Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical : terrible. completely misses its potential

I expected this to be a funny movie that would appeal to stoners by making fun of the original 1936 Reefer Madness.

I now realize that the original is already so funny in and of itself. And this is just boring. This movie (or Broadway musical, I'm not sure which came first) did not need to be made.

First let me preface by saying that while musical comedy is probably not a very popular genre with the stoner crowd, I LOVE musical comedies. Although most musicals are straight, some of them are pretty out there, and play well to the stoner crowd - Hair, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tommy all come to mind. So I can appreciate a good musical. And a good musical this was NOT. The songs are just plain bad. The music is pure elevator music. Its canned, forced, boring. There's not one catchy hook or melody.

I feel so bad for Alan Cumming, who I adored in Cabaret. This has to be a career low for him.

Now, as far as the stoner culture comedy goes, there is none.
This movie wants to be "in" on the whole joke, but its not. It thinks it's parodying the rigid, stalwart opposition to marijuana in the 30s by showing how over the top Alan Cumming's character was. But in reality, no one was ever that ridiculously against marijuana. That's why this doesn't work at all. This would have been funnier if it was more realistic.

The original Reefer Madness is funny today because when it was made the filmmakers were serious. But we know that the filmmakers of today's Reefer Madness were not serious, so it doesn't work.

Furthermore, the movie focuses far too much on the straight story. We honestly couldn't care less. THere is far too much going on in the plot. Too many characters. Too much character development. No one cares.

All I can say is what a terrible waste of an idea. They obviously put a lot of effort into this, with the choreography and costumes and all. But it was so apparent that it was all a second-rate effort at best. The music, the lyrics, the choreography, the dialogue, the costumes, the set design - it was all Grade B or worse.

whoa whoa whoa now i think you're getting way out of line here. these people worked hard on this, and a lot of people really enjoyed it. take your negative opinions else where

ha ha

you're free to disagree with me, or defend the movie by responding to my specific criticisms
but to say "take your negative opinions elsewhere" is just funny.

my negative opinions belong right here next to your positive opinions.
that's what imdb is all about. thats what the internet is all about. its called "free speech". get used to it. ha :)

I think the world for this movie is satire. Not sure. Be straight but exagerate.
Part of the fun comes from the fact that some people may try to use the musical as an update of the original and use it as a "fun" way to tell kids to say no to drugs. (My high school would, I'm sure. They refrenced the Matrix to teach abstinance, for pizza's sake) It's a message film, but the real message isn't really obvioussomething like that.

I'm a HippyGoth. Smiley faces with fangs, grey-tone tie-dye, and so on.

Oh my! Do tell us about the Matrix! How did your school manage to use that? LOL that's hilarious.

I have to disagree - the original was funny because it was perfectly serious, this one was funny because it featured dancing Jesus. You can't really compare them ;)

It's the little jokes that give me most glee, like "I don't speak Mexican!" or the fact that when [spoilerish] Ana Gasteyer stabs the garden hoe down behind the couch, it STAYS standing up XD[/spoilerish].

I feel that you've missed the point of the movie entirely, Alan Cumming's character was able to scare all the parents into believing that marijuana was something that was going to destroy the "Good old USA", with a combination of scare tactics he achieved his goal. He played on people's religous beliefs. Any one who offered a different opinion on the matter he systematically tore down in front of their peers. Much like anyone who opposed the Iraq war was called unpatriotic and were singled out, and forced to go with the mob. The ending scene where the crowd is having a book burning is reminiscent of a Nazi book burning, people going with the mob which lead to disaster.
Finnaly this isn't Alan Cumming's lowpoint, that has to be Son of the Mask.

Hm, I'm going to assume you didn't mean to respond directly to my post but to the original one in the thread, since mine was just about the silly things I enjoyed in the film, and therefore didn't need to go in to the various political satires in it [which I recognised all by myself!] ;)

And I was going to suggest Josie and the Pussycats, but Son of the Mask wins hands down I think ;) Love Alan Cumming, though!

I liked him in Titus with Anthony Hopkins

So you liked this satire but not that satire? Now that's funny.

-Nam

The original was supposed to be serious propoganda, but if you watched the bonus materials they talked about how the actors in the original 30's movie knew they were doing something ridiculous while the producers thought they were making a seriously educational film. so the original has not just bad acting, it's purposely exaggerated overacting, so you can't exactly call it "perfectly serious" because they weren't all on the same page.

parodies like this are tricky though because some people love the kitsch & campiness while others find the overacting annoying, even though it's supposed to be that way

I really enjoyed this film! It's a starnge blend of Little Shop of Horrors, Grease, and The Rocky Horror Show. I really, REALLY loved it and think it's highly underrated considering the amazing talent involved.

Wow,i thought the movie was brilliant.absolutely hands down,brilliance.
it showed that even people youve never heard of before are great singers dancers and actresses,and opens youre mind to the fact that there are more out there.so it definitely isnt a movie that the film critics would say is the movie of the year,but it was a stage production far before it was a movie.
something i think some of you dont getits not meant to bring down marijuana.
i would say it definitly promotes marijuana use,and its one of the best movies to smoke to by far.

so yeah,guy who started the message,smoke some pot next time you watch this movie,youll change your mind.(and thats being really nice to you)

connorboo2002,

fyi, i DID smoke up before I watched this.
i find that smoking pot makes funny movies even funnier and good movies even better, but unfortunately if the movie is bad to begin with, it makes it even worse, because i can totally see through it.

as a fan of both musicals and marijuana humor i really thought i would enjoy this, but it all just seemed so overdone, pointless.

but if other people enjoyed it, good for them. i don't want to be too much of a downer, so i'll stop contributing to this thread now.

i love the movie and all but in the long run its not really about . id hadrly say that there is a mmessage in this movie, and your completely wrong about it promoting . Its promoting camp.

I didn't read all that, but I understand you didn't like it. I really disagree, me and my friends are like obsessed with it.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I was confused, you seem a little contradictory you didn't like Cummings being over the top because "no one was ever that ridiculously against marijuana", yet admit that the orginial was funny to you because the film makers were serious. True it is exaggerated, I doubt anyone did musical numbers over outlawing marijuana but there were very strong opponents pushing to have it made illegal to protect their business interest. The satire of the film is wrapped up in the closing scenes, I can't recall the exact lines but it is something to the affect of "exploit their fear, the ends will justify the means" They took something the people valued - their children, and made it seem they were in danger in order to force the people into action This has happened throughout history be it against drugs, evolution, communism or rock music.

I love this movie just based on the campy fun, Joan of Arc was my favorite character

I also don't think a Grade B is that bad of a grade so I don't know why your comment was bothering people

okay maybe i was too hard on it.

i guess the bottom line for me was that i just didn't think the music was very good.
the choreography was pretty good, so some of the musical numbers were fun.

but the music itself was just not good, in my opinion. i've seen a lot of musicals, so my standards are pretty high. i

As both a theatrical engineer and an avid pot-smoker for more than half my life I like to think I can offer an different perspective than what has been offered so far I really enjoyed this absolutely campy and kitch filled musical. I do agree that some of the musical nubmers were a bit too cliched and i found myself slightly bored at points, but and this is a big but, the rest of the film definetly makes of for the slow points. Kristin Bell is quite cute and rather loveable in the role of Mary Lane, and the younger brother from Wing (i'm too stoned and lazy right now to go look up his *beep* cracks me up as the pot dealing villian. I have a huge amount of respect for the cast and crew in LA that orignially put this play on stage as I'm sure it was a huge undertaking and a rather massive risk to the financial backers. I can understand the people who did'nt appreciate the film, but i say to them, smoke a big blunt and watch it again with the thought in mind that they're not just parodying the 1930's film reefer madness, but every cliched piece of musical theatre that has come before it.

I agree with the main post. I was pretty disappointed in Reefer Madness: The Musical, and I ADORE both musical comedy and marijuana satire.

I had planned to see Reefer Madness in NYC for my birthday, but it closed before I had the chance. So I bought the soundtrack a few years ago and I only found two songs to be catchy (the Listen To Jesus tunes and the title track). I had hoped that the Showtime rendition would be more compelling than the soundtrack, but alas

Reefer Madness isn't half as inspired as other contemporary musicals like Bat Boy, Urinetown, or Avenue Q and it can't touch Jerry Springer: The Opera.

I think the main thing Reefer Madness lacks is sincerity. All of the aforementioned productions work because the scripts are sincere, and they demand sincerity from the performers. Reefer Madness comes off as shallow as the propaganda it mocks.

Reefer Madness doesn't challenge its audience at all. Given the topical subject matter, the play might have had more of a soul had it driven home the point that the oft-ridiculous propaganda Reefer Madness mocks still exists today, and has landed millions of people in jail. Reefer Madness handles the impact of propaganda with kid gloves it doesn't want to force its audience to think or feel uncomfortable.

If the songs were catchier and the jokes funnier, perhaps the show would have worked despite its lack of heart. But it's all pretty clumsy and pointless in the end.

how can anyone who's even known a pot head think the first reefer madness is disturbing

I think the original poster missed the point of the film. this film was not aiming to satirize of humourize the stoner culture or marijuana use. It was meant to satirize and humourize the politics and paranoia created by the government and newspapers over the whole marijuana issue.

" But in reality, no one was ever that ridiculously against marijuana."

You have no idea how wrong you are. Go on eBay and buy a newspaper from the 30's, specifically a William Randolph Hearst newspaper, and you will be able to find exact lines from this movie in their entirety, printed in all sreiousness. One that springs to mind is:

'Marijuana posseses an addictive power beyond even that of heroin or cocaine'

That is an exact William Randolph Hearst quote. Mr Hearst was very much like The Lecturer in the way he created fear for the 'demon weed' in the hearts of the masses.

"The songs are just plain bad. The music is pure elevator music. Its canned, forced, boring. There's not one catchy hook or melody."

That's a matter of taste and opinion. Do NOT state opinion as fact.

"This would have been funnier if it was more realistic"

It's called 'camp'. People who are more open-minded enjoy it.

" Too many characters"

Jimmy, Mary, Mae, Sally, Jack, Ralph, Jesus and The Lecturer. That's 8 characters (4 main characters, 4 supporting characters). There are plenty of films which I'm sure you like that have more than 8 characters.

"Too much character development."

Ooh! Character development! Making a 20dimensional character 3-dimensional! Ooh how scary(!) I just can't cope(!)

"No one cares."

I'm sorry, but when did the Presdent of the Universe grant you permission to decide what everybody cares about?

"Furthermore, the movie focuses far too much on the straight story."

Right. The "straight" story. So a woman ripping out a man's heart whikst belting out a song of redemption is straight? And Jesus crooning Tom Jones-style is part of your average, straight plot line in a summer blockbuster?

You strike me as a stoner who was high whilst watching this and took the film's political satire as a serious attack against your precious ganja and thus decided to come and rant about it.

By the way, I know Victoria's Secret: She's a slut!

I somewhat agree with the first poster in this thread. Watching this movie, it was not what I had expected at all. I had the feeling that the makers of the film set out at the outset to create a "cult" movie from nothing. What they misunderstood was that cult movies like Rocky Horror become what they are naturally, not as a decision by the studio.

It could have been a lot better, but the point was missed entirly. The jokes were somewhat pale and forced, and all in all, the forced cynicism of the film resulted in suburban risque, slapstick.

"Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view" Obi-Wan Kenobi

VERY WELL PUT!

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That's a matter of taste and opinion. Do NOT state opinion as fact.

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I don't agree w/the OP either, but when did he do this at all? Most people realize that the fact that it is a matter of opinion is implied and the poster doesn't have to put "IMO IMO IMO IMO IMO" after every fourth word.

But I don't get hooked, I'm not addicted no, I just enjoy the GLOW

The OP used sentence structure along the lines of "This was this" or "It was not this, it was this", made assumptions of the people involved in writing it and stated erroneous facts in order to back-up what had been said.

There is no need for streams of "IMO" that's not what I said at all. Most people, when stating an opinion will say things along the lines of "I found this to be this" or "This didn't work for me" and there they go on their merry way, having stated their opinon without appearing as though they are deliberately trying to antagonise those who disagree.

In a world where funny quotes are at the end of every message. Coming Soon to a Theatre near you

Anyone with a bit of common sense would know that the OP was just expressing their opinion.

But I don't get hooked, I'm not addicted no, I just enjoy the GLOW

That's besides the point, there's a degree of politness one should expect from someone expressing an opinion, especially if they don't want people to respond in an equally rude manner.

In a world where funny quotes are at the end of every message. Coming Soon to a Theatre near you

There was no rudeness in their message, only in your replies from what I've seen so far.

But I don't get hooked, I'm not addicted no, I just enjoy the GLOW

Y'know what I'm just going to agree to disagree with you on this, cause if I don't I can see where this will end up going and frankly I've no problem with you, I'm sure you're a nice person, perhaps in another life we could have been brothers who had a series of unfilfilling relationships before moving to a vineyard in France and spending our days drinking fine wine and reading great literature, but it wasn't to be. So I think it's best we just stop before we turn something of almost no importance into a big argument.

In a world where funny quotes are at the end of every message. Coming Soon to a Theatre near you

And right before a vineyard visit??? Oh well, I'm more of an Arbor Mist fan myslef *gasp*

But I don't get hooked, I'm not addicted no, I just enjoy the GLOW

go play in traffic

"to days of inspiration playing hooky making something outa nothing"

THANK YOU JOHNATHAN LARSON.

I'm not saying it deserved oscars, I mean I could do a break-down of the whole movie and tell you everything I thought they did wrong, but when it comes down to it, I laughed my ass-off and, for me, it's one of those movies that I could watch over and over again. Love it!

if you didn't like it thats fine. You have every right to your opinion




But your wrong! The first reason is that the quotes from the movie, the lecturer role, how he made the parents scared is all true. these are actual quotes from Hurst newspapers and magazines.

Second, the filmmakers and actors who made the first film made as a joke. they thought that it was rediculous and untrue but the people who had the film comissioned to be made did think it was true fact and were trying to make people believe that this is what reefer does to you.

All of the songs, actors, and lines from the movie and play are fablous. and the fact of the matter is that because its over the top and rediculous makes it just that much more wonderful and funny.

And just one last question? Whats the joke they wanna be "in" on? I'm a stoner and so are some of my friends, and even my friends who are not stoners think this is the best movie.

so to finish my point is that you did not base your opinion on fact. so look things up first before you make comments like this is a second rate movie, because your WRONG!

oh yea and i know i can't spell

You say that we are entitled to our opinion and then you say that we aren't. Can you decide?

"Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view" Obi-Wan Kenobi

I think this is amazing.
I saw the play in my home town,
and some kids re did it and it was just wonderful.
you really have no idea what you are tlaking about.

Only an idiot stoner would find this un-enjoyable.

The complex stylings and catchy tunes coupled with incredibly executed acting all coming from the actors/actresses (singing, dancing, acting).

This movie is truly a homage to the original films ridicilous claims.

YEAH plot and story gets in the way! LMAO yeah.right buddy

I think you missed the point of the movie, it wasn't meant to be a musical for the "stoner crowd", certainly not in the vien of Tommy, Godspell, et al. It's played as a straight musical intentionally because that just amplifies how silly the story itself is. It's meant to be a satire of the original, not of the subject matter, but of the way in which it was presented, as a means of controlling the population by making them scared spitless. The movie just shows us how stupid the politics of fear are by giving us an example of something that is so over the top nobody (or so I'd like to believe) could take it seriously.

"I feel so bad for Alan Cumming, who I adored in Cabaret. This has to be a career low for him."

See Spy Kids 2

Spy Kids 2? Bah!

See "Son of the Mask." Now THAT was a horrid movieand for reasons I still don't get, my COLLEGE movie channel had it on repeat for three days straight over Labor Day Weekend last year. I saw bits and pieces, and it was not a pleasant experience.

"Spice World."

I just find it intresting that a group of my friends, who are stoners, are the ones who actually suggested this movie to me.

And the shakespear sequence is comdeic gold.