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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep802: CLERKS III (2022) - Movie Review

Ep802: CLERKS III (2022) - Movie Review

Ian Simmons

Watch Ian and David knock over a convenience store! Yes, it's time to review Clerks III.

After Randal (Jeff Anderson) suffers a heart attack, he decides to follow his long-dormant dreams of directing a movie. Enlisting the help of fellow Quick Stop employees and hangers-on Dante (Brian O'Halloran), Elias (Trevor Fehrman), and Jay and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, respectively), Randal sets out to capture the comedic indignities of wage-slave living.

The result is a bizarre second sequel to the film that put writer/director Smith on the map. In this spoiler-heavy discussion, Ian and David talk about what Smith's films have meant to them; why the series should have stopped at the note-perfect Clerks II; and the 37 ways in which Smith prevents this film from being a worthy tribute to an iconic career and characters.

Clerks III hits select theatres starting September 13th as part of a limited Fathom Events run. Details on this and the Clerks III "Convenience Tour" (featuring appearances by Smith) below.

Show Links:

  • Watch the Clerks III trailer.

  • Watch Kevin Smith's touching WonderCon tribute to Bruce Willis, following the actor's Aphasia diagnosis earlier this year (mentioned in the episode).

  • See Clerks III on the big screen starting Tuesday, September 13th through Thursday, September 22 via Fathom Events.

  • Chicagoans can get tickets to the November 7th stop on the Clerks III "Convenience Tour" at the Music Box Theatre, featuring a post-screening Q&A with Kevin Smith.

  • Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ep803: PINOCCHIO (2022) - Round Table Review

Ep803: PINOCCHIO (2022) - Round Table Review
Ep801: STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN - 40th Anniversary Review

Ep801: STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN - 40th Anniversary Review