CLERKS: UNCENSORED

If you didn't catch the two episodes of the Clerks animated series that aired last summer, you're not totally fucked. All six episodes of the obscure cartoon based on the obscure film have been released on a two-disc DVD or VHS set. If you have not seen Kevin Smith's conversation-heavy work, I suggest you make a day of it and rent his four films and the cartoons. For those of you that already appreciate the work, you will love the six animated episodes. The series continues the misadventures of Dante, Randal, Jay and that tubby bitch, Silent Bob. All characters are voiced by the actors that portrayed them in the film. The two-dimensional cartoon carries over the style of Smith's comic book of the same name with dead-on character likenesses. One thing fans of the film will notice is the absence of profanity in the network-friendly scripts. Yet they still retain the wit and sarcasm of Smith's feature film. Another Smith staple is the pop culture references made in each episode, including an homage to the Indiana Jones trilogy and a court room scene in which Randal demands ticket refunds from film directors such as Spike Lee and George Lucas. It's a shame this series wasn't given the chance it deserved on network television. Other features on the DVD set include character development art, commercial advertisements, short introductions to each episode by Jay and Silent Bob and a very funny running commentary between the cast and producers. If you are already a fan of Smith's work, this DVD set is for you. On the other hand, if you haven't seen the film you might not get the cartoon.