Jay and Silent Bob Stare Down Middle Age

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes might be the most unlikely entrepreneurs you’ll ever meet.

The “Clerks” director and his favorite co-star played Denver’s Downtown ComedyWorks over the weekend, sharing tales of pot sponsorships and side hustles.

At the same time, they riffed on marital sex desperation, Catholicism and making the most of second chances.

Sound odd? Then you haven’t been paying attention to how Smith has stretched his ’90s indie film cred into a decades-long career.

It wasn’t a comedy show in the traditional sense – Smith admitted as much while taking in the club setting with a wry grin. The laughs flowed all the same, unsteadily at first but gaining momentum as the two-hour show went on.

“Jay and Silent Bob’s Aural Sects” tour turned their classic characters on their heads. On screen, Silent Bob is, well, at a loss for words.

Jay can’t stop yammering.

Smith is the on-stage motormouth, the fast wit with a trunkload of real-life stories. Mewes served up some sweet family tales, but he lacks the natural storytelling vibe Smith exudes, so he let Smith lead the way.

After all these years, they still know their roles by heart.

That led to tales of cannabis collaborations, “Dogma” memories and, in the show’s waning moments, a cracked but heartfelt tribute to his late Mom.

It’s clear where Smith got his sense of humor and ability to connect with a crowd. He also hinted at his disdain for a certain president and slammed red states like Florida and Kentucky with glee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The director’s screen legacy is bizarre by any measure, bouncing from earnest stories like “Chasing Amy” to head-scratchers (“Yoga Hosers“) and quasi-horror fare (“Tusk,” “Red State”) alike.

Commercially, his films have stalled, forcing him to use novelty release patterns to keep promoting films. Last year’s “The 4:30 Movie” is a prime example, snagging a limited theatrical rollout aimed at hardcore fans.

Smith recently revealed that a third “Jay and Silent Bob” movie is finally ready to roll.

Yet Smith packed ’em in during Saturday’s late-show performance, and the crowd wasn’t just fellow Gen Xers eager for a nostalgia hit before the holidays.

You could argue Smith needs Lisa De Pasquale’s “The Gen X Handbook for Middle Age,” giving his 55 years and fading film relevance. But Smith has figured some things out for himself.

He went vegan after a “widow maker” heart attack nearly silenced him, losing weight and giving his ticker a new lease on life. He admitted to a mental health time out recently, recommending others do the same if needed.

And don’t cry for Smith’s wallet. He’s got that covered, too. Turns out some folks are still addicted to physical media, and those “Dogma” anniversary DVDs went fast.

His team littered the club with ads for his 2026 Cruise Askew tour, replete with actors from his famous films and chances to rub elbows with the veteran director. Should we expect Smith on “Shark Tank” soon?

Most importantly, by palling around with his decades-long friend on stage and off, he’s provided himself with a support system that’s impossible to replace.

This comic geek has grown up, but some things never change.

Smith admitted to daily pot use during the program before proceeding to repeat two specific riffs as if he had never said them.

Noise noise noise
Smokin’ weed
Smokin’ whiz
Doin’ coke
Drinkin’ beers
Drinkin’ beers beers beers
Rollin’ fatties
Smokin’ blunts
Who smokes the blunts?
We smoke the blunts