Half
Baked (1998)
Calling this the funniest comedy about marijuana since
"Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke" really isn't a compliment.
What other comedies about pot are there? The 70's comedy
duo went on to make several stupid and abysmal films
after their original hilarious romp and then fizzled
out completely. Other than "Reefer Madness," I can't
think of one other comedy about marijuana ever made.
Comparatively, "Half Baked" is pretty good. Compared
to all the other movies made lately, it's a weak, poorly
acted, poorly directed, mildly amusing typical comedy.
It's the usual single note joke repeated ad infinitum
until it almost bores. There's hardly anything original
here at all.
The threadbare plot involves a group of four friends
who live in the same cluttered apartment and all smoke
weed. The film is bold in a way, showing the 4 as young
teens enjoying their first high. After that it denigrates
into typical low brow comedy that tries to be something
more than it is. For example, the friends, played by
David Chappelle, Jim Breuer (both of "SNL"), Guillermo
Diaz and Harland Williams ("Rocketman"), share the apartment
with "The Guy" (Stephen Wright) who only gets up off
the couch to pee. There are other little "absurdist"
touches but none of them really amount to much.
The plot has Williams accused of killing a cop's horse
(in a slightly humorous way) and sent to prison. There
Tommy Chong adopts him as his "bitch" to protect his
"virgin ass" from a beefy black inmate who wants it.
The three remaining potheads decide to sell the drug
to raise cash for bail. Meanwhile, Chappelle meets a
sweet girl, Mary Jane (get it) played by Rachael True
("The Craft"). She doesn't like drugs so Chappelle has
to do some fancy footwork to hide his habit.
The film's plot really isn't all that important. It's
the humor that is supposed to carry the piece. The most
fun that the film has is in utilizing cameos of some
famous folk playing potheads of different types. Janeane
Garofalo, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Jon Stewart, and Willie
Nelson all take part in this device. (I think Steven
Baldwin does too but I'm not sure). Also, Chappelle
plays a rap artist named Sir Smokes-A- Lot for some
funny moments. Finally, Clarence Williams III appears
as a rival dealer who forces a showdown with our heros.
Director Tamara Davis is yet to direct a competent
film and here is no exception. She isn't able to show
jokes correctly. Her timing is off. Her films look cheap
and phony. She always opts for the cheapest, easiest
way to bring us the scenes. She hardly ever goes out
on a limb and when she does it's for a gag that doesn't
work. It's rather infuriating. Her films should be avoided
like the plague. Of course, the rather lame script by
Chappelle and Neal Brennan doesn't help. The fact that
Brennan's best credit prior to this is for writing for
Nickelodeon's "Keenan and Kel" should be a good clue
to the level of humor here.
Potheads won't find very much to be amused about in
"Half Baked"- unless, of course, their smoking some
really good stuff.
Note:
Music by Alf Clausen.
Spoof in the film include take-off on "Batman," (the
60's TV series) and "Jerry Maguire."
Jerry Garcia is used as a character, in a way.
Review written in 1998
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Report
Card
Script:
D
Acting: D
Cinematography\Lighting: F
Special Effects\Make Up: F
Music: C
Final
Grade: D
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