Snowball Effect: The Story of Clerks (2004)

Overrated and overhyped

Must See Movie...

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Snowball Effect: The Story of 'Clerks' (2004) **** (out of 4)If you're a fan of Kevin Smith's CLERKS then this documentary is certainly going to be a must see. It clocks in at just 78 minutes but it pretty much takes you throughout the entire process of Smith going to film school to getting the idea for a movie and then it takes us through the casting, the production and eventually trying to get it sold.SNOWBALL EFFECT: THE STORY OF CLERKS is certainly a wonderful little gem because it not only gets the cast and crew back together for interviews but we also get to hear from all the important people who helped get CLERKS noticed and into various film festivals including Sundance. I was really shocked at how much material is covered in such a short running time but there's no question that this is a must see for fans as well as young filmmakers wanted to get a movie made.All of the interviews are terrific and they really give you a great idea of all the trouble that Smith had to go through in order to get the film made and then the harder task of getting someone to see it. The entire process is told in such a fast and fun way that you can't help but feel like you're watching a thriller play out. Sure, you already know what happened to the film but the documentary is just so good that you can't help but go along with the ride.

Being a huge Kevin Smith fan, it is hard to not get all the information regarding everything he does. We all know how much he shares with the world via his Q and As, podcasts and tweets. When I was given the assignment to do a presentation on how he funded 'Clerks', I told my teacher that I could do the assignment from memory without doing research because I already knew. However, I decided to beef it up and looked for additional information. I got some good stuff off the internet but then was reminded of the documentary on the 'Clerks X' DVD. Being a DVD collector, I own so many that I forget to watch the bonus features. How I managed to never have seen this is beyond me. Finally watched it and I was afraid I would have heard it all before. I was wrong! There was so much additional information that I hadn't heard before. Info from Mosier and other sources that I hadn't even heard their names before. Great watch! ESSENTIAL for any TRUE Kevin Smith fan.

I really enjoyed this very unusual and engrossing documentary about the Making of "Clerks"-one of the greatest movies ever made in my opinion. This is not your typical documentary. We are introduced to just about everybody who had a hand in Clerks, from Smith's family, to his friends and the cast, plus all the people who helped turn this movie into a major success.But mostly this is about Smith himself, an incredibly talented, brilliant person who comes across just as witty, non pretentious, and real, as the characters in Clerks. In fact watching Snowball Effect is a lot like watching Clerks itself. It's a great thing when a movie is recognized for just being a good movie.I can't even count the times I've seen Clerks and I know that for many people, this is way more then just a movie, it's a slice of life. Smith's "Clerks" and his determination in making it was a labor of love and this documentary highlights the way it all came about from the idea, to the actual creation. It is a must see for any major fan of Clerks.

A really entertaining and thankfully in-depth look at the road to CLERKS, taking the journey with Kevin Smith from birth to high school sketch comedy to working odd jobs with no direction post-high school to seeing SLACKER to making the movie to getting it seen to getting it in Sundance to finally finally getting it sold. This is a refreshing departure from a lot of DVD making-of docs which are loaded with clips and halfhearted praise from the participants about everyone else on the film. The CLERKS story is one of the great underdog tales of indie film, and this doc really lays it all out carefully, clearly, and amusingly for fans and wannabes alike.