April 20 may be Earth Day and also a great day to go record shopping at your local mom & pop record store store (Record Store Day) but it’s also the most celebrated day of the year for the cannabis culture.
420, which according to urban legend, started in San Rafael, California, is a day to relax and embrace your inner stoner. For those cannabis inclined or not here is a list of some of the best “stoner” movies to enjoy on 420.
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Ah the 70s … High School kids blazing away with a great all star cast including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Mila Jovovich, Parker Posey and more.
Wooderson (McConaughey): “Say, man, you got a joint?”
Mitch: “No, not on me, man.”
Wooderson: “It’d be a lot cooler if you did.”
Friday (1995), Next Friday (2000), Friday After Next (2002)
We could include the sequels as well but the original is just that original. Chris Tucker and Ice Cube just getting high and getting into trouble. Look for the fourth installment in the series Last Friday in 2013.
Smokey (Chris Tucker): “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 sh** to do.”
Pineapple Express (2008)
Buddy stoner movie that puts a hapless Seth Rogen (dating a high school student) with dealer James Franco and Danny McBride against a drug cartel. Danny McBride delivery of “thug life” might have been worth the 90 minutes.
Saul (James Franco): “It’s almost a shame to smoke it. It’s like killing a unicorn… with, like, a bomb.”
Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)
Have to pay homage to two of the stoner greats. The duo get arrested, deported, smuggle a van made entirely out of weed across the US border all the while being pursued by the over zealous Stacy Keech. Nice cameo by Tom Skerrit as Cheech’s tripped out cousin Strawberry. The crazed movie ends with Cheech in a tutu playing a Battle of the Bands at LA’s Roxie Theater.
Cheech: “Hey man how am I drivin’?”
Chong: “I think we’re parked man.”
Super High Me (2008)
This does not seem like a list that would include a documentary but comedian Dave Benson doc is just too good. Taking a page from Super Size Me, Benson basically spends a month stoned and films it all.
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Before he was punching out paparazzi or pissing off Glenn Beck, Sean Penn gave us the prototype for the stoner with Jeff Spicoli. Add to that the young but all-star cast and the classic Phoebe Cates pool scene and you’ve got a winner.
Jeff Spicoli: “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.”
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) All three Harold and Kumar films hold their own stoner gems and the always epic appearance of Neil Patrick Harris. They burn down things, get arrested, shot at, ride cheetahs, meet George W Bush – all while either getting high or discussing if they should be high.
Half Baked (1998) Team up Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer and you’ve got some weed smoking gold. Add in “Billy Bong Thorton” and “Wesley Pipes” Thurgood Jenkins (Dave Chappelle): “And then you got your straight-up potheads. You can spot these people by their lack of motivation, mood swings, forgetfulness and, of course, the dreaded low sperm count.”
Movies That Beg For Stoners: Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) Alice in Wonderland (2010) The Wizard of Oz (1939) Movie That You Should Never Ever Watch While High – I Mean It – Don’t Do It The Shining (1980) … seriously … it will NOT be a pleasant experience. And as always remember …
— Bradford Hornsby, LIVE 105/San Francisco
