Tommy Chong Movies
Canadian born Tommy Chong could boast a curious mixed lineage: Chinese, French, Scotch and Irish. A musician by inclination, Chong dropped out of high school as a sophomore, frequently working as a band member to support himself. At one point, Chong was playing with The Vancouvers, for whom he helped write a hit song, "Does Your Mama Know About Me?" Chong was exposed to quite a few improvisational comedy groups during his musical career; he developed a knack for getting laughs on his own, forming an improv group called City Works, which performed at a Vancouver nitery run by Tommy's brother. It is here that Chong met erstwhile humorist Richard "Cheech" Marin, who'd left his native Los Angeles for Canada in order to avoid the draft. Breaking away from City Works two years later, Cheech and Chong (as the act was now known) developed several routines built around the characters of two dim-witted dopers who aspired to nothing more than "good grass." By 1972, the team had won a Grammy award for their scatologically hilarious comedy albums. Cheech and Chong's record producer Lou Adler decided that the boys were movie material. The team's first film Up in Smoke (1978) turned out to be one of Warner Bros.' highest grossing films (in every sense of the word). Subsequent Cheech and Chong films didn't do quite so well; perhaps their time had passed, or perhaps their material was just too thin for a stream of comedy hits. In recent years, Cheech and Chong have worked separately and together with variable success, and both have contributed their vocal talents to Disney cartoon features. Chong is the father of actress Rae Dawn Chong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2009
Cameras were there when Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong re-teamed for their Light Up America comedy tour -- culminating in this Weinstein Co. documentary. The two split up over two decades before coming back together to perform new and old material to sold-out shows across the country. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2007
Inevitably recalling the shenanigans of Tom Green and Sasha Baron Cohen's Ali G, Canadian comedian Nardwuar the Human Serviette is essentially a provocateur who built his career out of shocking and offending politicians, actors, musicians, and other noteworthy public figures by pummeling them with outrageous and bizarre questions. Nardwuar particularly specializes in skewering anyone with an aura of self-righteous dignity or importance. Like Green, he rose to celebrity through the tunnels of public access television; the release Nardwuar the Human Serviette: Welcome to My Castle presents a "best of" compilation of interview footage from Nardwuar's 1990s local access series, in which he does Q&A with such guests as Pierre Eliot Trudeau, Ron Jeremy, Timothy Leary, Gerald Ford, Nirvana, Tony Robbins and many others. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nardwuar, Tommy Chong, (more)
- 2007
- Add American Drug War: The Last White Hope to QueueAdd American Drug War: The Last White Hope to top of Queue
This documentary follows director Kevin Booth as he investigates the world of illegal drugs, from street-corner dealers to high level kingpins, from narcotics officers to powerful judges. Appraoching his subject matter with a skeptical eye, Booth questions the effectiveness of the drug war, and the motives of those who continue to fuel it from all ends. Through research and investigation, Booth asserts that there might well be just as much greed, crime, and corruption on either side of the narcotics battle, as the drug war is steeped in issues of race and class. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Chong, Freeway Rick Ross, (more)
- 2005
Adam Carolla, Tommy Chong, Melvin Van Peebles, Barbara Hammer, Chris Gore, Linda Williams, and others discuss the history of the American "stag film" in his documentary from Bazaar Bizarre director Benjamin Meade. Up until the 1960s, the vast majority of American pornographic films were anonymously produced black and white shorts, that were frequently referred to as "blue movies" or "smokers" due to the fact that they were generally screened in cramped, smoke-filled rooms. While the early stag films were shot on 35mm film, the advent of 8mm and 16mm consumer stock opened the floodgates by making the format more accessible and allowing approximately 1000 of these films to be produced between 1915 and 1968. Featuring film clips from the largest private "stag film" collection in North America, American Stag explores the history of the "blue movie" not for the titillating subject manner or sub-par production values, but for the important role it played in helping to both shape and reflect American pop culture. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A veteran mobster discovers the grass is greener on the other side in this broad independent comedy. Frank (Frank Adonis) is a 60-year-old Mafia lieutenant who has been entrusted with a suitcase full of high-quality marijuana that has arrived in Manhattan from the Deep South and is ready for sale. Frank, however, happens to make the acquaintance of Jade (Theo Kogan), an attractive young woman who sings with a punk-rock band. Jade turns Frank's head, and she, in turn, samples the wares from Frank's suitcase. Jade persuades Frank to try some of the weed, and before long he has a decidedly more forgiving attitude about life and those around him. Frank's new laid-back personality, however, doesn't go over well with his bosses, especially after the stash he was given goes missing and ends up being stolen and re-stolen by a dizzying variety of underground personalities. High Times' Potluck -- which, as the title infers, was produced and financed in part by the well-known marijuana advocacy magazine -- also stars Jason Mews, Frank Gorshin, Sylvia Miles, and Jason Isaacs; noted cannabis enthusiasts Tommy Chong and David Peel also make cameo appearances. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This throwback to the frolicsome comedies of the 1970s is from writer/director D.J. Pooh, creator of Friday (1995) and 3 Strikes (2000). Dr. Dre stars as Sean, who's financially strapped and on the verge of losing his home and his car until his roommate Dee Loc Snoop Dogg suggests he join him as an employee at the local car wash. Tensions mount between the pals when the establishment's eccentric owner Mr. Washington (George Wallace) promotes the more mature and responsible Sean over Dee Loc, and Sean is subsequently forced to crack down on his scamming buddy's side hustles and locker room assignations with female co-workers. When their boss is kidnapped, however, Sean and Dee Loc must work together to save their employer, their jobs, and their friendship. Angell Conwell and Tom "Tiny" Lister Jr. co-star in this urban farce flavored with a hip-hop soundtrack. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, (more)
Series regular Tanya Roberts is conspicuous by her absence during season four of That '70s Show, while Tommy Chong is equally conspicuous by his omnipresence in the role of overaged hippie Leo. It is explained that Roberts' character, Midge Pinciotti, has left her husband, Bob (Don Stark), and has filed for divorce; meanwhile, funky Leo pops up at the oddest moments, at one point imaging that he is in love with Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp), mother of the series' teenaged protagonist Eric Forman (Topher Grace). The season opens with Eric down in the dumps over his breakup with his girlfriend, Bob and Midge's daughter, Donna (Laura Prepon). This plot strand begins harmlessly enough with an extended parody of It's a Wonderful Life, but takes on darker dimensions as the tension between Eric and Donna splits the sympathies of their friends right down the middle. Elsewhere, Eric's pal Steve Hyde (Danny Masterson) manages to get back in the good graces of Eric's dad, Red (Kurtwood Smith), and moves back in to the Forman's basement; Bob Pinciotti tries to get over his shattered marriage by entering into a romance with a woman named Joanne (Mo Gaffney); and hapless exchange student Fez (Wilmer Valderamma) still hasn't lost his virginity. Highlight episodes include "Class Picture," in which Eric and his friends flash back to their first meeting, when all of them were second-graders; and the series' 100th installment, a tuneful fantasy titled "That '70s Musical." In the closing episode of season four, Donna splits with her present boyfriend and runs back to Eric, who feigns indifference. Alas, by the time Eric realizes what a mistake he has made by turning his back on his true love, a tearful Donna has left Wisconsin and is on her way to California. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, (more)
Returning from a food run, kindly kindergarten teacher Kenny (Harland Williams) makes the mistake of feeding a massive amount of junk food to a tired-looking, diabetic NYPD horse, which drops dead. Tossed in jail, Kenny relies on his totally stoned roommates (Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Diaz, Jim Breuer) to devise a way to raise the 100,000-dollar bail. Their solution? Sell marijuana stolen from a government research lab. Cameos in this comedy include Stephen Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Stephen Baldwin, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Willie Nelson, and Jon Stewart. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Diaz, (more)
The most disorganized crew in the Navy returns in this updated adaptation of the once-popular TV sitcom. Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (Tom Arnold) has retired from the U.S. Navy and is living on the old PT boat he used to command. He spends his days making the rounds of the Caribbean Island of San Moreno, where he was stationed at the end of his career and now peddles pin-up calendars and booze to sailors. However, McHale's idyllic surroundings are soon spoiled when Vladikov (Tim Curry), tired of being known as the "second-best terrorist in the world," decides to stage a bid for world domination and targets San Moreno first. Desperate to fend off Vladikov, Capt. Binghampton (Dean Stockwell) calls McHale back to active duty. McHale is once again saddled with a crew of misfits and losers, including the easily frightened Ensign Parker (David Alan Grier), straight-laced Lt. Carpenter (Debra Messing), good-natured Happy (French Stewart), and Virgil (Bruce Campbell). Ernest Borgnine, star of the original TV series, appears in a small role as a high-ranking Pentagon official who turns out to be McHale's father. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Arnold, Tim Curry, (more)
- 1995
- R
- Add National Lampoon's Senior Trip to QueueAdd National Lampoon's Senior Trip to top of Queue
In this over-the-top comedy, a group of rowdy high-school students -- whose idea of a good time is throwing a wild party at the home of Principal Moss (Matt Frewer) while he's busy at school -- winds up in detention. As punishment, they're instructed to write an essay on what's wrong with America's educational system. The class brain, stuck in detention with the partiers, comes up with a well-written piece that's sent to the president of the U.S. The president is so impressed that he invites the students to Washington, D.C., to speak before Congress. Sen. John Lerman (Lawrence Z. Dane), one of the president's chief rivals, knows the truth about the students, and he seconds the idea of bringing them to Washington, certain that their behavior will embarrass the president. Principal Moss, sex-starved teacher Tracy Milford (Valerie Mahaffey), and drug-addled bus driver Red (Tommy Chong) load the troublemakers onto a bus and hit the road for the nation's capitol -- and mayhem ensues. National Lampoon's Senior Trip was helmed by Kelly Makin, who also directed the TV series Kids in the Hall; Kevin McDonald, a former Kid in the Hall, has a small part as a deranged crossing guard. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Frewer, Valerie Mahaffey, (more)
- 1992
- G
- Add FernGully: The Last Rainforest to QueueAdd FernGully: The Last Rainforest to top of Queue
A man finds himself living among the animals and enchanted spirits of the rainforest, and learns of the true consequences of human destruction in this animated adventure. Crysta (voice of Samantha Mathis) is a young fairy who is being tutored in the powers of magic by the older and wiser Magi (voice of Grace Zabriskie) in an Amazon rain forest. While their home was once on the verge of destruction thanks to the evil spirit Hexxus (voice of Tim Curry), the demon has been trapped inside a tree, and Crysta is free to play with her friends Batty Koda (voice of Robin Williams), a bat who escaped from an animal testing facility, and Pips (voice of Christian Slater), who has obvious romantic intentions toward the attractive young sprite. However, a clear-cutting crew destroys the tranquil peace of the rainforest, and when Crysta sees a runaway logging machine about to run over lumberjack Zak (voice of Jonathan Ward), she saves his life by shrinking him to her own size. However, Crysta isn't able to bring Zak back to his normal size, so he's forced to live among the forest creatures and learn first-hand the devastation the humans have brought to this world -- especially when the loggers accidentally free Hexxus from captivity. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Curry, Robin Williams, (more)
Making great fun of the '70s, this lively sci-fi comedy centers on a trio of time travellers who go into the past in hopes of retrieving the Constitution to celebrate America's 300th birthday. Unfortunately, the travelers end up in 1976 not 1776. The trouble is, they don't realize it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Cassidy, Olivia D'Abo, (more)
Starring many of his family members, this is Tommy Chong's (of the well-known duo, Cheech and Chong) first solo production. As an outdated hippie, Far Out Man (Tommy Chong) searches to relive his lost youth by traveling across the country. C. Thomas Howell, Judd Nelson, and Cheech Marin all make cameo appearances in this far out film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Chong, Shelby Chong, (more)
- 1989
- R
An obsessed government agent and a ruthless terrorist have some grudges to settle in this intense actioner. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terence Knox, David Warner, (more)
- 1986
Designed for adult audiences, this roast includes a collection of celebrities as they insult and abuse comedian Tommy Chong. ~ All Movie Guide
Martin Scorsese's After Hours is a dark, tragi-comic tale of a fish out of water, centering on an uptight, white-bread computer consultant from uptown Manhattan who finds himself in the nightmarish and incomprehensible (to him) world of Soho after dark. The ordeal begins when Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne) gets lonely and decides to leave the posh East Side and search the Soho streets for some loving from Marcy (Rosanna Arquette), the pretty young woman he met in a downtown cafe. He has her phone number and works up the nerve to call. She wants to see him, and so Paul grabs $20, hails a taxi and sets out. The weirdness begins when he loses his money during the high-speed cab ride. His visit to Marcy's loft, where he meets her crazed artist roommate Kiki (Linda Fiorentino), is a disaster, as is his encounter with the beehive-wearing retro waitress Julie (Teri Garr). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, (more)
- 1985
Long before Richard "Cheech" Marin was a grey-maned, highly respected character actor, he was one half of the dopehead comedy team of Cheech and Chong. Made in 1985, the 53-minute video Get Out of My Room was one of C&C's final efforts before their amicable breakup. The video softpedals the drug jokes in favor of sexual banter. The "plot," you see, consists of Cheech and Chong's advice to potential video directors, which boils down to "hire lots of girls." Featured in the cast are Cassandra Peterson, aka "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark," and none other than Jan Michael Vincent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- PG
- Add Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers to QueueAdd Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers to top of Queue
Filmed on location "Somewhere in France", this umpteenth version of Dumas' The Corsican Brothers stars the zoned-out comedy team of Cheech and Chong. Perhaps inspired by the Ritz Bros.' spin on The Three Musketeers, the duo retains enough of the original story (about twin brothers who feel one another's pain) to keep the plot going, but try to inject their own peculiar brand of humor throughout. The film's highlight is a duel with two loaves of stale bread. Yes, that's the highlight. Just as the 1930s comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey lost their audience when they dropped their risque humor and Prohibition gags, so too do Cheech and Chong falter when not indulging in the drug-oriented comedy which made them famous in the early 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
This colorful spoof of pirate movies had all the makings of a classic farce and yet sank straight to Davy Jones' locker at the box-office, for despite it's all-star international cast of famous comedians, and despite the fact that it was largely co-written by "Monty Python"-veteran Graham Chapman and former "Fringie" Peter Cook, the darned thing just wasn't funny. The sketches center around the core story of the dread pirate Yellowbeard's quest for a fabulous treasure, the map for which is tattooed on the head of his prissy son, who wants nothing to do with ships and pirate shenanigans. This was the final film of bug-eyed, beloved comedian Marty Feldman, who died of heart-failure before production finished. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Graham Chapman, Peter Boyle, (more)
In this fourth Cheech and Chong adventure, the duo's view of humor, drugs, and sex are let loose in Amsterdam. Still Smokin' finds the two comedians arriving in the Netherlandish capital to go the city's first film festival, where they are mistaken for Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds -- a sure sign that the festival and this film are doomed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
Goofy team Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong play chauffeurs hired by a couple of Arabs (also played by the two) to make a cross-country trip with a limo which happens to contain $5 million hidden inside. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
- 1982
- PG
Latter-day comedy stars like Dan Aykroyd and John Candy host this compilation of clips from Hollywood's most famed bad movies, including Plan 9 From Outer Space, Untamed Women and Robot Monster. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, (more)
- 1981
- R
- Add Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams to QueueAdd Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams to top of Queue
Here, the dope-smoking duo are working on an ice-cream truck, and their specially treated confections are more than just a hit for the kids. Nice Dreams is the third in the series. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
In an unfunny, scattered sequel to their successful Up in Smoke, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong reprise their roles as carefree men who do inhale. But this time around Cheech is out of a job and trying to dodge his bilious neighbor while chasing the lovely Donna (Evelyn Guerrero) with anything but honorable intentions. Meanwhile, Cheech's cousin Red (also Cheech Marin) and Chong go tooling around Hollywood in a luxury sports car looking for adventure. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, (more)
