout the film is Olaf's song "Berserker". A shirt for Olaf's band is worn by Jay throughout ''
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' is a 2001 American satirical stoner buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of h ...
''.
''Mallrats'' (1995)
Brodie Bruce
Brodie Bruce (
Jason Lee Jason Lee may refer to:
Entertainment
*Jason Lee (actor) (born 1970), American film and TV actor and former professional skateboarder
*Jason Scott Lee (born 1966), Asian American film actor
* Jaxon Lee (Jason Christopher Lee, born 1968), American v ...
) is an unemployed, lazy, comic book-obsessed,
Sega-playing
slacker
A slacker is someone who habitually avoids work or lacks work ethic.
Origin
According to different sources, the term ''slacker'' dates back to about 1790 or 1898. "Slacker" gained some recognition during the British Gezira Scheme in the early ...
, living with his parents and lacking the initiative and prospects appropriate to his age. Kevin Smith has said
Walt Flanagan
Walter Flanagan (born October 23, 1967) is a former comic book store manager, reality television personality, podcaster, and comic book artist. Flanagan is a long-time friend of Kevin Smith, and (according to Smith's book ''Silent Bob Speaks'') i ...
was the inspiration for the character.
Brodie is named after the main character in ''
Jaws
Jaws or Jaw may refer to:
Anatomy
* Jaw, an opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth
** Mandible, the lower jaw
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Jaws (James Bond), a character in ''The Spy Who Loved Me'' and ''Moonraker''
* ...
'' (a favorite film of Smith's, and one the director frequently references in his work), while his surname, Bruce, was the nickname given to the animatronic shark in ''Jaws''.
His girlfriend, Rene Mosier, to whom Brodie's mother has never been introduced (out of fear on the part of Brodie), breaks up with him at the beginning of ''Mallrats'' and gives him a letter listing the reasons for doing so. At the end of the film they are back together, and it is mentioned that he went on to host ''
The Tonight Show
''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'', with Rene as his band leader and having gained the approval from his mother. He makes a brief appearance in ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' in which he now owns his own comic book store called "
Brodie's Secret Stash".
Rene Mosier
Rene Mosier (
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty (, born April 12, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jenny Wilder in ''Little House on the Prairie'' (1982–1983); Maggie Malene in ''Girls Just Want to Have Fun'' (1985); Kris Witherspoon in '' Our Hous ...
) is Brodie's girlfriend. She broke up with him prior to the events of the film and began dating Shannon Hamilton, a clothing store manager at the mall. Brodie confronts her about the relationship, an encounter that leads to the two having sex in an elevator. Shannon later assaults Brodie and claims that he and Rene will have sex in a "
very uncomfortable place" (interpreted to be the back of a
Volkswagen
Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post-W ...
). However, this apparently never happens as Shannon is later arrested after ''Truth or Date'' for statutory rape, and Brodie and Rene reconcile. Later, when Brodie becomes the host of ''The Tonight Show'', Rene serves as his bandleader.
Rene's last name is a reference to frequent Kevin Smith collaborator and close friend
Scott Mosier
Scott A. Mosier (born March 5, 1971) is an American film producer, director and editor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he occasionally co-hosts the weekly podcast, ''SModcast''.
Early life
Mosier was born in Vanco ...
. As a nod to her actor, who was well known for her role as
Brenda Walsh on ''
Beverly Hills, 90210
''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to by its short title, ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling under his production company Spelling Television. The series ran for ...
'', she is mistakenly referred to as "Brenda" by Willam at one point.
Shannon Hamilton
Shannon Hamilton is a character from ''
Mallrats
''Mallrats'' is a 1995 American buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Jason Lee, Jeremy London, Shannen Doherty, Claire Forlani, Ben Affleck, Jason Mewes, Joey Lauren Adams, Michael Rooker, and Smith as Silent Bob. ...
'' played by
Ben Affleck
Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and a Volpi Cup.
Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS education ...
.
In the film, Shannon is the manager of the Fashionable Male clothing store. He is the arch enemy of Brodie Bruce (
Jason Lee Jason Lee may refer to:
Entertainment
*Jason Lee (actor) (born 1970), American film and TV actor and former professional skateboarder
*Jason Scott Lee (born 1966), Asian American film actor
* Jaxon Lee (Jason Christopher Lee, born 1968), American v ...
), a local mallrat and a major character in the film. It is revealed that Shannon is dating Bruce's ex-girlfriend Rene Mosier (
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty (, born April 12, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jenny Wilder in ''Little House on the Prairie'' (1982–1983); Maggie Malene in ''Girls Just Want to Have Fun'' (1985); Kris Witherspoon in '' Our Hous ...
), who dumped Bruce that morning and also has "no respect for people with no shopping agenda". Shannon later abducts Bruce and beats him severely, saying that he likes comforting girls on the rebound of unsuccessful relationships so that he can "
fuck them in an uncomfortable place", which Bruce asks if it's the back of a
Volkswagen
Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post-W ...
. This becomes a running joke in the film. Also, Tricia Jones (Renee Humphrey) reveals that she had sex with Hamilton as research for her book ''Borgasm: A Study of the 90s Male Sexual Prowess''. She even taped their sexual encounter. During the ''Truth or Date'' game show, Bruce announces his love for Rene, which angers Hamilton. Just before he can assault Bruce,
Silent Bob starts the video tape of Hamilton and Tricia Jones' sexual encounter that is played on the ''Truth or Date'' big screens. When Bruce tells the police that Jones is only 15 years old, Hamilton is arrested for
statutory rape
In common law jurisdictions, statutory rape is nonforcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent (the age required to legally consent to the behavior). Although it usually refers to adults engaging in sexual ...
(while protesting "I thought she was 36!"). During the conclusion, it is said that "Shannon made a lot of friends at the Rahway State Correctional Facility" and see a hand wrap around Hamilton's, with "Love" tattooed on his fingers.
Shannon is mentioned in ''Chasing Amy'', when Alyssa Jones says she had sex with him in college, only to have a tape of their sexual encounter be broadcast all over campus, thus retroactively making his comeuppance in Mallrats a case of poetic justice. In ''
Clerks: The Comic Book'', Shannon's face is seen on a milk carton which says he is missing.
When Kevin Smith was talking about making a sequel to ''Mallrats'' with the comic book ''Mallrats 2:
Die Hard
''Die Hard'' is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan, with a screenplay by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza. Based on the 1979 novel '' Nothing Lasts Forever'', by Roderick Thorp, it stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Al ...
in a Mall'', he stated that Hamilton would be the main villain.
Tricia Jones
Tricia Jones first appeared in the film ''Mallrats''. She was portrayed by
Renee Humphrey
Renee Humphrey is an American actress who has appeared in both film and television.
Career
Humphrey was born in San Mateo, California and grew up in the Marinwood area of Marin County. She worked extensively as an actress in film and televisi ...
.
Tricia is the 15-year-old sister of Alyssa Jones and the author of ''Boregasm'', a look into the
sex drive
Libido (; colloquial: sex drive) is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act up ...
of men between the ages of 14 and 30, which was later made into a movie.
While writing the book, she kept a journal of all the men with whom she had sex, and video taped every experience. The archived videos were used to help Brodie Bruce win back his ex-girlfriend, Rene, from his nemesis Shannon Hamilton.
Upon Brodie's urgent request, she gave Jay the tape of her sexual encounter with Shannon. Silent Bob was able to hack into the video output and play the tape during the live taping of ''Truth or Date''. Shannon was thereafter arrested for
statutory rape
In common law jurisdictions, statutory rape is nonforcible sexual activity in which one of the individuals is below the age of consent (the age required to legally consent to the behavior). Although it usually refers to adults engaging in sexual ...
.
In the comic series ''
Chasing Dogma'', Jay and Silent Bob are seen living with Tricia, only to be kicked out after months of loafing around (and after Jay spied on her in the shower). It is revealed that she had slept with Silent Bob (but not Jay, much to Jay's annoyance) as part of research for ''Boregasm''.
Tricia is briefly mentioned in ''Chasing Amy'', when her sister Alyssa Jones informed Holden McNeil via telephone that her "sister is in town", to which McNeil replies, "the one who wrote the book?" Tricia also makes a brief appearance in ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', where she discusses ''
The Bluntman and Chronic Movie'' with Alyssa.
Gwen Turner
Gwen Turner is a supporting character in ''Mallrats''. She was portrayed by
Joey Lauren Adams
Joey Lauren Adams (born January 9, 1968) is an American actress and director. Adams starred in ''Chasing Amy'', for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and played smaller role ...
.
Turner was the ex-girlfriend of T.S. Quint, one of the main characters played by
Jeremy London
Jeremy Michael London (born November 7, 1972) is an American actor. He is best known for his regular roles on '' Party of Five'', '' 7th Heaven'', and ''I'll Fly Away'', a starring role in the 1995 comedy film '' Mallrats'', as well as a notable ...
. Despite cheating on him constantly, she still maintains a soft-spot for him.
Throughout ''Mallrats'', Gwen is seen interacting with T.S. and Brodie. Her clothes shopping is often interrupted by Silent Bob crashing into her dressing room as she is changing. She also causes a major story point when she convinces Brandi Svenning (
Claire Forlani) that T.S. was in fact a great boyfriend.
Gwen has been mentioned in other View Askew media. In ''Chasing Amy'', Alyssa Jones mentioned that she left her prom so that she could have sex with her 26-year-old date and Gwen in a limo her parents had rented (this is something of an in-joke, as both Turner and Jones were played by the same actress). Also, in the ''Clerks'' comic book
Where's the Beef?
"Where's the beef?" is a catchphrase in the United States and Canada, introduced as a slogan for the fast food chain Wendy's in 1984. Since then it has become an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event, or product. Ralph ...
, Randal mentions that Dante Hicks tried to impress Gwen by wearing a
Batman costume and standing on a roof top.
LaFours
LaFours is a fictional character from the film, Mallrats, who works as chief security guard at the local mall. He was portrayed by
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Sven-Ole Thorsen (born 24 September 1944) is a Danish actor, stuntman, bodybuilder and strongman competitor. Thorsen won Denmark's Strongest Man in 1983.
Using his stature he often plays imposing giants and villains in his films who ar ...
.
LaFours is considered (even by Jay and Silent Bob) as one of the most intimidating security guards on duty, due to his size and strength; in fact he's even got "two kills" on his record.
Whilst attempting to get past LaFours in the destruction of the "Truth or Date" stage, Jay and Silent Bob mess up, resulting in both of them being pursued by him.
We later see the chief security guard attempting to evict T.S. and Brodie from the mall, only to get hit from behind by Jay with a
baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball to hit the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher. By regulation it may be no more than in diameter at the thickest part and no more than in length. Although histor ...
. LaFours and his team attempt to take both him and Silent Bob down, but lose track of him when they use a
grappling hook. He is also seen having
sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
with Tricia Jones later in the film. In the
epilogue
An epilogue or epilog (from Greek ἐπίλογος ''epílogos'', "conclusion" from ἐπί ''epi'', "in addition" and λόγος ''logos'', "word") is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the w ...
, he acquires a signed copy of Tricia's book (and perhaps even struck up a romance with her).
We also see LaFours on a large
Bluntman and Chronic
Bluntman and Chronic are characters appearing in a fictional eponymous comic book series seen in the movies ''Chasing Amy,'' ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,'' and '' Jay and Silent Bob Reboot''. Actual ''Bluntman and Chronic'' comic books based ...
front cover, as seen at the comic book convention in Chasing Amy.
LaFours is a historical/movie reference to Joe LeFors from ''
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''. Both characters wear white skimmers and both are portrayed as legendary law enforcers within their respective films.
T.S. Quint
T.S. Quint (referred to as ''T.S.'' by friends) is one of the main characters in ''Mallrats''. He was portrayed by
Jeremy London
Jeremy Michael London (born November 7, 1972) is an American actor. He is best known for his regular roles on '' Party of Five'', '' 7th Heaven'', and ''I'll Fly Away'', a starring role in the 1995 comedy film '' Mallrats'', as well as a notable ...
.
In the film, T.S. is having trouble with his girlfriend Brandi Svenning (
Claire Forlani) dealing with her authoritarian father, Jared (
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor known for his roles as Henry in '' Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'' (1986), Chick Gandil in ''Eight Men Out'' (1988), Frank Baily in '' Mississippi Burning'' (1988), Terry Cruger in '' ...
). He tries to convince her to go to
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, where he planned to propose to her at
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...
when
"Jaws pops out of the water". This was ruined, however, when Brandi had to fill in for
Julie Dwyer
This is a list of major and recurring characters in Kevin Smith's fictional universe known as the View Askewniverse.
''Clerks'' (1994)
Dante Hicks
Dante Hicks, played by Brian O'Halloran, is 22 (33 in ''Clerks II, 49 in Clerks III''), works at ...
on her father's ''Truth or Date'' television pilot. T.S., showing his anger, causes Brandi to break up with him.
Filled with grief, T.S. joins fellow newly dumped best friend Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee) on a road trip to the local mall. Amongst many activities, the two realize that Jared's ''Truth or Date'' is being filmed live at the mall that evening. After being kicked out by mall security under Jared's orders, Brodie and T.S. get sage-like advise from a topless psychic in a dirt mall and return to stop the dating show. The duo successfully sabotage the show and T.S. finally proposes to Brandi, ending up with the two sharing a kiss.
In an epilogue to the film, it is revealed that T.S. and Brandi got married after they graduated at Universal Studios in Florida. They share their first husband-to-wife kiss just as
Jaws
Jaws or Jaw may refer to:
Anatomy
* Jaw, an opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth
** Mandible, the lower jaw
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Jaws (James Bond), a character in ''The Spy Who Loved Me'' and ''Moonraker''
* ...
pops out of the water.
In the original opening scene of ''Mallrats'', while at the 37th Annual Governor's Ball, T.S., dressed as a Revolutionary Soldier for a musical at the event, gets a musket tied up in Brandi's hair while on the roof of the high school where the event is being held. The governor's security believe it's an assassination attempt and the event turns into a shoot out. The governor is injured and ruins the chance of Jared getting a check from her. Throughout this version, people in the mall recognize T.S. from television, to which he responds "I got a musket tied up in my girlfriend's hair for God's sakes". This line of the plot is referenced in the theatrical version of film when one of the television producers mentions the Governor's ball to Jared.
Steve-Dave Pulasti and Walt Grover
Steve-Dave Pulasti (usually referred to as Steve-Dave) and Walt "the Fanboy" Grover made their first appearance in ''Mallrats''. They are played by Smith's longtime friends
Bryan Johnson and
Walt Flanagan
Walter Flanagan (born October 23, 1967) is a former comic book store manager, reality television personality, podcaster, and comic book artist. Flanagan is a long-time friend of Kevin Smith, and (according to Smith's book ''Silent Bob Speaks'') i ...
, respectively. Walt has a signature catchphrase; whenever Steve-Dave argues with a character, his comments will be followed by Walt saying "''Tell 'em Steve-Dave!''"
According to Johnson, the character of Steve-Dave is based on the owner of a comic book store that Smith, Johnson, and Flanagan once frequented; "Walter could never remember if the guy's name was actually Steve or Dave. So the name Steve-Dave was coined."
Steve-Dave and Walt also appeared briefly in ''
Dogma
Dogma is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Isla ...
''; they had scenes in ''Chasing Amy'' and ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' that were cut from the final edit.
The duo have also appeared in most of the comic books based on the Askewniverse. They also appeared in a Jay and Silent Bob
MTV short.
The duo have been made into
action figures
An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game or television program; fictional or historical. These figures are usually mar ...
.
Jared Svenning
Jared is the father of Brandi Svenning, T.S's girlfriend. He is portrayed by
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker (born April 6, 1955) is an American actor known for his roles as Henry in '' Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'' (1986), Chick Gandil in ''Eight Men Out'' (1988), Frank Baily in '' Mississippi Burning'' (1988), Terry Cruger in '' ...
.
Jared is T.S's
antagonist throughout the film, and Jared is seen being happy that Brandi and T.S. broke up. He is also in charge of the TV game show ''Truth or Date'' in which one of its shows was to take place at the local mall. After a confrontation with T.S. and during a new meeting with him, Brodie stinkpalms (In which Brodie inserted his own hand up his butt) Jared by shaking his hand and offering him chocolate pretzels (in which Jared holds every pretzel he eats with the hand that he shook Brodie's stink-palmed hand with). Jared unsuccessfully has Brodie and T.S. arrested, but they are rescued by Jay and Silent Bob. Jared becomes ill after getting stink-palmed, and his show is ruined.
Willam Black
Willam Black is a minor character in both ''
Clerks
A clerk is someone who works in an office. A retail clerk works in a store.
Office holder
Clerk(s) may also refer to a person who holds an office, most commonly in a local unit of government, or a court.
*Barristers' clerk, a manager and adminis ...
'' (where he was portrayed by
Scott Mosier
Scott A. Mosier (born March 5, 1971) is an American film producer, director and editor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he occasionally co-hosts the weekly podcast, ''SModcast''.
Early life
Mosier was born in Vanco ...
) and ''Mallrats'' (portrayed by
Ethan Suplee
Ethan Suplee (; born May 25, 1976) is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films '' American History X'', '' Remember the Titans'', ''John Q'', '' The Wolf of Wall Street'', ''Without a Paddle'', and sever ...
). Throughout the film he is seen trying to find a
sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture.
Types
Although sailboat terminolo ...
within an
autostereogram
An autostereogram is a two-dimensional (2D) image that can create the optical illusion of a three-dimensional (3D) scene. Autostereograms use only one image to accomplish the effect while normal stereograms require two. The 3D scene in an a ...
, constantly failing at it while other characters, including T.S., Brodie, Rene, some kids, and
Stan Lee, succeed. At the end of the film he finally snaps and wanders around the mall moaning about the sailboat, unknowingly hitting the stage at a crucial point when Silent Bob is trying to retrieve a video tape he dropped and causing it to go right back into Silent Bob's hands. During the credits it is revealed that Willam eventually found the sailboat, although Willam himself seems surprised. In subsequent comic books, Willam makes cameo roles, still lamenting about the sailboat. He returns in ''Clerks III'' (bizarrely, alongside Mosier's version of the character), where he auditions for Randal's movie about the Quick Stop but scares the production team by screaming about the sailboat, explaining it came from a personal experience.
''Chasing Amy'' (1997)
Holden McNeil
Holden McNeil is the main character in the film ''Chasing Amy''. The character is played by Ben Affleck. Throughout the film he is trying to develop a working relationship with Alyssa Jones, who is a
lesbian. He is the co-creator of the fictitious comic book
Bluntman and Chronic
Bluntman and Chronic are characters appearing in a fictional eponymous comic book series seen in the movies ''Chasing Amy,'' ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,'' and '' Jay and Silent Bob Reboot''. Actual ''Bluntman and Chronic'' comic books based ...
. Kevin Smith has stated that Holden is the View Askewniverse character most similar to himself.
Holden also appears in ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', living in a small barnhouse and giving Jay and Silent Bob information about the
internet
The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, pub ...
. He was named after the lead character
Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield (identified as "Holden Morrisey Caulfield" in the story "Slight Rebellion Off Madison" , and "Holden V. Caulfield" in ''The Catcher In The Rye'') is a fictional character in the works of author J. D. Salinger. He's most famous ...
from ''
Catcher in the Rye
''The Catcher in the Rye'' is an American novel by J. D. Salinger that was partially published in serial form from 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951. Originally intended for adults, it is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst ...
''.
Holden appears again in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
'' where it is revealed that he and Alyssa are both business partners in their successful podcast and he has donated his sperm to Alyssa and her wife so that they can have a child together, even he also helps co-parent Amy with Alyssa. Jay and Silent Bob bumps into both Holden and Alyssa at "Chronic-Con" where they just finished recording a podcast and they even introduce their daughter to the men. Holden tells Jay and Silent Bob that fatherhood has given him a purpose in life and this now inspires Jay to abort their mission to stop Kevin Smith from making the Bluntman and Chronic reboot and be a father and to support his daughter Milly. The two men decides to leave to find Milly and her friends but not before Holden gives Jay, Silent Bob, Milly and the others VIP badges (since he and Alyssa are both Guests of Honor to Chronic-Con), which will grant them access to the panel with Smith.
Banky Edwards
Banky Edwards is a major supporting character in ''Chasing Amy''. He was played by Jason Lee. Banky is Holden McNeil's lifelong best friend and co-created the smash hit ''Bluntman & Chronic'' with him. Banky is very protective of Holden and finds his infatuation with Alyssa Jones to be disgusting. He also exhibits many examples of ignorant
homophobic
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred or antipathy, m ...
behavior throughout the film, which eventually leads to him and Holden breaking off their friendship, ending the comic.
Banky returned in ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back''. Having received exclusive movie rights for Bluntman and Chronic, Banky has allowed a film adaptation to go through production which sets Jay and Silent Bob on an adventure to stop this from taking place. Banky is on the set when Jay and Silent Bob arrive, attempting to make
Hollywood connections. After arguing with the two stoners while a gun fight is taking place, Banky agrees to give the two of them part of his profits in exchange for the film going through. However, the film turns out to be a huge bomb which effectively ends Edwards' career.
In ''Chasing Amy'', Banky, an inker on ''Bluntman and Chronic'', is accused by a comic book fan (
Scott Mosier
Scott A. Mosier (born March 5, 1971) is an American film producer, director and editor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he occasionally co-hosts the weekly podcast, ''SModcast''.
Early life
Mosier was born in Vanco ...
) of being "a tracer", which leads to a fight. In a deleted scene from ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', the fan returns to call Banky a tracer once again, which results in another confrontation.
Banky does not appear in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
'' but he is mentioned when Jay questioned Holden McNeil if he was still partners with Banky, but Alyssa Jones responds to Jay that they are not. It is unknown if Holden is still in contact with Banky or if they are still friends.
Hooper LaMante
Hooper LaMante (a.k.a. Hooper X) is a character from ''Chasing Amy'' played by
Dwight Ewell
Dwight Edward Ewell (born 1968) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as ''Chasing Amy'', ''Amateur'', ''Party Girl'' and '' The Guru''.
Career
Ewell was born in Williamston, North Carolina to teenage parents. His father fought i ...
. A gay man himself, he tells Holden to accept Alyssa's sexuality and try not to worry about it.
Hooper is seen again at the end of ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', walking out of the premiere of the ''
Bluntman and Chronic: The Movie'' with Banky. While Banky is in shock of the fact that the movie will ruin him, Hooper says that the movie was like "watching ''
Batman & Robin'' all over again". It's also implied that he has at least a sexual relationship with Banky; when Banky makes a remark about Hooper "taking shaft as opposed to being Shaft" Hooper replies "I don't hear you complaining."
In an extended deleted scene, we hear Hooper continuing, "Well, I don't hear you complaining nightly. In fact, all I hear from you is, 'Yes, Hooper. Cram the balls! Work the shaft! And..." To which Banky responds "Hey! Hey, HEY! What'd we say? Not in public.", implying that the two men are in a secret relationship together.
Alyssa Jones
Alyssa Jones is the main character in the film ''Chasing Amy''. She is played by Joey Lauren Adams.
In ''Chasing Amy'', she meets Holden McNeil and Banky Edwards at a comic book convention in New York where the two men are promoting their comic Bluntman and Chronic. Holden is attracted to her, but soon learns that she is attracted to women. The two begin hanging out and both of them develop a deep friendship, however, Holden is no longer able to contain his feelings and confesses his love to Alyssa. She at first is initially angry with him, but that night, the two begin a romantic relationship. Their new relationship worsens the tension between Holden and Banky, who dislikes and distrusts Alyssa and is bothered by her and Holden's relationship. Banky investigates and uncovers Alyssa's past and he tells Holden that Alyssa participated in a threesome with two guys in high school which gave her the nickname "Finger Cuffs". Holden is deeply disturbed by this revelation, having believed that he is the first man Alyssa had ever slept with. Holden angrily confronts Alyssa while attending a hockey game. During a tearful argument, she admits to Holden about her "many" youthful sexual experimentations and apologizes for letting him believe that he was the only man she had been with, however, she refuses to apologize for her past actions, and Holden leaves feeling angry and confused. Inspired by Silent Bob's story, Holden devises a plan to fix both his relationship with Alyssa and his fractured friendship with Banky. Holden invites both of them over to his place and tells Alyssa that he would like to get over her past and remain as her boyfriend and also tells Banky that he realizes that Banky is in love with him; kissing him passionately to prove the point. Holden suggests that the three of them have a threesome. While Banky agrees to participate, however, Alyssa refuses, explaining to Holden that it will not save their relationship. Before leaving, Alyssa tells Holden that she loves him, but she will not be his whore. One year later, Alyssa is busy promoting her new comic at a convention in New York, where Banky (also promoting his comics in the same convention) gestures Holden to her booth and provides wordless encouragement to talk to her. They have a quiet, emotional conversation and Holden gives her a copy of his new comic "Chasing Amy", which is based on their relationship and tells her goodbye. After Holden leaves, Alyssa's new girlfriend arrives and asks who he was. A shaken, misty-eyed Alyssa replies, "Oh, just some guy I knew".
Alyssa briefly appears in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' is a 2001 American satirical stoner buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of h ...
'' where she was seen walking out of the movie theater with her sister Tricia after they saw the premiere of Holden McNeil's comic book movie ''Bluntman and Chronic''. On the way out Tricia asked her sister on why they didn't make his story Chasing Amy into a comic and Alyssa quips back that no one would believe that story.
Alyssa appears in ''
Clerks: The Lost Scene'' before her first appearance in ''Chasing Amy''. She attends Julie Dwyers' funeral (who was a good friend of hers) where she bumps into Dante Hicks. She explains to him of Julie originally going to attend Jared Svenning's ''Truth or Date'' television pilot before her unfortunate demise when she drowned in a swimming pool in
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...
and Caitlin Bree's recent engagement. Randal Graves comes up to them and interrupts their conversation when he greets Alyssa, even calling her by her famous nickname "Finger Cuffs". Alyssa, who despises Randal greatly, insults him before walking away.
Alyssa briefly appears in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
'' where it is revealed that she and Holden are both business partners in their successful podcast and she is also now married and has a daughter named Amy with her wife, Holden had also donated his sperm to her and her wife so that they can have a child together, even Holden also helps co-parent Amy with Alyssa. Jay and Silent Bob bumps into both Holden and Alyssa at "Chronic-Con" where they just finished recording a podcast and they even introduce their daughter to the men before Alyssa leaves to go greet her wife.
''Dogma'' (1999)
Bethany Sloane
Bethany Sloane is played by actress
Linda Fiorentino
Clorinda "Linda" Fiorentino (born March 9, 1958 or 1960) is an American former actress. Fiorentino made her screen debut with a leading role in the 1985 coming-of-age drama film ''Vision Quest'', followed that same year with a lead role in the ac ...
. Bethany was born in 1961 (which makes her 38 during the events in ''Dogma''), and was raised as a devout
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
. When she was five years old, a neighborhood kid named Bryan Johnson urinated in her hand (Bryan died of
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...
two years later). She didn't tell anyone about the incident, until it was revealed to her by Rufus 30 years later.
Upon leaving high school, Bethany attended
Carnegie Mellon University in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
with her high school sweetheart, Brett Waits. She gets pregnant sometime in 1981. After an argument on whether or not to have the child with Brett, Bethany gets an
abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
. She tells him, however, that she had a
miscarriage.
Upon graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Bethany and Brett get married and attempt to start a family. However, Bethany had an infection inside her
uterus
The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...
stemming from her abortion years earlier, making her unable to have children. Upon finding out about this after Bethany confesses to Brett about what had really happened, Brett divorces Bethany and some time later, marries another woman.
While Bethany is talking to her mother about her personal crises, Bethany loses her faith in God. Shortly afterwards, Bethany settles in
McHenry, Illinois
McHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb, part of the Chicago metropolitan area and is located about 37 miles northwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,135. McHenry was at one time th ...
and works at an abortion clinic. However, her faith is restored when she is recruited by the Metatron to save existence from two renegade angels, simultaneously learning that she is the last living relative of Jesus Christ. The unique friendships she forms with various unknown figures from Christian history during her journey, and their insights into her past and the world around her, inspire Bethany to regain her faith and strength. At the film's conclusion, she becomes pregnant as a gift from God for her work in Her efforts.
Bartleby and Loki
Bartleby and Loki are two characters from ''
Dogma
Dogma is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Isla ...
''. They were portrayed by Ben Affleck and
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige Damon (; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among ''Forbes'' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North Ameri ...
, respectively. Bartleby's name comes from the short story "
Bartleby, the Scrivener" and Loki's comes from the
Norse god of the same name.
Back during the earliest days of earth, Bartleby became friends with Loki, the
Angel of Death. After Loki finished
slaughtering the first born Egyptians, the two went out for a post-slaughter drink. During a drunken conversation, Bartleby convinces Loki that he should give up slaughtering humans in the name of God. Loki, taking the advice seriously, presents himself before God, throws down his fiery sword and gives God
the finger
In Western culture, "the finger", or the middle finger (as in giving someone the (middle) finger, the bird or flipping someone off) is an obscene hand gesture. The gesture communicates moderate to extreme contempt, and is roughly equivalent i ...
. God, enraged by this act, banishes the two to a fate worse than Hell: spending eternity in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
(also decreeing that angels can no-longer drink
alcohol). After a couple of millennia the two are anonymously clued-into a little-known loophole through plenary
indulgence
In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence (, from , 'permit') is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins". The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' describes an indulgence as "a remission before God of ...
, thanks to a New Jersey church celebrating its centennial. The two decide to journey to New Jersey in hopes of getting into Heaven, not knowing that it will wipe out the omniverse in the process.
After a mishap on a bus, the two end up getting an update from the demon
Azrael
Azrael (; , 'God has helped'; ) is the angel of death in some Abrahamic religions, namely Islam, Christian popular culture and some traditions of Judaism. He is also referenced in Sikhism.
Relative to similar concepts of such beings, Azrael ...
(Jason Lee) about Heaven and Hell's search for them and the threat of the Last Scion (Bethany Sloan (
Linda Fiorentino
Clorinda "Linda" Fiorentino (born March 9, 1958 or 1960) is an American former actress. Fiorentino made her screen debut with a leading role in the 1985 coming-of-age drama film ''Vision Quest'', followed that same year with a lead role in the ac ...
)). The two decide to take his advice to lie low. They take a train to New Jersey, which happens to have Bethany and her friends on it. When their identities are revealed, the two then fight the group until they are thrown out of the moving train by Silent Bob. This is where Bartleby suddenly changes his genial, easy-going attitude to one of angst-ridden revenge against the Lord, and Loki changes his attitude to a more
pacifist, meek one. The two walk the rest of their way to Jersey and arrive just in time for the church's centennial celebration. Here, after interrupting, Bartleby and Loki starts to kill everyone at the event one-by-one, knowing their own souls will be clean once they enter the church.
Bethany and company arrive at the scene to find a drunken, wingless Loki swirling around dead bodies while Bartleby flies above. When Bartleby announces his plan to his foes, a drunken Loki turns a new leaf and tries to stop Bartleby, because as a side effect of cutting his wings off and becoming human, Loki now has a
conscience. Bartleby stabs Loki in the gut, killing him. After having his wings shot off by Jay, Bartleby heads for the church, but is interrupted by
Metatron
Metatron ( ''Meṭāṭrōn'', ''Məṭaṭrōn'', ''Mēṭaṭrōn'', ''Mīṭaṭrōn'', ''Meṭaṭrōn'', ''Mīṭṭaṭrōn'') or Mattatron ( ''Maṭṭaṭrōn'') is an angel in Judaism mentioned three times in the Talmud in a few br ...
(
Alan Rickman
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (21 February 1946 – 14 January 2016) was an English actor and director. Known for his deep, languid voice, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespe ...
) and
God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
Herself (
Alanis Morissette). Kneeling before Her, Bartleby is killed by the sound of Her voice, with all other humans covering their ears at the time this happens remaining unharmed.
Smith talked about making a one-issue comic book about Bartleby and Loki. It would show the story of how the two are banished to Wisconsin. As of October 2006, the comic is still on his agenda.
A joke made by Ben Affleck in a Train Wreck video for ''Clerks II'' was turned into a rumor that Bartleby would return in said film via a brief cameo appearance. Affleck did make a cameo in the film, but as a new character.
Damon reprised his role as Loki in a fourth wall breaking scene in ''
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. Referring to his 2001 comedy ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', Smith has described the film as a rema ...
'', where he explains to the audience God banished him to Earth once more, this time into the Mediterranean Sea, where he was found by fishermen and found to have amnesia. He declares this makes his current form his
''reborn'' identity, before congratulating himself on the pun.
Cardinal Glick
Cardinal Glick is a character from ''
Dogma
Dogma is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Isla ...
'', played by
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time, he was dubbed "the dean of countercu ...
.
Glick was the head minister of a local New Jersey church that is celebrating its centennial. In hopes to get publicity for this event, Glick announces the ''Catholicism WOW!'' campaign which he uses to update the Catholic Church for a younger generation. The leading symbol of the campaign is the
Buddy Christ
Buddy Christ is a parody religious icon created by filmmaker Kevin Smith, which first appeared in Smith's 1999 film ''Dogma''.
In the film, Buddy is part of a campaign ("Catholicism Wow!") to renew the image of (and interest in) the Catholic Chur ...
, which Glick describes as a more realistic depiction of
Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
than the Christ-on-a-Cross depiction. His campaign is nearly put in jeopardy when the film's main characters Bethany, Rufus and Jay and Silent Bob try to stop the centennial celebration so that the two fallen angels Bartleby and Loki can't carry through with their plenary
indulgence
In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence (, from , 'permit') is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins". The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' describes an indulgence as "a remission before God of ...
plan. Glick refuses to comply due to his needs for the ''WOW!'' campaign. The two angels arrive during the celebration and kill all in attendance, including Glick.
Glick can be seen briefly in a few panels of ''
Chasing Dogma''.
''Clerks: The Animated Series'' (2000)
Leonardo Leonardo
Leonardo Leonardo, voiced by
Alec Baldwin, is a
billionaire villain in ''Clerks: The Animated Series''. In the series' first episode "Leonardo Leonardo Returns and Dante Has an Important Decision to Make", it is revealed that in the early 1800s, Leonardo's great-grandfather Bernardo Leonardo purchased the land that was to be Leonardo, NJ, from the Indians for $14.8 million. Leonardo himself achieved his fortune decades ago when he explored parts of Canada and acquired exclusive Canadian mineral rights in exchange for introducing the polio virus to the natives. Leonardo returns to his hometown and introduces the population to his superstore "Quicker Stop" in an attempt to put Dante and Randal out of business. His plan fails when the two clerks slash their prices by 75%. He also fails to bribe the clerks into working for him by offering them full benefits, stock options and enrollment in college. Dante and Randal later on discover Leonardo's true motives for returning to the town: he will replace all of the stores with a theme park-style Canadian goods shop, followed by a domed pleasure paradise made to be New Jersey's premier tourist destination. The clerks also discover that Leonardo's scheme involves decimating the town's population. Dante and Randal quickly thwart Leonardo's plan and the Quicker Stop is inadvertently destroyed by Jay and Silent Bob.
Though he has not appeared in any View Askewniverse films to date, his catchphrase "well played, clerks" is reused by Emma Bunting in ''
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
''.
Mr. Plug
Mr. Plug, voiced by Dan Etheridge, is Leonardo Leonardo's butler. A parody of Oddjob from ''
Goldfinger'', Mr. Plug has a heavy-set Asian build; his voice, however, is somewhat high-pitched and feminine. It is revealed in the episode "Leonardo Is Caught in the Grip of an Outbreak of Randal's Imagination and Patrick Swayze Either Does or Doesn't Work in the New Pet Store" that Mr. Plug is actually a robot.
Lando
Lando, voiced by
Mario Joyner
is a character (arts), character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in ...
, is an African-American character introduced by Dante and Randal in the episode "Leonardo Is Caught in the Grip of an Outbreak of Randal's Imagination and Patrick Swayze Either Does or Doesn't Work in the New Pet Store" in response to a viewer letter asking why the show does not have any black characters. Seen as a jab on
tokenism
Tokenism is the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to be inclusive to members of minority groups, especially by recruiting people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of racial or gender equality wit ...
(and sharing his name with
Lando Calrissian
Landonis Balthazar "Lando" Calrissian III is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) as an old friend of Han Solo and the administrator of the floating Cloud City on the gas p ...
, the token character from
Star Wars), Lando sporadically appears in two episodes, often just walking across the screen. At the end of the aforementioned episode of his debut, he is about to share some words of wisdom with Dante and Randal when the scene suddenly cuts to Jay and Silent Bob's segment. The character makes his live-action debut in
Clerks III
''Clerks III'' is a 2022 American comedy-drama film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith and stars Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Smith. It serves as a standalon ...
, portrayed by
Marc Bernardin
Marc Bernardin (born November 29, 1971) is an American journalist, public speaker, TV and comic book writer, and podcaster. He has served as film editor for the ''Los Angeles Times'' and senior editor for ''The Hollywood Reporter'' and ''Entertai ...
.
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player who is a television analyst on NBA on TNT, TNT. Nicknamed "Sir Charles", "Chuck", and "the Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley played 16 seasons ...
voices a fictionalized version of himself. He appears in the show's ending segments trying to educate the kids. However, Jay and Silent Bob always chase him away. In one episode, he appears as part of a basketball team who make up the jury for a court trial between Jay and Dante.
''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' (2001)
Marshal Willenholly
Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly is a character from ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back''. His name comes from ''
Land of the Lost's'' three main characters Rick Marshal, Will and Holly (in a deleted scene, Willenholly called an FBI agent named Sid N. Marty (played by comedian
Adam Carolla), a reference to
Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft (born July 30, 1929) and Marty Krofft (born April 9, 1937) are a Canadian sibling team of television creators and puppeteers. Through their production company, Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, they have made numerous children's television a ...
, who created ''Land of the Lost''). The character was portrayed by
Will Ferrell
John William Ferrell (; born July 16, 1967) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show '' Saturday Night Live'', where he performed from 1995 to 2 ...
, who would later portray the lead character Rick Marshall in the motion picture adaptation of ''Land of the Lost''.
After the film's heroes are framed for a jewel heist, Willenholly arrives to investigate the lesser crime that involved the two in the theft of an orangutan named Susanne from the Provasic animal testing facility. Willenholly, along with a slew of
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
state police officers (the lead played by
Brat Pack
The ''Brat Pack'' is a nickname given to a group of young actors who frequently appeared together in teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s. First mentioned in a 1985 ''New York'' magazine article, it is now usually defined as the cast ...
member
Judd Nelson
Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as John Bender in ''The Breakfast Club'', Alec Newbury in ''St. Elmo's Fire'', Joe Hunt in '' Billionaire Boys Club'', Nick Peretti in ''New Jack Cit ...
) catch the three at the local Arena diner. When Jay and Bob come out with Susanne (dressed as a child), they claim that "he" is their gay love child. Willenholly lets them go, not realizing that the "kid" was a monkey until it is to late. Willenholly follows them into the sewers and into the duct of a dam. Susanne manages to trick Willenholly to jump out of the duct and into the water so that she, Jay and Bob can escape.
Willenholly later arrives at the station house, soaked from head to toe. There, he receives information that Jay and Bob are going to Hollywood. He ends up on Miramax studios, searching for the two and has a few near fatal mishaps on the way. When Willenholly finds the two on the set of the
Bluntman and Chronic
Bluntman and Chronic are characters appearing in a fictional eponymous comic book series seen in the movies ''Chasing Amy,'' ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,'' and '' Jay and Silent Bob Reboot''. Actual ''Bluntman and Chronic'' comic books based ...
film, he engages in a shootout with the female gang that actually pulled off the jewel heist. After knocking out the three other members of the gang, the fourth member Justice (
Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth Fadal (born September 7, 1973) is an American actress, conservationist, animal activist, model and poker player. A popular sex symbol and teen idol of the 1990s and 2000s, Elizabeth is best known for her roles in the films '' A ...
) gives Willenholly the diamonds, confesses to the heist and asks for a reduced sentence so that she could get off to be with Jay. Willenholly, hoping it will boost his career, agrees. Willenholly and Justice are later seen walking out of the ''Bluntman and Chronic'' film premiere, Willenholly being the only character to say something positive about the film. He is also seen dancing at the
Morris Day and the Time
The Time, also known as Morris Day and the Time and The Original 7ven, is an American musical group founded in Minneapolis in 1981. Their work has been a part of the formation of the Minneapolis sound, featuring a mix of soul music and dance mu ...
concert.
''Clerks II'' (2006)
Becky Scott
Becky (nicknamed Becks by Dante Hicks and Randal Graves), played by
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Isabel Dawson (born May 9, 1979) is an American actress. She made her feature-film debut in the 1995 independent drama ''Kids''. Her subsequent film roles include ''He Got Game'' (1998), '' Josie and the Pussycats'' (2001), ''Men in Bl ...
, is a lead female character in ''Clerks II''. She is the manager of the
Mooby's where Dante and Randal work. Dante does her nails
ike he did with Veronica in the first film
Ike or IKE may refer to:
People
* Ike (given name), a list of people with the name or nickname
* Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II and President of the United States Surname
...
during his breaks. Becky does not believe in romantic love, instead deciding that life and relationships are about "fucking as much as possible"; accusing society of peddling marriage and families in order to sustain the economy.
During the course of the film, she develops a relationship with Dante, as they talk to each other very often in the office. When Dante tells her he does not know how to dance, she offers to teach him some steps on the restaurant's rooftop to the tune of the
Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
's "
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
". During the dance, she reveals to him that she is pregnant, as they had a
one night stand on a restaurant prep table a few weeks back. At the end of the film, Dante breaks off his engagement with Emma and proposes to Becky at Mooby's. She accepts and helps Dante and Randal reopen the Quick Stop.
In ''Clerks III,'' it is revealed that a pregnant Becky was killed by
drunk driver
Drunk driving (or drink-driving in British English) is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol. A small increase in the blood alcohol content increases the relative risk of a motor vehicle crash.
In the United States, alcohol is i ...
shortly after the events of ''Clerks II.'' Dante is still mourning her loss. Throughout the film, Dante imagines himself talking to her, as she offers him words of encouragement and attempts to help him move on.
Elias Grover
Elias Grover, portrayed by
Trevor Fehrman
Trevor Gregory Fehrman (born July 14, 1981) is an American actor and writer best known for his portrayal of Elias in the 2006 comedy film, ''Clerks II''.
Life and career
Trevor is most widely known for his role in the film ''Clerks II'' in which ...
is a 19-year-old
born again Christian
Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sep ...
employee at Mooby's alongside Dante and Randal. Elias is obsessed with both ''
The Lord of the Rings
''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...
'' and ''
Transformers
''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms ...
'', and is always subjected to Randal's jokes and abuse. Despite constantly harassing him, Randal insists that after Dante leaves for
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, Elias will be Randal's new best friend. With the aid of Jay and Silent Bob, Elias gets
high
High may refer to:
Science and technology
* Height
* High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area
* High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory
* High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift ...
during the
donkey show
A donkey show is a type of live sex show in which a woman engages in bestiality with a donkey, which, according to urban legend and some works of fiction, were once performed in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, particularly in the mid-20th ...
that Randal set up at Mooby's and despite his religious views, Elias is seen
masturbating
Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinati ...
during the show, apologizing to God the whole time. At the end of the film, he applies for a job at RST Video and becomes a clerk after Dante and Randal reopen the Quick Stop.
In ''Clerks III,'' Elias is still working in the Quick Stop while also selling
NFT's on the side. After coming to believe that a prayer he said caused Randall to have a heart attack, he renounces God and becomes a
Satanist. He helps Randall make a movie about his life over the course of the film. At the end of the movie, his NFT's unexpectedly become successful, and he makes over $1 million, which helps Randal pay off a debt he owes to Emma Bunting.
Emma Bunting
Emma Bunting appears in a supporting role in ''Clerks II''. (She is played by
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith (born April 7, 1971), sometimes credited as Jennifer Schwalbach, is an American actress, podcaster and retired reporter for ''USA Today''.
Career
While a ''USA Today'' reporter, Schwalbach met film director Kevin Smith ...
, Kevin Smith's wife.) In the beginning of the film, she is engaged to Dante and both are to drive to Florida the next day to live in a new house and run a car wash. She shows her affection for Dante by wearing a T-shirt that reads "Mrs. Hicks". Randal, however, sees Emma as a threat to his friendship with Dante. In the middle of the film, Dante falls for Becky. Emma arrives at the restaurant that night and sees them kissing. Angered by the scene, Emma throws her engagement ring at Becky and a cake at Dante and runs off.
Emma was the typical popular, attractive, rich girl in high school, leading her to a series of disappointing relationships as she dated the popular guys. She eventually learned to seek the "unconventional" men for a relationship, leading her to Dante.
In ''Clerks III,'' Dante convinces Emma to loan him money to help Randall make his movie. After his death, Emma comes to New Jersey to collect what he owes her. Randall and Elias are able to pay her back.
Lance Dowds
Lance Dowds appears in the film ''Clerks II''. He was portrayed by Jason Lee. He was an arrogant student who was
bullied
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an im ...
frequently in high school, earning the nickname "Pickle Fucker" after taking part in a high school hazing which involved the seniors shoving a pickle up his anus. After graduating, he founded a search engine called MadDucats.com and sold it to
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential econo ...
for $20 million, making him an Internet multi-millionaire. He appears in just one scene where he criticizes Dante and Randal, who are still working in dead-end minimum wage jobs, before ordering food from them. In response to Lance's comments, Randal prepares his food by secretly placing dead flies on the hamburger and using ice from a urinal for the drink. Lance, however, gives the meal to Jay before leaving the restaurant. Jay and Silent Bob are seen eating the meal outside, with Jay asking Silent Bob, "This tastes like piss and flies don't it?"
The Sexy Stud
The Sexy Stud appears as a supporting role in ''Clerks II''. He is played by
Zak Charles Knutson. He appears near the end of the film during the
donkey show
A donkey show is a type of live sex show in which a woman engages in bestiality with a donkey, which, according to urban legend and some works of fiction, were once performed in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, particularly in the mid-20th ...
Randal set up as a celebration for Dante's later canceled plans of moving to Florida. Randal at first believed a woman was going to have sex with the donkey, and also believed that the Sexy Stud was the
pimp (Randal first thought that Kelly was the supposed name of the woman while the donkey was the Sexy Stud). However, the Sexy Stud revealed that the donkey is Kelly while he himself was the Sexy Stud. The Sexy Stud performed sexual acts on the donkey that both appall and fascinate Becky, Dante, Randal, Jay and Silent Bob. But Elias, who watched the show as well, was too drunk to be aware that there was no woman in the show. Along with Dante, Randal, Elias, Jay and Silent Bob, the Sexy Stud is arrested as a result of the show. Even though he gets released from jail along with the others, the Sexy Stud is forced to pay a fine for his actions.
''Zack and Miri Make a Porno'' (2008)
Brandon St. Randy
Brandon St. Randy, portrayed by
Justin Long
Justin Jacob Long (born June 2, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. Long is known for his film roles, notably appearing in '' Jeepers Creepers'' (2001), ''Dodgeball'' (2004), '' Accepted'' (2006), ''Idiocracy'' (2 ...
, is a gay porn star turned lawyer. He is the boyfriend of Bobby Long (portrayed by
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film '' Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of N ...
), the high school ex-boyfriend of the titular character Miri (portrayed by
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks (born Elizabeth Irene Mitchell; February 10, 1974) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is known for playing Effie Trinket in ''The Hunger Games'' film series (2012–2015) and Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the ''Pitch Perf ...
).
In ''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'', Brandon is Jay and Silent Bob's (and
Saban Films
Saban Capital Group LLC is an American investment firm based in Los Angeles, California focused on media, entertainment, and communications investments. Formed in 2010 by Haim Saban, Saban Capital Group owns Saban Films, part of Univision Commu ...
') lawyer. Kevin Smith confirmed that Long was reprising his role as Brandon and that the move was meant to
retcon
Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work (those established through the narrative itself) are adjusted, ignored, supplemented, or contradicted by a subs ...
the earlier film into the View Askewniverse. Long's character was not named because Smith does not own the rights to ''Zack and Miri.''
''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' (2019)
Milly Faulken
Millennium "Milly" Faulken, portrayed by (
Harley Quinn Smith
Harley Quinn Smith (born June 26, 1999) is an American actress and musician. Smith has appeared in the film '' Tusk'' and starred in its spin-off '' Yoga Hosers'', both written and directed by her father, filmmaker Kevin Smith. She is also the b ...
, Kevin Smith's daughter) is Jay's estranged daughter (with mother, Justice Faulken), and a member of the girl gang.
Milly is seen in ''Clerks III'' at Dante's funeral, as well as filling in for the Quick Stop "milk maid" during the closing scene.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is the in-universe version of director
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy film '' Clerks'' (1994), which he wrote, directed, ...
(portrayed, appropriately, by Kevin Smith). Milly notes that he bears more than a striking resemblance to Silent Bob.
''Clerks III'' (2022)
Blockchain Coltrane
Blockchain Coltrane, portrayed by
Austin Zajur, is Elias' new friend that assists with their NFT venture, Buddy Christ Kites. Blockchain rarely speaks (usually only in whispers to Elias), and is labelled as "Elias's own Silent Bob" by Randal.
Doctor Ladenheim
Doctor Ladenheim, portrayed by
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris (; born March 29, 1961) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. Most recently, she has appeared in both ''The Mandalorian'' (2019–2020) and '' The Book of Boba Fett'' (2022) as Peli Motto. She played Jerri Blank in the ...
, is responsible for reviving Randal after his heart attack. She later warns Dante that he should also worry about heart attacks. She is named after the real-life cardiologist Dr. Marc Ladenheim, who saved Kevin Smith from dying of a
widow-maker in 2018.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of View Askewniverse Characters
*
Characters created by Kevin Smith