The Stöned Age (1994)

It's sad that many people who commented on this gem, either didn't get it, nitpick over it's faults (yes they are there but all movies have them), or want to compare it to Dazed and Confused. They are two different movies altogether. For one the kids in Dazed and Confused were essentially the 10% - rich, athletic, and popular kids in school partying it up. Then of course there was the rest of us.If you were an average teen in the late 70's or early 80's, driving, drinking, and smoking whatever you could afford then you got this movie for sure. Smoking skank weed out of a crushed Shlitz Malt Liquor tall can - been there, did it. Driving a vehicle that was a barely moving invitation for the cops to bust you (try a brush painted green Chevy Luv pickup for nasty)- did that too. Getting wasted and crashing the rich kid/jock kegger with your friends - did that more times than I can count.I especially liked how the writer/director portrayed Joe and Hubbs - for once long haired, hard rock listening, beer swilling, stoners weren't turned into violent sociopaths. There was no nannying Lifetime style message about drug and alcohol use. These were good kids, who while on the wild side, would more than likely grow up to be pretty responsible adults - like most of us did.It's sad there was never a follow up to this one. I liked the characters enough that seeing them in later years (can you picture both Joe and Hubbs being the father character, dealing with the hip hop listening punks of today - I could)would surely be worth seeing.This a great, nearly forgotten gem that deserves the 10 I gave it. Crack open a tall OX 45, light up some lumbo and enjoy

This movie is a classic comedy that really hits home for those who were in high school in the late '70s and early '80s. Although it is supposed to take place in the '70s, having grown up in that decade and the following one, it feels and looks more like the early '80s. In any case, what I love about this film is that it captures the vibe of that era perfectly. For example, nobody in high school today would dare drive a car like the beat-up and seriously disheveled piece of crap VW station wagon that Joe and Hubs drive. Yet such embarrassing means of transport were de rigueur back in the day. I even knew someone who drove a modified post office truck to school. You see, not everyone had money back then. And, rather than be embarrassed by this fact, most just made the best they could of it - like Joe, Hubs, and Tack. In fact, what I like most about the film is that it depicts the middle class of this country like it really is - stripped of all of its pretensions and insecurities. The backbone of our middle class is the blue-collar and working classes. Without them, there would be no middle class. They do all the hard, back breaking physical work necessary for the upper middle class to continue living in comfort. When I first saw this movie, I viewed superficially as just one more good-times stoner film. Having watched it repeatedly, however, I see more clearly the subtleties embedded involving coping with the class and social distinctions we all have to cope with growing up in our culture. Definitely a classic film even if low budget. I would compare it more, though, with the Cheech and Chong films than with Dazed and Confused.

This movie is excellent. I could watch it over and over again and it would never get old. It is at the forefront of intuitive and thoughtful comedy. I would recommend that anybody who hasn't seen this movie go out right now and rent it. For those who lead mundane lifestyles hopefully it will encourage them to have fun. For those who live their lives like I do I'm sure they will enjoy it just as much as I did. There's nothing like laughter to let you cast aside your worries and inhibitions. And I love the fact that it has Grace Slick's daughter in it. I liked listening to her when she was with Jefferson Airplane. Feed your head!

spoilers to follow:various details about characters are noted early on. there is the imperfect hero, and the other who joins him. there's the quest. narratively, everything's set up. early points are neatly knotted, the hero displays the necessary fortitude when it matters, the quest is fulfilled (in various ways) by the two. the whole time, they evade obstacles and play one hilarious prank.humor is tricky, so it's notable when it's done well. this one's is satisfying and funny, but probably not for everyone. would probably appeal to American men born during the johnson administration, or after.