Nice Dreams (1981)

Director:

Tommy Chong

Writers:

Tommy Chong (written by) &
Cheech Marin (written by)

Release Date:

24 July 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

The story of two enterprising young men who make an amazing amount of money selling ice cream.

Plot:

Disguised as ice cream vendors, Cheech and Chong make--and subsequently lose--millions of dollars selling a batch of marijuana with an unusual side effect.

Plot Keywords:

Marijuana | 420 | Marijuana Joint | Exercise | Ice Cream Truck

Cast

Tommy Chong	...	Himself
Cheech Marin	...	Himself (as Richard 'Cheech' Marin)
Benita Barrie	...	Mrs. Del Whacko, Owner Casa Del Whacko
Sandra Bernhard	...	Girl Nut
Big Yank	...	Male Nurse #2 (as Big Yank 'Anderson Ball')
Don Carlson	...	Nut #7
David Castle	...	Nut #8
Jerry Chambers	...	Male Nurse #1
Jennifer Child	...	Dishwater / Blondie Group #5
Shelby Chong	...	Body Builder
Tony Cox	...	Midget Nut (as Joe Antony Cox)
Roderick F. Daniels	...	Janitor
Jimmy Fame	...	Grow Room Weirdo / Weird Jimmy
James Faracci	...	CHP #1
Lorraine Fiorito	...	Hooker #2

Also Known As:

Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:(Banned) (1981) | Finland:K-15 (2005) | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company:

C & C Brown Production

Trivia:

Just before Cheech wakes up from his drug-trip, there is a sound of a wooden block dropping to the floor and a brief scene of Cheech (still in a straitjacket) dropping through the trapdoor of a gallows with a noose around his neck.

Goofs:

Continuity: Donna tells the Highway Patrol officer that her apartment number is 714 but when Animal comes to the room, he knocks on 716.

Quotes:

Sgt. Stedenko: The only way to catch a doper is when you yourself become a smoker. The surest way to make them bleed is when you bust their ass and steal their weed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Mistress Electra (1983)

Soundtrack:

SAVE THE WHALES

Keep on dreaming.

Cheech and Chong run an ice cream business called Nice Dreams, which actually is a cover for them to sell their special blend of dope. Soon after reaching a considerable amount of cash they decide to retire for a relaxing life on their own island with all the girls they want. But before this dream can become reality, they have to elude the cops led by the Sarge Stedanko who will stop at nothing to get their hands on them. All of this leads to many unplanned confrontations and actions that don't always workout for the best.

The third film of the series is a really spaced-out stoner comedy (even more so then the first two flicks) from the comical duo Cheech and Chong. This one is more spaced-out because it throws in some surreal moments into fodder. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two outings, sure nothing will beat the memorable "Up In Smoke", but I thought they slightly out did themselves here compared to their previous outing "Next Movie" and that could be attributed to Stacy Keach returning as Sarge Stedanko too. It was great to see that Sarge and his man are on the trail again. Though, I wish there was a bit more screen time for Keach.

Everything about this one seems more silly and absurd, especially the scenes involving how anyone, or anything that smokes their strong weed will turn into a lizard. The whole concept is purely stoner humour! The film doesn't have much in a way of narrative, but more so comical episodes. But that's what you expect anyway. Something is always happening with Cheech and Chong getting in all sorts of mayhem and also meeting buoyant and irregular characters along the way. One of those characters involves a whacked out doctor and Paul Ruben's performance as Howie Hamburger Dude adds to the laughs too. The humour is required taste, definitely. It throws in many sexual and drug related gags. Sure, some of the jokes and gimmicks are crude, messy, coarse and fall flat, but the pair works off each other perfectly well with their fluid timing that you seem to let it all go. They alone can carry a film. It moves along rather quickly, which helps considerably too and there's a well-booted and spicy soundtrack to keep the energy levels high. Also I loved the ironic ending to their dream life. The script might be filled with low-brow lines, but still you got some clever wit and pointless rambles that are engaging enough, if moronic in vibe. It's not terribly perfect as a whole, but there are enough spirited and unpredictable sketches (like the nut-house and acid trip scene and those ones involving the incompetent police) and performances to overlook these failures. From what I hear and read, people usually rate this one as their second best feature and I tend to agree.

Incredibly stupid, but I got a kick out of it nonetheless. It's an enjoyably crazy romp from the beginning to the end. A definite must for the fans.