Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Mallrats Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 18, 2020

Kevin Smith was still akin to the "new kid on the block" when Mallrats came out in 1995. Having attracted significant industry interest courtesy of his independent 1994 outing Clerks, Smith found himself being offered the blandishments of Hollywood courtesy of Universal Studios, which offered Smith a deal for his sophomore effort. The result finds Smith perhaps understandably trying to pound his "square peg" sensibility into the "round hole" of an at least somewhat more traditional "teen comedy", to perhaps fitful effect. Mallrats does provide some laughs, and maybe even a few moments of more sincere emotion, and it's kind of interesting to see it again now refracted through the prism of some of Smith's later, arguably much more provocative, work.

Mallrats has had a couple of prior releases on Blu-ray courtesy of its parent studio Universal. Those interested in a plot recap are encouraged to read Brian Orndorf's Mallrats Blu-ray review of the Universal release. Brian's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons as well as details on how that edition's supplements stack up against the ones offered on this new release from Arrow.

Mallrats Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mallrats is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Mallrats has been exclusively restored by Arrow FIlms and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with 5.1 audio.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution at NBC Universal's Studio Post facility. A 35mm interpositive element was also scanned in 4K for the content unique to the Director's Cut version. The film was graded and restored at R3Store Studios in London. This restoration has been approved by Director Kevin Smith and Director of Photography David Klein.

All materials for this restoration were made available by NBC Universal.

While Brian gave "okay" marks to the Universal release, he mentioned both sharpening and filtering, and I'd say for me personally the second issue in particular is one of the bigger differences between the Universal release and this one. While a lot of the older Universal Blu-ray often did have a somewhat noticeable grain field, as can actually be seen in some of the screenshots accompanying Brian's review, it could certainly seem "smoothed out", as I think might be fair to say about their version of Mallrats. This Arrow release has a much more noticeable grain field, one that can actually look a bit on the gritty side at times, but which resolves naturally despite bouts of perhaps surprising heaviness, not necessarily dependent upon lighting (see, for example, screenshot 14 of this review, a relatively well lit shot, and compare it to screenshot 13 in Brian's review, and you'll get an idea of what I'm trying to convey). This release also looks better saturated and just a tad darker overall than the Universal release. Detail levels are generally very appealing across all three versions. I've included two screenshots in locations 17 and 18 from the Extended Cut that I'm assuming were sourced from the interpositive, and while there might be very slight differences at play, they're minimal. Arrow's restoration gauntlet has removed any major signs of damage.

Mallrats Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Mallrats features both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 tracks (the Universal release Brian reviewed featured only the surround track). The surround track probably offers the most noticeable immersion courtesy of both the ubiquitous source cues as well as some of the almost echo laden acoustics of the mall itself. Some of what Brian rightly calls the "cartoonish" mayhem that ensues also provides some goofy sound effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout this problem free presentation. Optional English subtitles are available.

Mallrats Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One

• Theatrical Cut (1080p; 1:34:45)

  Introduction by Kevin Smith (1080p; 12:31) is new and can be found under the Play menu, and is authored to move on automatically to the main feature.

• Cast and Crew Commentary features director Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier, archivist Vincent Pereira, and actors Jason Lee, Ben Affleck and Jason Mewes.


• My Mallrat Memories (1080p; 29:58) is a fun new interview with Kevin Smith featuring his memories of making the film.


• My Mallrats: A Tribute to Jim Jacks (1080p; 12:57) features Kevin Smith again, this time talking about producer Jim Jacks.


• Blunt Talk (1080p; 9:59) is a new interview with Jason Mewes.


• Hollywood of the North (1080p; 10:13) is a kind of out there animated making of documentary featuring cartoon versions of some of the Minnesota crew members who worked on the film.


• When We Were Punks (1080p; 6:08) is a new interview with Director of Photography David Klein.


• Deleted Scenes (1080i; 1:02:48) feature interstitial discussions from Kevin Smith and Vincent Pereira.


• Outtakes and Behind the Scenes Footage (1080p; 8:12) are windowboxed with timecodes.


• Cast Interviews from the Original Set (1080i; 8:37)


• Erection of an Epic: The Making of Mallrats (1080i; 22:09) is an archival retrospective.


• Q & A with Kevin Smith (1080i; 9:01) is an archival piece done for the film's 10th anniversary.


• Build Me Up Buttercup Music Video (1080p; 3:38)


• Trailer (1080p; 2:23)

Disc Two

• Extended Cut (1080p; 2:01:50)

  Introduction by Kevin Smith (1080p; 11:00) is an archival piece which also features producer Scott Mosier, and which can be found under the Play menu for this version. As with the Theatrical Cut, above, this is authored to move on automatically to the main feature.



• TV Cut (1080p; 1:25:31) features Dolby Digital 2.0 audio of a soundtrack that is described here as featuring "hilarious overdubbing to cover up profanity".

  Introduction by Kevin Smith (1080p; 4:24) is newly done and can be found under the Play menu for this version. As with the Theatrical Cut, above, this is authored to move on automatically to the main feature.



• Soundtrack EPK (720p; 4:20) is an archival piece featuring Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier.


• Dailies (1080p; 1:59:35) may ostensibly be in high definition, but were obviously culled from relatively low grade video masters with "old school" issues like tracking problems.


• Stills Galleries

  Behind the Scenes Stills (1080p)

  
  

  Comics (1080p)

Additionally, this release features a Collector's booklet featuring an essay by Philip Kemp, and a fold out poster featuring replica blueprints for "Operation Drive-By" and "Operation Dark Knight". The keepcase has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Robert Sammelin.

Mallrats Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It may strike some as slightly humorous or at least ironic that at the time of its production and release, Mallrats' biggest star was probably Shannen Doherty. But part of the fun of this film is actually seeing some now much better known cast members at earlier stages of their careers. Smith's peculiar writing and performing choices (for both himself and others) are perhaps an acquired taste, but Mallrats has its own distinctive if kind of silly pleasures. This Arrow release offers superior technical merits in the video department in particular to the previous Universal releases, as well as a glut of excellent supplements. Recommended.