Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005)

Director:

Andy Fickman

Writers (WGA):

Kevin Murphy (play) &
Dan Studney (play) ...

Release Date:

16 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

The feel-good event of the year!

Plot:

An outrageous tongue-in-cheek musical comedy adaptation of the classic 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film.

Plot Keywords:

Reefer | Propaganda | Drugs | Marijuana | Campy

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Kristen Bell	...	Mary Lane
Christian Campbell	...	Jimmy Harper
Neve Campbell	...	Miss Poppy
Alan Cumming	...	Lecturer / Goat-Man / FDR
Ana Gasteyer	...	Mae Coleman
John Kassir	...	Ralph Wiley / Uncle Sam
Amy Spanger	...	Sally DeBains / Statue of Liberty
Robert Torti	...	Jesus
Steven Weber	...	Jack Stone / George Washington
Kevin McNulty	...	Mayor Harris MacDonald
Stephen J.M. Sisk	...	Blumsack (as Stephen Sisk)
Stephen E. Miller	...	Mr. Paul Kochinski
Robert Clarke	...	Principal Poindexter Short
Ruth Nichol	...	Mrs. Roxanne MacDonald
Lynda Boyd	...	Mrs. Deirdre Greevey

Also Known As:

Kifferwahn (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for drug material, sexual content and some violence.

Runtime:

109 min (Showtime Library Print) | Germany:112 min

Country:

USA | Germany | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (DVD rating) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 | USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

ApolloScreen Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. Filmproduktion KG

Trivia:

Neve Campbell was, at the time, one of the most recognizable actresses in the film, despite the fact that her role was relatively small. While the production wanted to be able to give her a bigger part, it was decided that it would be unwise to do so, since the two biggest female leads both were romantically involved with Christian Campbell's character. Christian is Neve Campbell's brother.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While it is indeed true that FDR was wheelchair-bound by polio, he had perfected his ability to walk with the support of someone else's arm and could stand upright for a long period of time. He never appeared in public in a wheelchair, and in fact it was not even known outside his circle of associates that he was wheelchair-bound until after his death.

Quotes:

Mr. Paul Kochinski: You can't believe everything you read and that don't make me a commie!
Lecturer: Mr. Kochinski, Mr. Hearst is a fine American businessman and a graduate of Harvard University. Where did you matriculate?
Mr. Paul Kochinski: Huh?
Lecturer: Ma.tric.u.late. It means where did you go to college?
Mr. Paul Kochinski: Well... I... I didn't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Watching the Detectives (2007)

Soundtrack:

Murder

The funniest of Sundance

When it comes to musicals, movies like Chicago and Moulin Rouge come to mind. Most people loved one or the other (or both) of those, so Reefer Madness has to work hard to live up to expectations. While it is not as visually extravagant as Moulin Rouge, this movie is just as funny, and while the dances are smaller key than Chicago, they are perfectly choreographed and blend together well. All actors do their own singing and dancing, and they do quite well.

The film is about the negative effects of Marijuana on society, in the form of a fable. An all-out, way over the top, in no way politically correct fable. You start suspecting that the writers are not going to hold anything back as soon as Jesus appears in a single silk loincloth, surrounded by showgirls. Very few aspects of the christo-republican lifestyle are not subjected to some good old fashioned irony and black comedy, but democratic values take a bit of beating too.

Reefer Madness is based on the stage play of the same title, which was fine-tuned during its 8 year run. The effects of the long tweak-time are obvious, the movie is crammed full of jokes -- from small asides to full-on audience rollers -- and there are virtually no duds. The on-screen adaptation lives up to the material, at no point does this flick feel at all like a stage play.

The long practice shows on the performances as well, Kristen Bell and Christian Campbell -- both carrying on their roles from the stage play -- do a great job both as naive 1940's schoolchildren and as uninhabited addicts. A notable change from the play is the addition of Alan Cumming who is putting in a great and unrestrained performance as always.

I saw the movie at a Sundance screening at midnight. Not only was the theater totally sold out, but all of the audience members were wide awake and cheering, clapping, laughing and utterly enjoying themselves for the entire duration.

In case you get a chance to go to a theater-screening, do it, it deserves the big screen. Otherwise don't forget to program your DVR to record the Showtime premiere!

In case it is not obvious from the above, this movie is the definition of A+ fun and entertainment.