A Threevening with Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith is one of the most polarizing names in film. Since his debut film Clerks first arrived on the independent film scene in 1994, the man has revealed that he has a knack for gross out humor and the ability to skewer sacred cows with such bulls-eye precision that his religious film Dogma had protestors show up to it. (Smith actually protested the film himself in disguise once.) Some T.V. stations won't even advertise his new film, entitled Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Though there are many who are quick to decry his work, there is also a rabid fan base that has consistently supported him time and time again. So when Smith announced that he was going to do a concert/Q and A session in his home town of Red Bank, NJ on his 37th birthday, the tickets sold out in a matter of minutes.

A Threevening With Kevin Smith is the DVD of this concert, and I'm glad to say that it's nothing short of hilarious. Smith's trademark storytelling ability is on fine display here, and his ability to answer a question and then launch into a thirty minute monologue while keeping the audience's attention has been finely honed here. As the title implies, this is the third DVD of this type that Smith has put out. His storytelling style is more of a raconteur type style that harkens back to Jean Shepherd and Spalding Grey than a stand-up comic. He's also a pretty solid improviser, and there are some moments in the concert that he clearly couldn't have scripted beforehand. And watching Smith step out on stage after being introduced by his wife and daughter, it's very obvious that both he and the crowd want to be there.

I don't want to ruin the jokes, but I will say that Smith covers a bevy of topics in this latest chronicle of hilarity. He talks graphically about his dogs mating habits, why making Die Hard 4 was so difficult and what Bruce Willis is really like, the making of Clerks 2 and his hellacious jury duty experience. He spares no details, gory or not, and we get a very complete picture when Smith finishes telling a story of what happened.

If you're a fan of Kevin Smith, than I can't recommend this DVD highly enough. And if you're wondering why the guy has fans in the first place, check one of his concert DVD's out. Maybe you'll end up going over to the "dark side" after all.