I wouldn't ordinarily have spent my money on this movie, but I'm glad I went
A clever, well-crafted story/script, with tremendous acting. Seth Rogan and James Franco are without peer. A couple of potheads, Rogan the buyer, a process server who specializes in costumes to get to the servee, and the dealer, Franco, who's high all the time.
In a love/hate relationship, these two stoners form a relationship that finally proves redemptive for both.
A story that combines humor and tragedy, sorrow and silliness, the film brings it off surprisingly well. Most such efforts fail for lack of being one or the other, and rarely both or more. But curiously, this one wins on all counts.
At first, I thought: Okay, just another stupid story about stupid people doing drugs, thinking how cool they are when, in fact, they're idiots.
But ultimately, the message came through loud and clear from both of them - doing drugs and being high all the time is pure idiocy, and it's time for them to be real friends with a real purpose.
They get involved in all sorts of high jinks, beginning when Rogan witnesses a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and a drug kingpin (Gary Cole), on whom he was going to serve a subpoena, murder a competitor. He flees to the one friend he has: the drug dealer (Franco), who knows the murderer. As you might guess, the bad guys figure out who the guy in the car (Franco) was, and the chase begins. There's car chases - really funny - mayhem, shooting and death. There's a price to be paid for such living, and pay, they do.
But friendship emerges ... and that's the nub of the story: friendship, through thick and thin - sticking by one another, and learning that friendship trumps most everything else.
I found it interesting to note what the audience laughed at. I'm 64, and the audience was clearly younger, but I was grateful they were there. More than just another stoner film, this movie had a message.
Did folks get it?
Who knows, but I was impressed with the story and the fine acting.
I think this one is definitely worth seeing. Be prepared to laugh a lot. But who knows, you might find yourself thinking pretty deeply about doing or not doing drugs, and in a social environment that practices utilitarian relationships, thinking about real friendship.
