>>REVIEW
AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH 2: EVENING HARDER
Directed by J.M. Kenny
Sony, 2006
Seriously. What more can this guy have to say?
As a writer-director, Kevin Smith is the crown prince of dick-and-fart jokes. Every minute detail of his life has been chronicled through interviews, documentaries and his seemingly endless blog on viewaskew.com. I’m a big fan, so I have seen all his flicks, read his book, interviewed him, watched his first concert DVD and I’ve even seen him perform live. So, for me, the biggest surprise in An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder, is the fact that in four hours of Q&A there is only one bit of material that is a repeat. That’s a pretty good ratio.
For those who haven’t seen An Evening With Kevin Smith, here is the deal. Smith has been a fixture on the lecture circuit for several years and he has a legion of devoted fans. Smith will drop in for a visit and spend the evening fielding questions from the audience. That’s why every show is different. He may tailor some of his responses to include references to whatever city he is in, but the content of the show is dictated by the crowd. Evening 2 features highlights from his 2005 shows in Toronto, Ontario and London, England. The Brits may offer more insightful questions, but both shows are equally entertaining.
As you might expect from the man who brought you a donkey show in Clerks 2 and the Golgothan shit monster in Dogma, Smith is at his best when he is talking dirty. And somehow he manages to sound charming while doing it. Only Smith could let loose with a 20-minute monologue about shooting his wife for Playboy that culminates with him shooting his load when he uses photos as spank material. And somehow he doesn’t alienate the female portion of the audience.
It’s a testament to his skills as a storyteller that Evening 2 is so entertaining. Many would say it’s sacrilege to compare Smith’s tales of sexual awakening to the classic standup of Bill Cosby, but it is the best analogy. Smith takes his time, weaving in elements from earlier in the night. He’s quick with witty one-liners but his strength is the long-form joke.
Let me be clear – Evening 2, like much of the peripheral viewaskewniverse, is for fans only. If you can’t handle his trademark trench coat and potty mouth, this isn’t going to convert you. If you are a fan, you’re going to love it – and you probably already own it. |
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