The release of Pineapple Express had the folks at theDVDlounge’s Department of Polling buzzing about the best films about getting high available on DVD. There are plenty of lame, bad and forgettable films in this genre. They grow like weeds. Evil Bong, Polk County Pot Plane, Maryjane and Home Grown weren’t as potent as their titles. One of our young interns was giggled out of the conference room for suggesting The Breakfast Club. John Hughes lied. Dope does not inspire you to perform dance routines in a school library. Without too much science and a full bag of Cheetos, we semi-proudly present the 10 Films on DVD that understand what it’s like to inhale inside Snoop Dogg’s tour bus.
10. Land of Look Behind (1982) [Buy it Amazon.com]
Is not viewing for anyone in a rehab program. This documentary deals with Jamaica during the funeral of Bob Marley. Alan Greenberg and his small crew wander into the hills and hang with the Rastas. This is not the area featured on the tourist brochures. There’s so much real ganja smoked on screen that you might get a contact high off the DVD.
9. Dazed and Confused (1993) [Buy it Amazon.com]
On the last day of school in 1976, the only thing not thrown out bus window was rolling papers. The soon-to-be all-star cast are ready to party on a hot Texas night. All they need to score is a location and a few ounces. A high school quarterback is off the team if he doesn’t sign a pledge to avoid puffing. Did someone tell this to Ricky Williams?
8. Clerks (1994) [Buy it Amazon.com]
For decades the guys who deal dope in movies were treated as sinister elements seeking to hook kindergartners on narcotics. Things changed when Kevin Smith created Jay and Silent Bob. They set up outside the Quick Stop and reminded us that weed dealers were more annoying than destroying.
7. How High (2001) [Buy it Amazon.com]
If you smoke marijuana mixed with the ashes of a dead friend, you can get smart enough to be accepted into Harvard. That’s what Redman and Method Man do to get their Ivy league education. How many kids showed up for their Harvard interviews after getting loaded thinking this movie was a documentary?
6. Reefer Madness (1936) [Buy it Amazon.com] / Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) [Buy it Amazon.com]
This is a double feature for a long night of fun. The original is a major drug scare film. See how a single joint can easily turn you into a laughing homicidal maniac. The Musical plays with all the outrageous drama and “science” used in the first. Alan Cumming’s multiple roles will trip you out. He warns and tempts the youth of squeaky clean America with a variety of tunes.
5. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) [Buy it Amazon.com]
Before Sean Penn became an uptight leftie artist, he was Jeff Spicoli. The image of the surfer dude transformed from the clean cut Frankie Avalon to the stoner guy with pipe dreams of hitting the waves with the Stones. The smoke coming out of Spicoli’s VW microbus wasn’t coming from a busted water pump.
4. Friday (1995) [Buy it Amazon.com]
“I know you don’t smoke weed, I know this; but I’m gonna get you high today, ’cause it’s Friday; you ain’t got no job…and you ain’t got (BLEEP) to do.” What a beautiful quote from Chris Tucker’s lips. Unfortunately Ice Cube blew our buzz with Next Friday and Friday After Next.
3. Half Baked (1998) [Buy it Amazon.com]
This film did major research when it presented the “characters” of Billy Bong Thorton and Wesley Pipes. There seems to be 420 major stars making cameos including Jon Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson. Perhaps the entire cast was paid in brownies? Enjoy Dave Chappelle in the role of Sir Smoke-a-Lot before he swore off the demon weed.
2. Harold and Kumar Go to the White Castle (2004) [Buy it Amazon.com]
There are few films that deliver on the promises of a completely high experience. There was a lot of hype about this Asian and Indian duo taking dope comedy into the 21st Century. Their quest for the juicy slammers at White Castle sacked the prize. Their encounters ratcheted up the wild times including Neil Patrick Harris getting buck nasty with skanky strippers. By the time this video is over, you’ll be hardcore begging for a trip to the White Castle among other things.
1. Cheech and Chong’s That Movie [Buy it Amazon.com]
We’re not sure which of their first three film is best simply because they’ve blurred in our minds. Up In Smoke (link provided above), Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie and Nice Dreams are like Neapolitan ice cream that’s been swirled. The duo knew how to work a dope joke. Driving through the border check in a van made out of the green? How about turning a cop into a lizard? Using a fake pool for a grow house? Shame their streak cashed out. The Corsican Brothers can be used to see if your party pals have slipped into a coma. Call 911 if they can’t muster the energy to tell you to turn the channel.
It’s always best to partake with company. Here is our ranking for the top 5 cinematic duos that enjoy threesomes with Mary Jane:
5. Jay and Silent Bob
4. Redman and Method Man
3. Harold and Kumar
2. Cheech and Chong
1. Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg.
