Customer Reviews

Bong Water

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

OK, if you understand the above reference, you probably have already seen this movie. It's part dry, tongue in cheek wit, part sloppy stoner humor. It totally satifies on both accounts, although it may insult or confuse folks who are only accustomed to one of the two styles involved. After all, it's more high-brow than the C&C folks are used to and looser and more fun than the Royal Rushmore Rocketeers may be able to stomach. All in all it's an awesome little movie based on a great little book by Michael Hornburg.

A few years or so ago, I discovered this movie on cable. The title of Bongwater caught my attention and I had to see what it was about. Little did I ever suspect that it would become one of my favorite silly movies. Bongwater has an incredible cast though it doesn't seem like they had much of a budget. That's why I give it 4 stars as I think some things in the movie could have been fleshed out more. Jack Black is hilarious as the woodsy pot farmer, hence what I titled this review. If you haven't seen it yet, you'll see what I mean! Jamie Kennedy and Andy Dick also crack me up in this flick. Pull out the bong and pack it up...Bongwater is a great stoner flick you'll enjoy. Consider it a burnout bonus!

I have been wanting to see this movie for years. I finally found a copy[...], of all places. Why doesnt any walk-in rental store rent this out? They rent out Cheech & Chong movies, but not this? Gimme a break, Hollywood & Blockbuster!! This movie isnt even glorifying drug use, like Cheech & Chong. Instead it is about finding yourself! The performences by Luke Wilson, Brittney Murphy, Jack Black, Andy Dick, and Jeremy Sisto are oscar worthy. Not to mention Alisia Witt.......HOT!! Highly Recommended!! And, you dont even have to be buzzed to watch this. Its that good!

I'm not sure why I've heard so many good things about this movie. It is barely watchable. I was so bored I only kept watching it because I didn't really have anything else to do. Maybe you can only enjoy watching other people who are stoned if you are stoned yourself, I don't know. If you are a fan of Jack Black, this is not worth getting, he is not in it all that much. I didn't care for any of the main characters, maybe that was the point, but they were not enjoyable to watch in the least. The ending is so lame I couldn't believe anyone thought it would be a good idea, but I won't give anything away.

I don't get all the 4 and 5-star reviews for this movie. I watched it during a free preview weekend, and I suppose I got my money's worth. I like stoner movies as much as the next person, but this one isn't even in the same league as a Cheech and Chong movie or Half-Baked. It was not funny, and didn't really go anywhere - and what the hell was with the ending?

Jack Black was somewhat funny in his small role, but I didn't even chuckle until the last 10 minutes. The funniest part was the series of answering machine messages that played during the credits (which I missed part of due to annoying movie channel voiceover ads). Maybe one has to be stoned to find this movie funny. However, a good movie will be funny regardless of the number of tokes taken while watching it (watch The Big Lebowski for a good example).

I have to agree with the reviewer who said the movie's title was apt because the bongwater is the unwanted leftover. There are much better pot-themed movies out there.

To dispell immediately what others may assert, I am indeed a stoner; I am a joker, a smoker, a midnight toker, etc. I own a fine collection of stoner films and my daily interactions often include a bowl and such a film.

That said, this movie is terrible. I cannot fathom how it received an average of 4 stars. Please do not tell me that I failed to understand the majesty of this film; I was high when I watched it.

I and the entire group of diehard potheads with which I watched it concur as to the massive suckage that was Bongwater. At first, I was upset that a movie so devoid of plot and meaning had taken the title Bongwater, which may have been used in true stoner films in the future. However, after reflecting on it with my roommate (who of course smokes), we concluded that the movie was aptly titled. After all, bong water is the leftover that nobody wants. At the movie's conclusion I said, "I need to smoke...for the first time in my life, I NEED to smoke." It was that bad. In fact, I was so upset that I couldn't even roll a proper J...and I normally get compliments for my rolling skills.

My roommate at this point interjects, "You sound too self righteous; nobody will listen. He gave it a one because he couldn't give it a zero and I suspect the rest of the reviews to be complicated attempts to deceive others into watching this film so that they can revel in their deception. Free Chong and free yourself by not becoming a prisoner to this smelly, rancid Bongwater."

To summarize, Bongwater is NOT a stoner movie in the great tradition of Up in Smoke, Half Baked, or even How High. Rather, it seems to be a poor attempt at capturing the life of a stoner, by somebody who has never touched the stuff. As evidence, I submit the scene where Luke Wilson fills up the chamber of his bong with smoke then...instead of taking the massive rip...he puts down the bong. What self respecting smoker would let a perfectly good hit go stale like that?

I watched this movie on cable one night. I have never seen anything like it before. The movie is designed to break stereotypical patterns that reoccur in film. You see that from the start when the hero in the story is a stoner that doesn't want to be one. He isn't the perfect, desirable man. In layman's terms, he is a looser. Luke Wilson does not fit the role of a stoner, and by everything that I can see in the film, he really isn't intended to fit the role. He is more of a lost soul hanging around friends that he doesn't want and doesn't' need. The contention in the movie is that he comes into contact with Witt, and doesn't want to throw her away even though she is a mess and problematic for him. Wilson often plays these characters that cling to an unconventional lover because of empathy with their condition. We saw this same role in Home Fries, the Royal Tenebums, and Idiocracy.

Alicia Witt's character is really the lead character in this film, which has duel main characters. Wilson's character is messed up when Witt's character begins hanging around the house. The entire movie revolves around the personality of Alicia Witt that is playing a Gemini that cannot keep herself out of trouble. If you don't get the astrology, you won't like the film. The whole film revolves around Witt's character traits; she is clever, likes to tinker, cannot shut up, and lies. She claims she is a Pisces when she is not because she enjoys trickery. She also gets herself into trouble because she likes to play games and cannot handle boredom. If you do not enjoy that aspect of the movie, there is nothing to this film.

I would say that the strong points of the movie are the realistic sex relationships, Witt's character, and the inclusion of couples that are not heterosexual. It is intended to look like an average neighborhood with people that behave more realistically than typical love stories. They have enormous problems and are not where they want to be in their lives. I am not sure how this film is going to pull off a comedy; some of the scenes are amusing because life is somewhat amusing at times. No comedy that I know includes a rape scene and it isn't entirely a comedic show. If the film displays any meaningful message at all it is that of people living their lives, while the movie portrays a negative image of drug users, and it is not intended to condone drug use. It is more or less emphasizing the positive traits of people who partake in a liberal culture while also depicting what is wrong with stoning. I like the film.

This movie was nothing but rubbish - it went absolutely nowhere. It wasn't even funny - I hardly got a chuckle at most.

I agree with everything the other people have said that have given this movie a 1-star rating.

DO NOT make the same mistake as me and buy this DVD - rent it first if you REALLY want to waste 2 hours of your time...

I'm not a stoner either and i love this movie. Seriously the best parts are the gay humor with Andy Dick and the ever so hot Jeremy Sisto.

I cant speak for the last reviewer, who was obviously working his way through an english degree as well as his last bowl, but i will say i liked this movie. I am not a casual movie fan. I watch many movies, and the ones i like are not your usual hollywood blockbusters. I'm not going to sit here and defend my taste in movies, but if you liked the royal tannenbaums, bottle rocket, anything by todd solondz, or smaller independant movies then you should definately give bongwater a chance.
I say give this movie a chance because, for god's sake, it is named bongwater, and everyone who wrote a review for it was looking for the next coming of christ in a stoner movie. All I can say is that I am a mid twenties person, who doesn't want to brag about how much he's smoked in his day, or the quality of said smoke for that matter, but at a certain point you either grow up, or you end up on the couch until- well, you know the answer.
I watched this movie expecting nothing, and was plesantly surprised. It says more about a certain, lost twentysomething type than singles, or slacker, or reality bytes, or any other pretentious b.s. Andy dick, jack black and others turn in great, over the top performances...luke wilson is his usual great understated self. The soundtrack is great as well, particularly the fountains of wayne song.
If you hate this movie, you probably don't like independant cinema...as stated above, if you are looking for great "stoner cinema" please look under the Non Sequitur where you will find the words "great cinema" alongside up in smoke and how high.