Saban Films has released the official trailer for Kevin Smith‘s homage to 1980s teen movies, The 4:30 Movie. The studio debuted the trailer for the auteur’s next comedy before distributing the project on September 13.
The Independent Spirit Award-winning filmmaker wrote and directed The 4:30 Movie, which he has called his “most personal film to date.” He also described the project, which is his 16th feature, as being “poignant comic valentine to moviegoing and the youth of the ’80s,” Deadline is reporting.
Smith spoke about his personal connection to the comedy’s story and setting when he announced its August 24 world premiere at Smodcastle Cinemas. He saved the theater, which is located in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, from demolition in 2022. The helmer has an appreciation for the theater after he watched movies there as a child.
While discussing his latest comedy, as well as Smodcastle Cinemas, on Instagram, Smith stated it’s “a personal paean to the John Hughes coming-of-age movies I grew up watching, shot in the same movie theater where I saw ’em all as a kid!
“The 4:30 Movie is a not-so-secret origin story set in my hometown of #highlandsnj and neighboring #atlantichighlandsnj where @smodcastlecinemas lives!” the filmmaker added. “@saban_films is releasing it in theaters everywhere on SEPTEMBER 13th, but if you wanna attend the World Premiere on August 24th at @smodcastlecinemas where we filmed the flick, tickets are on sale right now at The430Movie.movie! When real life sucks, REEL life rules!”
Smith is known for often blurring the lines between documentary and fiction. The 4:30 Movie is his latest semi-autobiographical feature about his adolescence in New Jersey.
The coming-of-age comedy stars Clerks 3 actor Austin Zajur as Brian David, a teen cinephile who takes inspiration from the filmmaker. The movie’s main cast also includes Nicholas Cirillo (Outer Banks), Reed Northrup (Teenage Euthanasia), Siena Agudong (Resident Evil) and Ken Jeong.
Saban Films has unveiled the following official synopsis for The 4:30 Movie, which was produced by Joshua Bachove, Liz Destro and Jordan Monsanto:
Set in the summer of 1986, three sixteen-year-old friends spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex. When one of the guys, Brian, invites the girl of his dreams, Melody (Agudong), to see an R-rated film, all hilarity breaks loose, as a self-important theater manager and teen rivalries interfere with his best-laid plans.
The project includes cameos from several of Smith’s former collaborators, including Justin Long, Rosario Dawson, Jason Biggs, Jason Mewes and Jason Lee. The comedy also stars Logic, Rachel Dratch, Adam Pally, Sam Richardson, Cliff “Method Man” Smith and the helmer’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith.
In 2022, Smith reflected on his wide-spanning filmography to Forbes. The director looked back on his breakout 1994 movie Clerks, which was followed by two sequels – 2006’s Clerks 2, and the long-awaited third entry 16 years later, Clerks 3.
“I’l tell you, for years, I never understood why people liked Clerks so much,” Smith admitted. “It’s in black and white, it’s got nobody famous in it and stuff, looks like it was made by children, and it was. I used to just think, well, we were part of the ’90s, so sentimentally and nostalgically will always be wrapped up in some people’s hearts.
“But I’m 30 years almost in on the job now, and I think I completely understand why Clerks not only connected then, but why people still talk about it today, even though it’s an old black and white movie that was made in the ’90s,” the filmmaker continued.
Smith added, “You don’t make these flicks going like, ‘I hope nobody sees them.’ You hope that the world embraces them. I’m the guy who’s like, people still talk about Clerks because I still keep the conversation going nearly 30 years later. I’m always like, ‘Remember Clerks? Clerks was wonderful.'”
If you liked this article, please share your comment below.