Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Tommy Chong

Writers:

Tommy Chong (writer)
Cheech Marin (writer)

Release Date:

18 July 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's bold audacious underground fun! [Video Australia]

Plot:

The two stoners and their friends go through another series of crazy, drug-influenced misadventures.

Plot Keywords:

Stoner | Pee Wee | Cannabis Use | Marijuana Joint | Munchies

Cast

Cheech Marin	...	Cheech / Dwayne 'Red' Mendoza (as Richard Marin)
Tommy Chong	...	Chong (as Thomas Chong)
Evelyn Guerrero	...	Donna
Betty Kennedy	...	Candy
Sy Kramer	...	Mr. Neatnik
Rikki Marin	...	Gloria
Bob McClurg	...	Chicken Charlie
Edie McClurg	...	Gloria's Mom
Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman / Desk Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Austin
Don Bovingloh	...	Man in hotel room bed with 'puppet' lady
Peter Bromilow	...	Gay Motorcyclist
Shelby Chong	...	Beautiful
Missy Cleveland	...	Massage Girl
Don S. Davis	...	One Man Band
Lynna' Davis	...	Skater
Alan Dysert	...	Guest Star
Phil Hartman	...	Actor in a movie being filmed in the backround.
Kim Hopkins	...	Wardrobe Girl
Len Lawson	...	Businessman
Doug Lee	...	(voice)
Susan Mechsner	...	Leaflet Lady
Faith Minton	...	Lady Bouncer
Jay Moreno	...	Kid
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Old Lady
John Paragon	...	Porn Director
Cassandra Peterson	...	Hostage
Ben Powers	...	Angry Guy In Welfare Office
Gregg Sawaya	...	Comedy Room Bouncer
Rick Sawaya	...	Comedy Room Brawl Patron
John Steadman	...	Old timer in Welfare office
Jake Steinfeld	...	Womba
Scott Thompson
Natividad Vacío	...	Mexican Man in Welfare Office
Victoria Wells	...	Massage Girl
Rita Wilson	...	Actress
Michael Winslow	...	Welfare Comedian

Also Known As:

High Encounters of the Ultimate Kind

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:(Banned) (1981) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

On the wall where the phone is in their house is some graffiti "Dave's not here" a reference to one of their earlier audio sketches

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After Cheech and Chong remake their van and after jumping their van, you can see feet pushing the van.

Quotes:

Guard at the Studio Entrance.: [to Cheech after leaving in a van] Hey, Fella, your pass?
Cheech: Pass, oh thanks a lot man.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

A slight drop-off from the first film but still watchable.

I was under the weather recently with a bad cold and fever and couldn't sleep. So I decided to see what would be on at 1:00 in the morning and Cheech & Chong's Next Movie was being aired so I checked it out.

I've seen a number of their films and while they aren't the greatest comedies ever made they are much better than what is coming out these days. The characters that Richard Marin and Tommy Chong have created are so likable despite their many vices. Perhaps because the film seems more real and doesn't rely on over-the-top content makes the film a lot more entertaining. Of course, L.A. has always been a crazier city than Ottawa.

In Next Movie, Cheech and Chong (unrelated to the characters of Pedro De Pacas and Anthony "Man" Stoner from Up In Smoke) are basically doing their thing in L.A., trying to find work and later go on Welfare. It's pretty much a "Day In The Life" of two stoners in L.A. in the first half of the film.

In the second half, Cheech announces to Chong that he has a hot date and needs Chong to clear out as he plans to clean up their dumpy bungalow. He tells Chong to go see his cousin Red (also played by Cheech). Red and Chong have a crazy adventure together, starting with an attempt to get at the luggage of Red's. The hotel manager (Paul Reubens) won't allow him to get his property unless he pays his hotel bill. One of those bags contains tons of Mary-Jane. And it is the Mary-Jane that sets them on a wild adventure through the city.

While the film isn't as laugh-as-loud as the first, there are plenty of outlandish moments, such as the antics of characters at the Welfare Office or seeing Cheech & Chong steal gasoline for their car. Chong annoys his neighbours with his own set of antics such as revving his motorcycle indoors and playing his guitar amped up to 11. The acting is uniformly good and nobody comes off as annoying. A good soundtrack is also offered.

While Up In Smoke and Nice Dreams are the better films, Next Movie is still quite good. It's much better than the next trio of movies they made, including the disturbing Still Smokin'.