Entertainment
Kevin Smith's Chrismas Horror 'Anti-Klaus' Inspired Us to Rank His Comedies
Kevin Smith, the director and writer best known for his cult comedies Clerks. and Mallrats has just announced his most recent project, Anti-Klaus, a Christmas horror movie that will star Justin Long and Haley Joel Osment. In an exclusive with The Hollywood Reporter, Smith aims to make the most non-Christmas movie since...ever. The director noted, "In America, we’re taught that nice kids gets presents from Santa and naughty kids get coal. But in countries like Germany, Austria, Bavaria, Romania and Hungary, Christmas is more metal than merry: Saint Nicholas brings a sack full of toys for good kids and the Krampus carries an empty bag for taking away the bad kids. I wanna see THAT Christmas movie. So rather than wait for it, we’ll make it instead.”
Anti-Klaus will tell the tale of the mythical Krampus as he tears apart all things merry and bright during the holiday season. With Smith at the helm, the film will be as funny as it is gruesome and scary. Here's our ranking of Smith's best and worst comedies.
Image: View Askew Productions/Miramax Films
#1 'Clerks.'
It was the cult comedy that introduced the world to the Kevin Smith brand of humor. The low-budget black-and-white charmer about the pains of having a job that you loathe, a best friend who ruins your life and makes it complete all at once, and groan about relationships is as relevant today as it was in 1994. It also gave us the battle cry for anyone who has ever worked in retail, ”I’m not even supposed to be here today!”
Image: View Askew Productions/Miramax Films
#2 'Mallrats'
This is what happens when two guys get dumped by their girlfriends and drown their sorrows at the mall. A shirtless fortune teller, a shoulder-padded Ben Affleck, a cheesy dating gameshow, and a sneak-peek into the brains of comic book lovers…Mallrats had all the trappings and niche references of a litmus test movie. “Do you think Mallrats is funny?” Great! We can be friends. Also, IT’S A SAILBOAT!
Image: View Askew Productions/Alphaville Films
#3 'Dogma'
Anti-Klaus won’t be Smith’s first attempt at working with higher beings in his films as Dogma brought us god herself (played by Alanis Morissette no less). Dogma had Smith’s most stellar cast with regulars like Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Jason Smith and incredible additions like Matt Damon, Alan Rickman, Salma Hayek, George Carlin, and Chris Rock. Oh and lest we forget about Buddy Christ. It’s Smith’s smartest and riskiest project. The payoff speaks for itself.
Image: View Askew Productions
#4 'Chasing Amy'
This movie would rank higher if it weren’t for Affleck’s atrocious goatee. But on the real, Chasing Amy is by far Smith’s most angsty film. Ben Affleck falls in love with a lesbian and she actually ends up falling in love with him and “turning.” There are some complicated sexual politics at play here, but the movie does a good job at exploring those and makes it more about the main character’s own decisions and discoveries.
Image: View Askew Productions
#5 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'
In case you missed it, Jay and Silent Bob are the pair of stoner friends who show up in almost all of Smith’s comedies, usually loitering about whatever establishment the movie takes place in. This time around, the bit parts get their own adventure when the comic book based on their lives, “Bluntman and Chronic” gets turned into a soulless big-budget film. We get the return of Rock and Carlin along with some amazing cameos and small spots by Carrie Fisher and Wes Craven. It also blessed us with the greatest movie exta of all time.
Image: View Askew Productions
#6 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'
With Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks starring, you’d expect it to be nothing short of pure comedic chemistry, However, the film sadly fell a little flat. And call me old fashioned, but the premise of two best friends falling in love while making a porno to make some extra money is just a liiiiiittle too shall we say “eye-roll worthy” for my taste. Ah well, C+ for effort.
Image: View Askew Productions
#7 'Jersey Girl'
There was Gigli and there was Jersey Girl. Oh Ben Affleck, how far you have come.
Image: Miramax
#8 'Clerks II'
WHY!? WHY OH WHY!? The original is such a classic. It was pure and good and whole, and should have never been tampered with. Clerks II is the result of trying to capitalize on a franchise that should have never become a franchise in the first place. There is a Clerks III in the works for reasons unknown to almost everyone.
Image: View Askew Productions
