One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!***
120. Mallrats (1995) Directed by Kevin Smith
The Movie: T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) excitedly drives to the home of his girlfriend Brandi (Claire Forlani). They are about to go on vacation to Universal Studios Florida. Brandi however, is in a pickle. She volunteered to be on her father’s (Michael Rooker) TV show Truth or Date. The reason, T.S. told the woman that was supposed to be on the show that the camera adds 10lbs. Brandi informs T.S. that after she did that she went to the local YMCA and during her 700th lap an embolism burst in her brain, killing her. T.S. and Brandi argue and break up.
Brodie (Jason Lee) is awaken by his girlfriend Rene (Shannen Doherty) and explains to him that he is going nowhere and that she hasn’t met his mom. Brodie is too occupied playing video game hockey to care. Rene dumps Brodie and leaves.
T.S. goes to Brodie’s home and explains that he too has been dumped. Brodie thinks Rene broke up with him because she was going down on him and he farted. Brodie thinks T.S.’s plan to propose to Brandi after the shark from Jaws pops out of the water is the most romantic thing ever. Brodie sensing that they need to get out of their combined depression suggests they go to the mall.
At the mall Brodie is ran into by Shannon (Ben Affleck) the manager of Fashionable Male. Who hates Brodie. T.S. finds this shocking, believing everyone at the mall loves Brodie.
Next the boys run into Willam (Ethan Suplee) who can’t see the goddamn sailboat in the MagicEye poster. Willam also informs T.S. and Brodie that Truth or Date is being filmed at the mall and they enlist Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) to destroy the set so the show cannot go on.
T.S. and Brodie next run into Tricia (Renee Humphrey) a 15 year old senior who is writing a book about the sex drive of men, called “Boregasm” She explains that she films all participants and rates them. Tricia tells Brodie she slept with Shannon and he told her that he hates him to his lack of shopping agenda.
Brodie learns from Tricia that Rene has begun seeing Shannon. Brodie sees Rene in a clothing store and confronts her. Rene tells Brodie that they are officially over and he leaves. Brodie asks T.S. to interfere with Shannon so he can talk to Rene. T.S. does this and Brodie sneaks Rene onto an elevator. They have sex and Brodie tells Rene that what he just did was passionate. Rene rebuffs him saying it was “too little, too late.”
Shannon finds Brodie, and attacks him in the hallways of the mall. He tells Brodie that he plans to have sex with his girlfriend “in a very uncomfortable place.” And it is not the back of a Volkswagen.
As Brodie is recovering he tells Jay and Silent Bob that the Easter Bunny is the one who attacked him, leading the boys to attack and kick the Easter Bunny’s ass.
Mr. Svenning has drugs planted on T.S. and Brodie which leads to them getting arrested and removed from the mall. T.S. and Brodie are saved however by Jay and Silent Bob who knock the no-nonsense head of security LaFours (Sven-Ole Thorsen).
The guys take refuge in the local flea market where they meet Ivannah (Priscilla Barnes) a three-nipple topless fortune teller, who gives them advice, which convinces T.S. that he must win Brandi back. The guys sneak back into the mall and instead of using Jay and Silent Bob to wreck the stage, T.S. has them get the other contestants stoned so they can’t go on.
As Brodie waits for the show to start, he is approached by Stan Lee (Stan Lee) who tells him story’s on romance and how he would trade all of his comic creations for one last chance at the love of his life. This convinces Brodie to win back Rene. We learn that Stan Lee was persuaded by T.S. to help convince Brodie of his true feelings, knowing Brodie would listen to Stan Lee.
T.S. and Brodie manage to sneak on the show and become two the contestants along with Gill Hicks (Brian O’Halloran). Their T.S. confronts Brandi and tells her that he has always loved her and proposes to her on the show. Brandi accepts, Mr. Svenning barfs, thanks to an earlier “stick palm”. The police arrive to take T.S. and Brodie into custody, when through the power of the Jedi Mind Trick, Silent Bob is able to play the sex tape between Tricia and Shannon. When Brodie tells the police that Tricia is only 15, they instead arrest Shannon.
As the credits play, T.S. and Brandi marry on the Jaws ride, Shannon is sent to prison, Brodie is the new host of The Tonight Show with Rene his bandleader, Tricia’s book is a bestseller and Jay and Silent Bob get an orangutan named Susanne.
Why I Love Mallrats (1995): Mallrats was the first Kevin Smith movie I ever saw. It was introduced to me by my good friend Joe at a cast party in High School. Soon, I became obsessed with Kevin Smith and his movies. Next was his breakthrough first film, Clerks, followed by Chasing Amy (more on Amy later in this article series).
I would go onto the ViewAskew website to learn all about the musings of Kevin Smith and what he was up to next. I still get excited to see a new Kevin Smith movie.
But back to Mallrats, it is one of the movies I quote the most.
“She’s fucking dead!” Is one of the best delivered lines in the whole film after T.S. learns that his innocent remark to Julie Dwyer has killed her and in a stroke of genius connects Clerks to Mallrats.
Being a comic book nerd the film is peppered with awesome references, funny anecdotes such as how Lois Lane and Superman can’t have sex without him “blowing his load like a shotgun right through her back.”
Mallrats has hands down the greatest Stan Lee cameo of all time. His interaction with Brodie is a scene stealer. (Followed closely by his appearance in Spider-Man 3, “you know, I guess one person really can make a difference. ‘Nuff said.”) Stan is as charismatic as ever and his monologue is so sweet and wonderful.
But perhaps the greatest gift Mallrats has given us is the talent that is Jason Lee. He is funny and brings great bravado to the role of Brodie.
I love Mallrats. It’s a film I watch at least once a year. And although I can quote it verbatim, it still makes me laugh.