Mallrats

MALLRATS (18)

D: Kevin Smith

Universal/Gramercy/Alphaville/View Askew (James Jacks, Sean Daniel & Scott Mosier)

US 1995

108 mins

Comedy

W: Kevin Smith

DP: David Klein

Ed: Paul Dixon

Mus: Ira Newborn

Jason Lee (Brodie Bruce), Jeremy London (T.S. Quint), Shannen Doherty (Rene Mosier), Claire Forlani (Brandi Svenning), Michael Rooker (Jared Svenning), Ben Affleck (Shannon Hamilton), Renee Humphrey (Tricia Jones)

A pair of teenagers cope with their recent relationship break-ups by hanging out with their friends at their local mall.

Kevin Smith's follow-up to Clerks (qv) is a bit of a mess from a comedy perspective, not quite sure what it wants to be, mixing satirical social commentary, goofy slapstick and childish cartoon humour together.

It's reasonably enjoyable, but it's clear to see that studio involvement was too meddlesome here.

5/10