Posted by Lucifer Lyndon Razoodock at cd-191-37.ra30.dc.capu.net on September 07, 2000 at 17:29:55:
Nah, you know what? Why would I want to star as an extra in a piece 'o shit like that?
You think I'm joking with that "star extra" thing, eh?, but I shit you not, that is exactly how Central Casting words it on their contract agreements for the backround riff-raff under the asst. director's care.
Right, down to it.
I've now heard "Mallrats" title-dropped (and that fondly) in casual conversation by the non-ViewAskewner for the umpteenth time. Then, a thought occured: Kev.'s really done it.
Sure, the opening weekend grosses blew (to say nothing of each weekend thereafter) and the very act of viewing the film left critics suspiciously sniffing their own palms on the way out of the theatres and screening rooms. Hey, man. That means dick only to the bean-counters and their ilk.
I suppose it's understandable that the Askew upper-echelon sat on their hands waiting for the mucho-million dollar grosses to come a' ticker-tapin' in...but that's because it was your first time in 35mm with way too much money. Big deal.
The point after all this windy intro. is that I believe that "Mallrats" has attained the status it was always intended for: a place of real affection in the hearts and minds of all those with one or both sneakers to either side of the puberty-line.
"'rats" utilizes Jason Lee as a lightning rod of presence in a vessel of sharp (yet low) comedy, deftly delivered.
Sure the man who is Razoodock would've done a few things differently (after viewing the awkward CA. footage with Claire doing a worse Woody Allen than Ken Branagh, I would've axed it and re-inserted The Governor's Ball, but what do I know?), but I know a success story when I smell one.
Two more things:
--I believe that Kevin officially beat John Hughes at his own game, not with "Mallrats," but with "DOGMA." To my mind, "DOGMA" is everything that Hughes films should've been after his teen pique, but never aspired to. We have teens, young adults, low humor and The Heavenly Host all in the same flick, all rubber-banded together with some big (yet broad) ideas.
And you even had a volumous shit demon which had me chiming, "That's nasty, Wyatt."
--How about Julianne Moore or Bill Macy? Ever thought of letting them into the Askewniverse. Shit, it's not as if you'd have to worry about either (especially Macy) ad-libbing or deviating from your gospel dialogue. You'd have it, down to the punctuation.
--tom