Half Baked (1998)

Nostalgia for the '70s continues in Half Baked, a light-headed comedy that joins films like Dazed and Confused and Up in Smoke in the venerable "stoner genre." The bawdy storyline proudly teems with sex and drugs, and is not intended for those who find no humor in marijuana use. Director Tamra Davis starts out the stoned story on a "high" note, as the four main characters discover pot during the ninth grade. Unfortunately, the structure soon collapses and the countless pot jokes become repetitive. The humor evaporates altogether whenever the film focuses on the tepid love story between Dave Chappelle and Rachel True. However, strong performances from Jim Breuer and Harland Williams elevate many of the bland scenes, and Chappelle's performance as Sir-Smoke-A-Lot is absolutely hysterical. The movie also features a number of wonderful cameos, including Willie Nelson, Tommy Chong, and Snoop Doggy Dog. While Chappelle's film cannot rival those of grass gurus Cheech and Chong, many thick-skinned moviegoers in the mood to thumb their noses at political correctness may find merit in this drugged-out effort. ~ Adam Goldberg, All Movie Guide