One of the things that most prompted Kevin Smith to make the film was a promise he made to friend Jason Mewes. If Mewes managed to stay off drugs, he would be able to play the character of "Jay" one more time. Smith kept his promise.
(at around 2 mins) When Dante picks up Randal in the beginning of the film, the house Randal exits was Kevin Smith's childhood house on 21 Jackson Street.
(at around 22 mins) The idea to have Jason Mewes do his "Buffalo Bill" dance to "Goodbye Horses" came straight from Mewes, who apparently does this on a regular basis to writer and director Kevin Smith.
The hair on the back of Randal's head wasn't Jeff Anderson's real hair. It was fake hair that was glued to his hat.
Kevin Smith was criticized for casting his wife Jennifer Schwalbach Smith in the movie. He defended himself by saying "I always cast my friends in my movies, why wouldn't I cast my best friend, which is my wife."
Walter Flanagan: The Quick Stop customer seen buying a pack of cigarettes at the end of the film is director Kevin Smith's close personal friend whom he often casts in his movies.
Scott Mosier: The Mooby's patron who covers his daughter's eyes after seeing Dante on the toilet is the film's producer and editor.
Kevin Smith: [Star Wars] (at around 27 mins) Randal champions the cause of the Star Wars films against The Lord of the Rings fans.
Kevin Smith: [comic book] (at around 13 mins) Emma's line to Dante, "Face it tiger. You just hit the jackpot", is the first line spoken by Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man #42 (November 1966) of the original comic book. This line was also re-used in The Return of the Spider-Slayers (1995), the first appearance of Mary Jane in the animated series. One of the movie's many tag lines ("With no power, comes no responsibility"), is a play on Spider-Man's mantra, "With great power, comes great responsibility".
Kevin Smith: [hockey] (at around 2 mins) A hockey goal and KOHO goalie stick can be seen when Randal leaves the house when Dante picks him up. Also, Randal wears a Leonardo Reapers hat throughout the film.
Kevin Smith: [poopy trim] (at around 4 mins) The words "poopy trim" can be seen on the plywood covering the window of the burned down Quick Stop. This is a running gag in the View Askewniverse.
Kevin Smith: [music] This was the third consecutive Smith film that James L. Venable did the original score for. The first two were Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Jersey Girl (2004), and the fourth was Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008).