Writer/director Kevin Smith's, The 4:30 Movie plays like a prequel to his original first film, Clerks (1994). While the main cast are not the same characters as those in Clerks, if you renamed them, and squinted a bit, they're not that far removed.
That and, if you've listened to Kevin's many podcasts for a long time, you'll know the central character here, Brian (Austin Zajur - who recently became engaged to Smith's daughter Harley Quinn Smith - playing Sister Sarah Wallace in this film), draws inspiration from teenage Kevin Smith, who also liked recording his thoughts randomly throughout the day - and see movies.
To make the final case, it could be a prequel, you'll have to see the ending.
With that out of the way, I'm getting around to reviewing this now because the film only recently came to a streaming service I'm subscribed to (Prime Video). I wouldn't have minded to see it in a theatre when it was originally released but, if it even came to a cinema in Australia (and it probably did), it didn't come to one anywhere near me.
Another similarity it shares with Clerks is that it is a 'day in the life' movie, where a group of teens in the mid 1980's spend the day theatre hoping between movies. Comedy ensues with a bit of a teen romance storyline being the main thread that ties everything together.
I feel like The 4:30 Movie is trying to recapture the essence of Smith's second film, Mallrats (1995) to a degree, with that film being more of a teen comedy with the characters being college aged. While it still has much of the over the top characters and comedy, The 4:30 movie is also trying to get a level of heartfelt earnestness in there too.
My overall feeling is Kevin was just going for a fun movie with a few emotional beats thrown in. For me it sits in that unsure area that Clerks III (2022), Kevin's previous outing, does, in that, it's a good film but not really the kind of Kevin Smith film I enjoy. More so with The 4:30 Movie, because this feels like it's targeted at a younger demographic, despite me being the same age as Kevin Smith, so I'm completely on board for the 80's period and references.
I think I prefer Kevin when he's just going all in on cartoonish humor without trying to make a film focused on the 'feels'. I'm one of the minority (it would seem) that enjoyed Yoga Hosers (2016). Which is weird because that film really was aimed at teens, specifically teen girls no less, but, as I said in my review, that movie really played up the Kevin Smith references and Easter eggs.
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) is probably my most recent favorite of his films. It's straight up cartoonish comedy, with one or two more heartfelt moments but they're not things the film is really built around. It's just a fun, entertaining movie with a ton of Easter eggs and cameos.
The 4:30 Movie is kind of fun, with plenty of the low brow humor you probably love Smith for, if you're a long time fan. This newish thing of Kevin trying to give his movies some heart as well, it's fine, it's just not what I particularly enjoy in his comedy films.
However, the movie itself is a cool idea, and a great use of Smith's own movie theater that he's a part owner of. This cast could easily be his 'Clerks - The Next Generation' (Smith would appreciate the Degrassi reference there). I'd certainly watch a sequel (perhaps with a bit more plot... I don't know... give 'em a dog and have them solve mysteries of something... I know Kevin's and X-Files fan, don't tell me he doesn't like a good mystery!).
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