Christmas may the most eagerly awaited time of year
for retailers, but generally it is hated by their employees. I spent nine
years of my life in that quagmire, and I certainly don’t miss it now.
Retail sales is one of the most misunderstood occupations. Witness the
current furor over wages paid to Wal-Mart employees: A little research
would reveal that the wages paid by the retail giant are pretty standard
for chain stores. No one really understands. Retail workers are
America’s disenfranchised class, and just a handful of films present
their side.
Music and movies are products that Hollywood
understands, and that affords record stores more opportunities as settings.
High Fidelity
(2000) stars John Cusack as the owner of an independent store who’s
having girlfriend problems. Rob’s dwelling on his failed
relationships bogs the film down, but the scenes set in the store are
priceless. Jack Black strikes sparks as everyone’s dream co-worker,
whose opinionated rants at clueless customers over their inane choices are
an inspiration to store clerks everywhere who are supposed to just keep
smiling. (I did once recommend the wide-screen version of The English Patient to a
customer so that she could see more sand.) I am baffled as to why many of
my retail friends swear by Empire Records (1995), an idiotic fantasy view of life in a record
store. Don’t bother.
The Good Girl (2002),
starring Jennifer Aniston, perfectly captures the mundane existence of
workers in a small-town discount store. Now that Aniston is establishing
herself on the big screen, her best film from the past deserves to find an
audience. She certainly proves that she has the ability to move beyond her Friends character, Rachel.
Zooey Deschanel gives hilarious support in the Jack Black role as the
employee you don’t want near the customers. Clerks (1994) mirrors my personal
experience closer than any other film has managed to, but in my case truth
is stranger than fiction. The array of odd customers in Clerks can’t hold a candle to
the daily parade of loonies that visited my store at the mall. The Trekkers
and Klingons actually seemed normal compared with the guy who could blow up
people’s heads with his mind and the Hopalong Cassidy wannabe who
brought his invisible horse. Trust me, I’m not exaggerating. Now
I’m glad to be able to sit out the holidays and watch Clerks from a greater distance.
Everyone who works retail must see this gem of a comedy.
New releases on DVD on Tuesday (Jan. 3): Wedding Crashers, The Cave, and Mon Trésor.
New releases on DVD on Tuesday (Jan. 3): Wedding Crashers, The Cave, and Mon Trésor.
