Homegrown (1998)

Director:

Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writers (WGA):

Jonah Raskin (story) &
Stephen Gyllenhaal (story) ...

Release Date:

17 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

A comedy that goes to your head.

Plot:

Life is good for Jack, Carter and Harlan, three inept ne'r-do-wells who help run master dope-grower...

Plot Keywords:

Marijuana | Drugs | Cannabis

Cast

John Lithgow	...	Malcolm / Robert Stockman
Jon Tenney	...	Helicopter Pilot
Ryan Phillippe	...	Harlan Dykstra
Hank Azaria	...	Carter
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Jack Marsden
Kelly Lynch	...	Lucy
Jon Bon Jovi	...	Danny
Kleoka Renee Sands	...	4-Year-Old Girl
Matt Ross	...	Ben Hickson
Judge Reinhold	...	Policeman
Leigh French	...	Waitress
Christopher Dalton	...	Old Farmer
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Sierra Kahan
Tiffany Paulsen	...	Heather the Stockbreeder
Jeanette H. Wilson	...	White Haired Woman

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug content and language, and for some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Aptos, California, USA

Company:

Lakeshore International

Goofs:

Continuity: After an establishing shot that shows Jack Marsden driving into San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, the close-up of him in the BWM shows he's traveling on a different bridge - one that's constructed of grey metal trusses and girders, rather than the famous red-orange of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Quotes:

[about one of her many love affairs]
Lucy: It's complicated. Sometimes complications are interesting.

Movie Connections:

References Ms. Pac-Man (1981) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Devil's Train

Cool and Funny

Homegrown is a very nice and inspirational film about three farmboy dope growers and their "community" of likeminded folk. After their boss Malcolm (John Lithgow) is assassinated, the hapless and frequently high trio have to try and improvise to get paid.

Homegrown is also a strongly feminist movie, in the best sense of the word, in that all the women are in fact the real actors behind the events as they unfold. What do our three hapless heroes do when they get in trouble and need a place to crash? Lucy (Kelly Lynch) is the first port of call, and she isn't afraid to use sex to get any info she needs. Who is really taking care of business when the community is threatened to be invaded by mafiosi?

All in all, this is a very inspirational movie. It makes you feel you want to go out and grow some of your own herb. I can see how a lot of people got nervous about a movie where the main characters are pot growers. However, if you take into account that pot is just another plant, it's hard to see what the trouble is about. The producers tried to sell this as a "comedy", and there are plenty of laughs, but don't wait for canned laughter or any other cues.

There are several marijuana inspired songs, Bob Marley's "Smoke Two Joints" and Musical Youth's "Pass The Dutchie", just to name two.

It is more of a caper/suspense/comedy movie.