So, I've not had the opportunity to officially weigh in here. I know it's a lot to ask for someone to listen to me talk Red State and Kevin Smith for 80+ minutes, especially when it's just me and when they didn't like the movie, so I'll summarize my thoughts here.
I think Clerks, Chasing Amy and Dogma are Kevin Smith's best films (I really like what Teague said about the Alyssa character in Chasing Amy. I'd never thought about it that way before). The rest of them contain bits and pieces that I love, but on the whole I can either take or leave. I also tend to be something of a Mallrats defender. For what it is, I think it succeeds more than fails and deserves more credit for being lots of fun, especially given the circumstances surrounding it at the time it was made.
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back is a mixed bag for me. Smith went through seven (SEVEN!) drafts of the script, and 75% of it is cannibalized from his Chasing Dogma graphic novel (which of course follows Jay & Silent Bob from leaving Holden at the diner "to catch a bus to Chi-Town", to arriving at the Abortion Clinic parking lot in time to save Bethany, and the adventures between those two events. For me, the most rewarding, creative and entertaining elements of the film involves the new material with the diamond thieves. It's also surprisingly visually rich, in my opinion. Everything else with the monkey, Marshall Willenholly and the studio backlot shenanigans either just go for the really cheap, easy and obvious jokes or are good for a chuckle once and don't have much replay value.
Although it should have never been a project for network TV, let alone ABC, I think the Clerks cartoon was pretty damn funny most of the time, especially the last episode where we stay inside the store while a wealth of adventure and insanity happens outside, off screen and is only referenced or implied.
Though it's full of genuine sincerity and contains some solid, dramatic moments and performances (particularly from Ben Affleck and George Carlin), Jersey Girl felt really pedestrian and pre-fabricated to me, if that makes any sense. Because of that, a lot of it went in one ear and out the other. Liv Tyler's character was originally written for Eliza Dushku and the only reason she wasn't cast was because she and Affleck differ in height immensely. My feeling is, that's not a good enough reason to recast. It could have easily been worked out or written into the script (have you seen her with Rick Fox? He could put her in his pocket and still have room for spare change!). Also, I think Dushku shares that Boston spitfire-type personality with Ben that could have made for some crackling chemistry. Tyler (who's really good in The Strangers, BTW) is just too meek and....submissive(?) to pull off the role. I also think the scene where she decides to throw Affleck (whom she barely knows at this point) a free fuck because he's not had sex in a long time is wildly immature, unrealistic and quite frankly, not a very high opinion of Women.
For the most part, I really like Clerks 2, but many times throughout the film, Smith goes out of his way to betray his source material, as if he doesn't really want to make a sequel to Clerks, which makes me ask, "then why the hell even bother?". If you check out the DVD, there are a number of legitimately good deleted scenes that Smith admits to removing because it was too much like Clerks, which seems like a really misguided mindset to have with a film like this, as far as I'm concerned. It's already unlike Clerks in that it's in over-saturated HD color (those purple and yellow Mooby's shirts burn my retinas!) and it has a cartoon-ish score by James Venable that feels more at home in J&SBSB, which he also scored.
My biggest issue with the film is the "Donkey Show" scene. Part of why the "Guy in the Bathroom" scene works so well is because it's quick, sudden and you never actually see the act go down. Here, the scene in question goes on way too long, Kevin Smith thinks it's funnier than it actually is and Dave Klein shoots it in this really harsh, distracting blue/purple lighting. The first film had much to say about a lot of topics throughout its running time, including relationships, societal behavior, transitions into adulthood and what it means to serve the public. The second film doesn't really have anything actually on its mind (thanks to Kevin cutting it all out in favor of keeping all the quick jokes and references to now-dated popular culture), until the scene in the jail cell at the end. Only then does it really get to some kind of worthwhile point. Thankfully, it's a well-made and emotionally resonant point. Also, the way the very end ties back to the first film is truly masterful, in my opinion. I'll admit, I choked up.
Zack & Miri Make A Porno was charming and sweet, but I had two fundamental issues with it: 1. I didn't buy for one second that the main characters would live together for that long and be so close, but never hook up, even by some drunken accident. 2. It felt too much like an Apatow picture. As such, I've yet to revisit the film. I also hated, hated, HATED the two stoner kids in the beginning. Kevin Smith seems to think that anyone and everyone who smokes pot dresses, talks and acts like Jay. Furthermore, he thought they were so great, they somehow show up again in the last act! I also don't like when Smith makes up words he thinks are hilarious. Seriously, "Cunt Nugget"? REALLY? Are you even TRYING anymore?!
I've not seen Cop Out. I'm afraid I won't like it. Also, Bruce Willis is apparently a giant Diva. That makes me a sad Panda.
I really enjoyed Red State. I thought it was intense, thought-provoking and surprisingly mature. I agree with Teague that Smith shouldn't have pulled his punches in the last act and the "trumpet" has to be earned first and foremost. I'll take it a step further and submit that with a careful redraft, he could have done both endings. They just needed some reworking in order to successfully compliment and inform on one another.
I agree with Eddie that the opening scenes with the kids is obnoxious and out of touch with real characters. I actually kind of hated those kids. John Goodman was the in here. The first act might have played much better if we opened on the scene in the trailer and then found some way to introduce Goodman's character and work our way up to the sermon with Michael Parks. In the discussion, Eddie started to talk about Melissa Leo and her character in the film, but got interrupted. I'm curious to hear the rest of that rant, if Eddie has a minute or two to spare on the subject. 
I think Red State is a step in the right direction for Smith, but being that he dropped out of film school (because he didn't want to learn about film making, unless it was through doing), we unfortunately had to watch him go through 20 years of film school to finally arrive at this point, which would be fine, except now that it looks like he knows what he's doing, he's decided to quit. That being said, though I have no interest or investment in the subject matter and material, I'm really looking forward to Hit Somebody.
I'm glad someone else shares my thoughts on the whole Sundance thing. After it happened, Smith couldn't understand why no one was talking about the film itself, and I remember thinking, "Because you got up there, showed your ass and made it all about you!". Being a regular listener of his online radio network (and having also gotten a shout out for some of my tweets), I will say that Kevin Smith is still a very funny and entertaining storyteller. I just wish he'd at least keep writing, and I worry that his new distribution company is only going to support a certain kind of movie. I hope he uses this new venture to its fullest potential in helping truly original and creative voices be heard.
