Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats” Crude, Sometimes Funny and Fairly Aimless

Clerks writer/director Kevin Smith makes a change of venue to cover the food court jesters inhabiting the world of Mallrats (C), a slightly more mainstream and less funny offering from the indie auteur. Upgrading to Hollywood talent such as Jason Lee and Shannen Doherty and reverting to sight gags that sometimes seem more in-your-face than flat-out inspired, the film works best when the characters get to flex their comic muscles with wry observational references and hilarious pop culture pronouncements. The dazed dialogue goes a long way to cover up the convoluted storyline in a bit of a sophomore slump from a promising player on the scene.