I was fortunate enough to be among the lucky few to catch the first-ever screening of High Times Magazine's feature film debut, `Potluck'. Scripted by `Summer of Sam' veteran Victor Colicchio and helmed by Aussie newcomer Alison Thompson, the film was a total riot. An all-star ensemble cast including Jason Mewes, Dan Lauria (the Father from the Wonder Years), Jason Isaacs (dude from the The Patriot) and Frank Adonis combine to create one of the most engaging and hilarious cult films I've ever seen.
`Pot Luck' is a situational comedy with an intricate plot line that involves a struggling artist, a mob crime family, a tough `grrrrrl' rocker and an aloof pair of would-be criminals even a congressman and a transvestite in a marijuana heist. Victor Colicchio describes the film as a cross between Cheech and Chong and the Sopranos I couldn't have said it better myself. And while the film does give significant screen time to every one of its several main characters each character adds an important and convincing element to the overall story. Consequently the suspense is only heightened as the audience views the marijuana heist through many different eyes.
The plot unravels as Arneau (Isaacs), a struggling artist supporting his passion by peddling joints, finds himself being robbed by would-be criminals Mickey and Ryan. As the robbery goes awry mob soldier Frank (Adonnis) is called in to complete the heist of Arneau's supply `a suitcase with what must be at least $50,000 worth of weed' and turn the pot into cash. The film begins to follow the suitcase as it travels through the beautifully-photographed, gritty Manhattan streets. Along the way we are introduced to mob boss Carmine (Dan Lauria), a bite-your-fist HOT girl rocker (Theo Kogan, lead singer of the independent Lunachicks) and a variety of other sublime characters. The film climaxes in the midst of a hilarious pot legalization rally, with the movie building to a crescendo that will have you on the edge of your seat at least if you don't fall of that same seat laughing.
Some have compared `Pot Luck' to the Jim Brewer vehicle `Half Baked'. I was not a fan of Half Baked in fact I thought it was a total waste of celluloid. Still even though I didn't appreciate `Half Baked' as a whole I do admit that a few of the jokes had me in stitches. So I was reluctantly expecting the same thing with `Pot Luck'. Fortunately High Times Magazine, with its almost fifty some-odd pages of pornographic detail involving growing and smoking weed, picked a writer/director combo who were savvy enough to create a film enjoyable by moviegoers over the age of thirteen.
Don't get me wrong -- any thirteen-year old would still count themselves lucky to catch a peak at the movie. I'm only nineteen and I loved it! Yet Thompson has carefully layered the plot twists and multiple characterizations to create a noir pot caper that gray-haired parents can enjoy right along side their angst-ridden teenage child.
Really any further spoilers in this missive would destroy Potluck for even the most enthusiastic audience member. The only other aspects of the film I'd like to note are Jason Mewes's hilarious piece as a drug dealer and Tommy Chong's part as a hippie pot enthusiast. For those two performances alone I'd pay to see the movie ten times again.
I don't know when this film will be released or who's going to pick it up, but make a point to check it out. We need more movies like this!
`Pot Luck' is a situational comedy with an intricate plot line that involves a struggling artist, a mob crime family, a tough `grrrrrl' rocker and an aloof pair of would-be criminals even a congressman and a transvestite in a marijuana heist. Victor Colicchio describes the film as a cross between Cheech and Chong and the Sopranos I couldn't have said it better myself. And while the film does give significant screen time to every one of its several main characters each character adds an important and convincing element to the overall story. Consequently the suspense is only heightened as the audience views the marijuana heist through many different eyes.
The plot unravels as Arneau (Isaacs), a struggling artist supporting his passion by peddling joints, finds himself being robbed by would-be criminals Mickey and Ryan. As the robbery goes awry mob soldier Frank (Adonnis) is called in to complete the heist of Arneau's supply `a suitcase with what must be at least $50,000 worth of weed' and turn the pot into cash. The film begins to follow the suitcase as it travels through the beautifully-photographed, gritty Manhattan streets. Along the way we are introduced to mob boss Carmine (Dan Lauria), a bite-your-fist HOT girl rocker (Theo Kogan, lead singer of the independent Lunachicks) and a variety of other sublime characters. The film climaxes in the midst of a hilarious pot legalization rally, with the movie building to a crescendo that will have you on the edge of your seat at least if you don't fall of that same seat laughing.
Some have compared `Pot Luck' to the Jim Brewer vehicle `Half Baked'. I was not a fan of Half Baked in fact I thought it was a total waste of celluloid. Still even though I didn't appreciate `Half Baked' as a whole I do admit that a few of the jokes had me in stitches. So I was reluctantly expecting the same thing with `Pot Luck'. Fortunately High Times Magazine, with its almost fifty some-odd pages of pornographic detail involving growing and smoking weed, picked a writer/director combo who were savvy enough to create a film enjoyable by moviegoers over the age of thirteen.
Don't get me wrong -- any thirteen-year old would still count themselves lucky to catch a peak at the movie. I'm only nineteen and I loved it! Yet Thompson has carefully layered the plot twists and multiple characterizations to create a noir pot caper that gray-haired parents can enjoy right along side their angst-ridden teenage child.
Really any further spoilers in this missive would destroy Potluck for even the most enthusiastic audience member. The only other aspects of the film I'd like to note are Jason Mewes's hilarious piece as a drug dealer and Tommy Chong's part as a hippie pot enthusiast. For those two performances alone I'd pay to see the movie ten times again.
I don't know when this film will be released or who's going to pick it up, but make a point to check it out. We need more movies like this!