They used to be both. One part self-inspired antics, and one part dark and witty humor with pop-culture and social commentary. And that's why the first two worked so well. The third? It was a deliberate attempt to de-rail a once unapologetically funny and quirky franchise into melodramatic existential dread, and this time with just an afterthought of the once signature humor.

I mean props to Smith, I absolutely love the fucker himself to the point of just casually strolling over his less-than-great movies, but there's a certain point where milking a cow further will make it drop dead. There are sequels that needn't be made. Clerks 3 was one of them.