CNN —Grappling with middle age, “Clerks III” turns out to be unexpectedly sentimental and nostalgic, reflecting that writer-director-editor-co-star Kevin Smith inherently recognizes this will likely be the gang’s final visit to Quick Stop Groceries.
If so, it’s an uneven if gentle way to hang out the “We’re closed” sign.
Things take a rather abrupt and darker turn, however, when Randal suffers a near-death experience, clearly inspired by Smith’s own cardiac episode in 2018.
The weightlessness of the material was, initially, basically the point, which makes the reach for more emotional heft ungainly.
“Clerks III” will play exclusively in theaters via Fathom Events from September 13-18.