BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
I love Cheech and Chong. Even long before I ever cheeched and even longer before I chonged in my early 20's, I was a small child who really enjoyed their old movies. Obviously I grew up in a foggy home, but the comedy, characters, and antics of these two stoners were a big part of the edgier comedy I was exposed to as a kid. I was laughing at these guys as a kid because they were silly and fun. Then as I grew older I’d laugh for a whole new set of reasons. It’s always fun to re-experience things like that from totally different places in life. Even the long stretch of time they weren’t working together, I’d always look out of them in other things. Regardless, I’ve never not enjoyed these guys. When I first heard they were doing a new animated feature film I was pretty damn excited. I’ve never gotten the opportunity to anticipate a Cheech and Chong movie so I was stoked at the whole experience. It was promoted as an animated adventure so in my mind they were going to go all out. Anything would be possible because the limitations of real life would not be a problem at all. Then I finally sit down with this movie and my heart is slowly broken. They do have an “adventure”, but it’s a loosely tied together story that’s based all around their old album and movie sketches. We get all of their classic bits in fun little animated shorts puzzled together for one almost-full length movie. It was fun and I’m happy I watched it, but I was hoping for something new and fresh. I’d love to get their perspective on the life and times of now. This felt a little too hokey, a little too crisp, a little too clean, and a little too obvious. While nothing made me mad or annoyed, it’s just not going to stick with me in the long term like their old projects. It mainly felt like one of those failed MTV2 cartoons or a bunch of good web shorts put together with a big bow. The jokes were funny, but they were funnier 30 years ago. I think this could also be my fault. Maybe I had too high of expectations? If you’re looking to have your mind blown by two of the most iconic stoners of all time then you’re a few decades late. But if you’re green to their comedy or if you want to just casually laugh at some old school stoner comedy then you’ll want to watch this. I’d rather watch the original movies or listen to the albums. I recommend those. C+
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