Ronnie Dobbs

I always see Smith movies but since so many have dissapointed me I rent them now. Jersey Girl was the straw that broke for me. They're worth a buck to rent but I won't pay to see them in the theaters. The Farrelly Bros. I have no idea whats up with them that Stuck On You movie was horrible.

Personally I thought Tropic Thunder and Step Brothers were the funniest movies of last year. Zack and Miri was just okay. Gross out humor, cliche dance sequence, cop out ending.

mndtrp

I haven't enjoyed a Farrelly brother movie in quite some time. Smith, I enjoy less than I used to, but I blame that more on me changing than him.

starman9000

I thought Stuck on You was their best since Kingpin.

Haven't really been into Smith since High School, but don't know if he has slipped or not, it's not like he was really that successful critically or commercially besides Clerks critically.

mcnabb

Kevin Smith appeals to a niche base of fans, who have followed the same characters movie to movie, so I think he can still succeed with that formula.

The Farrelly Bros relied on shock humor, and there is only so much you can do movie after movie. I think Dumb & Dumber and Theres Something About Mary are two of the FUNNIEST movies I have ever seen, and I also thought Kingpin was very underrated. But you can't keep topping stuff like that because the movies were gross out humor to the max. Me, Myself and Irene was terrible, Shallow Hal was OK, but they really haven't done anything great since the 90's.

Michael Corvin

It's becoming hard to distinguish a true Apatow directed flick from the rest. He's kinda like the James Patterson of comedy flicks. Outside of Knocked Up and Sarah Marshall (did Apatow have anything to do with it?) every other movie associated with his name has been average(Superbad, Anchorman, Step Brothers, Virgin) in my opinion.

I still give him all the props in the world for Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared though. So he gets a buy. It would be nice if he lived up to his potential. Everything he's done since leaving television has been a step down the ladder. That's my biggest problem with his movies, you could take all the characters from one of his movies and combined they don't have as much depth as any one character from either of his tv shows.

Smith on the other hand still has a unique voice. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but he does have one. Having never had a hit or mainstream film he hasn't really peaked either.

As for those other two hacks, they peaked with Mary & Kingpin.

harpo787

Very true. I seem to recall reading (and possibly Smith himself saying) that each of his movies from the Askewniverse seem to bring in approximately 30 million, theatrically. I'd guess from there that DVD sales bring roughly that much as well.

I think Mallrats defied that box office gross, but clearly made up for it in VHS/DVD sales. Jersey Girl is the other one that didn't bring in the amount, but it's outside the "universe." In my opinion it's the weakest of his films, but still enjoyable. Loved seeing Carlin do a slightly more dramatic role.

Troy Stiffler

Oh, man. I completely forgot about Kingpin. It was just as good as 'Mary'.

Solid Snake

Are Smith and Mosier still cool? Cuz it seems like a huge departure considering they were practically married...I loved their chemistry.

rexinnih

I've enjoyed most of Kevin Smith's movies, the Brothers, on the other hand have been very hit or miss IMHO.

chris_sc77

I like SMith and the Brothers. I feel both Smith and the Bros. peaked in the late 90's. SMith with Dogma; The Bros. with Mary.
SMith has kinda disappointed me with this writing with each film stating with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back but I still like his films even if they have not been able to match Dogma.
The Farelly Bros. I also appreciate. I like Shallow Hal and Stuck on You but I dont really care for Fever Pitch. Heartbreak Kid is very easy to watch even if it kinda never comes together. I am not looking forward to their 3 stooges film though. I hope they soon get back to making funny movies like they used to make.

Boba Fett

On one of his most recent SMODcasts (a pretty regular podcast where Mosier and Smith just chat about various things for an hour or so), Smith actually went through his career film by film and talked about how he views his work now. It was pretty honest and he made an interesting point at how each film he made, actually fit into a different sub-genre. He wrapped up the discussion by making mention that when he was young he initially said he'd only direct what he wrote, but now that he's older he doesn't feel the same way.

Whether you like Smith or hate him, I find it hard to disagree that he does try to change the style and sub-genre of the movies he makes, and I think him directing something he didn't write is the next logical step in his career.

Michael Corvin

They seem cool on Smodcast. Mosier is trying to pull a directing gig together. So this was a good chance for Smith to try something different as well.

calhoun07

I don't mean to make it sound like I am hating some of the latter works of Kevin Smith or the Farrelly Brothers...I enjoyed Zach and Miri and Shallow Hal somebody mentioned...it was a decent movie. Good enough to warrant a purchase..they have repeat viewing appeal to me.

I am just saying they aren't the peak examples of their careers, IMO.

Dumb and Dumber for the Farrelly Brothers and the whole Jersey Trilogy for Kevin Smith (it's too hard for me to pick just one...though I enjoy Dogma on many levels.)

I just think even though Zach and Miri managed to be enjoyable, it didn't really break any new ground for Kevin Smith. It's like he's beginning to spin his tires. So perhaps there's hope...maybe the sun hasn't set on him yet. At least it was better than the past few Farrelly Brothers movies.

tylergfoster

I liked Stuck on You and even Fever Pitch. I didn't see The Heartbreak Kid.

Supermallet

I forgot they did Stuck On You. I really liked that one. More than Me, Myself, and Irene.

RichC2

For what it's worth, Zack and Miri Make a Porno was Kevin Smith's unadjusted highest grossing (Domestic) movie to date -- which actually puts it slightly behind his most successful movies, but it's about par for course:

10/31/08 Zack and Miri Make a Porno Wein. $31,457,946
7/21/06 Clerks II MGM/W $24,148,068
3/26/04 Jersey Girl Mira. $25,268,157
8/24/01 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Mira. $30,085,147
11/12/99 Dogma Lions $30,652,890
4/4/97 Chasing Amy Mira. $12,021,272
10/20/95 Mallrats Gram. $2,122,561
10/19/94 Clerks Mira. $3,151,130

The only two movies that are authentically "Apatow" movies are Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin -- the other's he's just been a Co-writer or Producer on. Kevin Smith hasn't become more "Apatow" and his movie quality improved with his last two outings (as compared to Jersey Girl and Jay/Silent Bob).

The Farrelly Bros on the other hand have always been hit and miss with me in terms of quality. Heartbreak Kid made about $130m worldwide (I'm assuming in large part due to Ben Stiller's involvement).

mmconhea

I know after the last 3 Kevin Smith movies, especially the last one, I'll no longer give him any money. It's pretty apparent he's a one trick pony. He should just grab his usual cast and move to a TV series. I think he'd do well there.

The creators of King Pin, on the other hand, I'll give anything they do a chance.

Goat3001

I should have chosen my words more carefully. The movie certainly made a profit if you consider B.O and DVD sales so it wasn't a failure. However, I would consider it a disappointment. Many thought, myself included, that this would be Smith's breakout movie (box office wise).

Instead it turned into one of those good comedies that I think most enjoyed when they saw it, but no one saw it in the theatre... like Grandma's Boy.

OldBoy

i agree. it was poised to do much much better. given the components, the actors, the Apatow-like premise, the hype, the controversy...this should have done a lot better, but as mentioned very in-line with all his other stuff, which is too bad bc he should do better with many of these under appreciated good films. it seems he gets his cult following and can't break out of that at all.

Shannon Nutt

Kevin Smith should stick to writing scripts, but let others direct them. That's probably the key to his ideas generating a little more money at the box office. I love his dialogue, but he ain't much of a director.

Ronnie Dobbs

It was also Seth Rogen's least successful movie to star in so far. Even Pineapple Express made triple that at the B.O.

mdc3000

I like all of Smith's movies (Jersey Girl included) and enjoyed more than half of the Farrelly's stuff (D&D, Kingpin, Mary, Fever Pitch) and didn't HATE Irene or The Heartbreak Kid, but felt it should have been at least 50% funnier than it was... however I think Shallow Hal and Stuck on You suck donkey balls. They, like Mike Myers, need to adapt to the new brand of Comedy that works now - stuff that would have killed in the 90's doesn't really do it these days.

The Bus

Zack and Miri Make a Porno was released on the wrong weekend for its audience.

Kevin Smith was never the king of comedy, and his movies never burned up the box office or critics. So I don't see how he's less relevant now, especially when Z&M and Clerks 2 were, IMHO, among his better work.

Rypro 525

do you happen to remeber which one?

Hokeyboy

[drunkenmosieratdisneyland] yeeeeeeaaaah!!!! Boat solo!!!! [/drunkenmosieratdisneyland]