Customer Reviews

200 Cigarettes [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I had to give this one 4 stars just because it is so fun. It is deeply flawed at points and as deep as a puddle, yet it is funny and still has some moving moments. The nostalgia factor works as well if you were out and about at the time. Affleck comes across a big dope, but that's okay (cuz I think he is). Ricci is great - why is she so underutilized? That girl has a power in her. Rudd is the sweet sort of everyman good guy and it suits him well. Love is, well, actually ... good here. I liked her and I felt for her character. Hudson is very, very funny, particularly in her scenes with Jay Mohr - they have great chemistry. Garoffalo is the best in a tart-tounged smaller part. Definitely worth a spin for an easy-on-the-eyes comedy.

Best line, Garoffalo in a moving cab trying to light a cigarette: These matches are disappointing me!

A little slow getting started, but hey, I loved this movie! Hearing Christina Ricci's accent at the begginning of the film threw me off a bit. But all the characters in 200 cigarrettes transformed into highly adorable, funky, quirky, 80's type personalities, (pause!), cool people on a mission to party like it's 1999. There! I said it! I especially liked Martha Plimpton's character. I was feeling so worried when no one was showing up for her party.

This film is an engaging look at one night in NYC, (actually filmed in "real time" I'm assuming). It carries you along on this seemingly ill-fated New Years Eve, where everyone has got love on the brain. Primary mission: find someone special to share New Years Eve with. Who can't relate to that?! With the Millineum coming up close, this is a perfect movie to get into the spirit of things. And if you don't have that someone special in your arms that night, watch this movie. It makes perfect company.

A very funny and insightful examination of young adults all looking for love, happiness and meaning. The film takes place on new year's eve, 1981, and follows many different young people who somehow all eventually end up at the same party (which the hostess later wakes up to find she slept through.) Elvis Costello makes a cameo and provides a running joke in the last third. The soundtrack is great--all late 70's early 80's pop and new wave. And the one who steals the show is Dave Chappelle as the cab driver who manages to give a ride to practically every character at some point, dispensing equally silly and profound wisdom along the way, on everything from friendship and destiny to life before an afro and how to "get booty." (smiling at a girl is very important, as is avoiding talking about death--"Everyone knows they're gonna die someday, they just don't want to hear it from you.") Ben Affleck is very amusing as a clueless suitor. Oh, and Courtney Love was actually bearable. All in all, a very smart, enjoyable ride.

I found this movie somewhat entertaining, although the intertwining stories were a mixed bag of annoying and fun. Unfortunately the fact that the stories each receive only limited attention, and the story changes from one focus to another storyline entirely just as things start to seem interesting, makes this film a bit frayed and taxing to the patience. Nevertheless, the film is about a whole host of young people, dressed up and heading for a party (ostensibly Martha Plimpton's party), but they never quite make it there. Plimpton, someone I never really cared for, is actually rather funny in this role, and in fact hilarious when she misses her own party (and her idol, Elvis Costello). Christina Ricci and Gaby Hoffman are both quite funny; Courtney Love, Paul Rudd and Janeane Garofalo are also quite a trio. Overall this is light comedy; nothing special but still worth the effort.

Following in the steps of The Wedding Singer, we are once again thrown back to the days of too much make up, with a charming and varied cast reminding us all too clearly of what the early 80s were like (whatever DID happen to Cindi Lauper?). The accents are too true, the scene is right, and while this certainly wouldn't garner any Oscars, the movie was still endearing and cute. Not very high accolades for any movie, but kudos to all the actors, who rolled well into their respective parts, from the wannabee bartender, to the cabbie still sportin' an afro (hey, these are the 80's man! Get ridda that thing!), to the neurotic from Ronkonoma. (Ronkonka who? ). I'm not sure what the whole point of the movie was, but then, that was the idea, perhaps: the intertwined lives of several folks, none the protagonist, each the star, in this one eventful New Years Eve of 1981. Watch it.... and I dare to count all the cigarettes...

Wow! Being a fan of Courtney Love's music, and acting at some times, I vowed to see all of her movies. This one was next on the list, besides Basquiat. I was going to rent it, but my local movie store had 2 copies on VHS for sale for $2.99, I knew I couldnt pass it up. The film is set up like a soap opera, ya know? where the camera flits from person to person, and situation to situation. Its hilarious! This movie is great! I love seeing some REAL punk rockers in this film, as opposed to all the posers of today, (okay they might be actors but who cares?) 200 Cigarettes features an all star lineup, of todays hottest new actors. And most of the acting is suprisingly realistic. My favorite part of the whole movie is when Dave Chapelle(The disco loving taxi driver) tells a "heart warming story" of when he was jealous of a friend because he had a girl he wanted, and the friend "Twayne" ended up choking on a string bean. And Courtney Love portrays her character in the way that she REALLY is in real life. Its really ironic how similar her character and her true demeanor are.

This movie is a lot of fun. No, it is not profound. I really don't think it's trying to be. It has cast full of good actors who play their characters to a tee and never really take themselves too seriously. It's a good movie if you take it for what it is: Fluff. If you're going to watch this movie, don't expect profound insight and depth of character development... expect self absorbed characters, neuroses, and silliness. That's what you'll get. And in my opinion, sometimes that's enough. Sometimes it's a Shawshank Redemption day, but it's also okay to have a 200 Cigarettes night!

I thought this movie was so funny! Martha Plimpton did a great job as the stressed out hostess, I can really identify with her character. Brian Mcardie was really underrated. Hardly a mention of him in any of the reviews. I think my fave person in the movie was the cab driver. I have seen the "Booty Look" before. My friend and I have seen this movie at least 4 times and will undoubtibly see it again.

As I was flipping through the channel guide to see what was on TV last night, I saw this movie was on and figured "What the heck, it sounds like fun." This movie was more than fun, it was INCREDIBLE!!!

First there's the music. This soundtrack should be a staple for anyone who was around during 1981. Given that I was a freshman in college at the time, this music brought back many wonderful and fond memories of a time less encumbered by responsibility. I found myself, as well as my partner, dancing in our chairs when another great song came on.

The story itself was nothing less than wonderful. Who can't relate to finding "Mr or Ms. Right" for New Year's Eve? Watching Martha Plimpton go into nuclear meltdown because no was was showing up to her party was one of the highlights of the movie. Her reaction to finding out what a success her party was after passing out put her on the same level of comedic genius as Lucy, Whoopie and Meg. Christina Ricci was, as usual, bright, funny and insightful as the young girl trying to find her cousins party as she and her uptight girlfriend (Gaby Hoffman played to the extreme!) get lost in the bowels of The Village. Their New Yawk accents were spot on and top drawer.

While not wanting to ignore the rest of the cast (ie Ben Affleck, Jay Mohr and Kate Hudson)who were all excellent, the story I loved the best was the subplot between Courtney Love and Paul Rudd. I almost wet my pants watching a drunken Love belt out the lyrics to "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" from "Ice Castles" and cheered out loud when she and Rudd finally got together.

All in all I would STRONGLY reccomend both the movie and the soundtrack. It will make you laugh, cry and, in the end, you'll be happy that you spent time with these wonderful characters as they tell their story.

This film has a great cast, but nothing else going for it besides. I was disappointed with the pointlessness and limp dialogue. I wasted eight dollars to go see a bunch of people do nothing but whine on New Year's Eve, get drunk and then get laid, waking up the next morning to discover just who they slept with while recovering from minor hangovers. I could go to a frat party and see the same thing for free. There wasn't even an hour of the reel gone, and I was terribly bored with the constant back and forth of party to party, listless characters and dragging scenes. I kept looking at their shots and martinis and frozen drinks, wishing I could have one so maybe I'd enjoy more of what I was watching. No luck, and I left the theater feeling very cheated. I advise that whoever reads this review remembers the part I said about feeling cheated, and really researches this movie before they buy it. You'll be wasting more than eight bucks!