According to legend, when comedy duo Cheech and Chong started filming Nice Dreams, they didn't really have a script - they just had a three and a half page long treatment. It would have been very easy for a film based on such thin material to have turned disastrous. In the comic minds of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong (who also directed here), however, what we get is an absurdist picaresque that nearly borders on genius.
The film follows Cheech and Chong as two marijuana dealers. They wander around town and fall into absurd situations and meet absurd people while hapless police officers stalk them (including Stacy Keach as a stoner police sergeant that turns into a human-lizard hybrid - really).
Whether you have a natural taste for the absurd, or whether you develop a taste for the absurd through messing with your brain chemistry, there is a lot here to like. The duo never tries to force an overarching story onto the proceedings; they just amble around goofily and never take anything too seriously (perhaps until a deliriously absurd fever dream about capital punishment - featuring Michael Winslow as Jimi Hendrix). Credit to the stars for being willing to poke fun of themselves as much as anyone - a key to divesting the film of maliciousness. Chong does a nice job as director making a technically competent production while letting the absurdity breathe before the camera. This is a movie from the mind of two very funny guys that seemingly were just out to have a good time. I enjoyed the ride.
Screened on Crackle.
This is easily my favorite of all the Cheech & Chong movies after UP IN SMOKE. Stacy Keach and Paul Reubens steal every scene they're in. Peter Jason, better known for his work in John Carpenter's movies, also does some side-splitting improv as the cop trying to get answers out of hopelessly baked stoners ("Bud Good is Mr. Big!").
ReplyDeleteYes, pretty much all the cop scenes are gold. Love the randomness of this one. There's a good article about Tim Rossovich (the other detective) from when he was in the NFL and had a reputation for insane antics off the field: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085320/index.htm
DeleteI give "Nice Dreams" a 7/10, enjoyable Cheech & Chong movie although not as great as the classic "Up in Smoke" and the very good "Next Movie", this is IMO their last film worth watching
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