Customer Reviews

Cheech & Chong - Up in Smoke

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Amazon too zoned to type in extras these days, I guess.

* Commentary by Cheech Martin and director Lou Adler
* Roach clips (deleted scenes)
* Lighting Up: A look back
* Animated music video with Alice Bowie
* "The Man Song"
* 2 vintage radio spots
* Theatrical trailer

Enchanced for 16x9 with Dolby 5.1

The old DVD of "Up in Smoke" was what you'd expect -- the movie duly presented plus a commentary with Cheech Marin and Adler, plus a handful of deleted scenes.

This time, Paramount fills the DVD bong with a terrific new animated music video for the movie's "Alice Bowie" song; a new featurette with producer Lou Adler and Cheech & Chong (separately) talking about the movie; a high-speed montage of every instance someone says "man" in the movie; and some newly animated 1970s radio promos -- all of presented in the high spirits of the film.

The old commentary (ported over) and new featurette tell some great tales about the movie and the people who worked on it, such as Stacey Keach, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Edie Adams and one-man test audience Jack Nicholson.

The widescreen DVD images look great, especially upconverted, with lots of bright, saturated primary colors that come across as reasonably natural. The music benefits from some tasty stereo separation and the dialogue is clear -- even when the boys are good and zonked.

pleasant dreams ...

Out of all the Cheech & Chong collaborations, their first film, 1978's Up In Smoke still stands as the best. A comedy classic that just can't be duplicated, not even by themselves. The plot (can you guess?) concerns two dudes, Pedro (Cheech) & Man (Chong) and their search for the best weed, rock music, and good times, man. Of course this journey comes with a price, evading a group of "undercover" cops led by the obsessed Sgt. Stedenko (Stacy Keach). If you like cars, you'll no doubt enjoy Pedro's Love Machine, which he decorated himself, and the van made completely out of pot! Watch out for that smoke. A few of the funniest scenes come from this van: 1. When the cop pulls them over and forgets why! and 2. When Stedenko and crew stand next to the smoking van and feel the influence, then order some pizzas! If you like to rock, then you've got that too. To quote the concert announcer - "...I don't know who they are, but here's ALICE BOWIE." Being a drummer myself, I'm more than a little jealous of Chong's gigantic drumsticks! However, I'm not jealous of Cheech's tu-tu! The characters Cheech & Chong created began to wear out in later films, but don't count this one out. Up In Smoke is when it was new and fresh and somehow it still "smokes" to this day.

Some comments on the DVD: One reviewer stated that the DVD doesn't have any features, but that's just not true. I just bought the 2000 Paramount DVD release and it has the following:

*Widescreen Version for 16:9 TVs
*Feature Length Commentary with Cheech Marin & Director Lou Adler
*8 Deleted Scenes (including Harry Dean Stanton as a security guard) with optional commentary by Cheech & Lou Adler
*Original Theatrical Trailer
*Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround/Restored English Mono
*English Subtitles

A great way to own a comedy classic and Paramount has given a little something to the fans with this DVD release. Don't even sleep on it, just get this primo disc, man!

I just recieved this DVD from Amazon yesterday the 24th of November. What Amazon did not mention on this page is that this DVD comes with deleted footage that is even more funnier than the movie. You have 8 deleted scenes of pure comedy that nobody has ever seen untill this DVD came out. Also i strongly suggest to listen to the movie with the audio commentary on to hear Cheech Marin describe what was going on during production of one of the greatest comedies of all time

Released in 1978, "Up in Smoke" is the first of six films by the comedy duo known as 'Cheech and Chong.' Being their first effort, it also seems like their best as later films (with the exception of "Things Are Tough All Over") quickly became boring and the magic just seemed lost. The first movie in a series is always the best, and true it is here with "Up in Smoke." The movie introduces us to Pedro DePacas and Man Stoner (Cheech and Chong, respectively) who meet under very unusual circumstances in Los Angeles. Cheech, driving his "...Love Machine" (it's a 1964 Chevrolet Impala for all you car-buffs out there!) joins with Chong and they spend the better part of the movie searching for some marijuana. The movie is very funny and is host to some of the most memorable "Cheech and Chong" scenes ever. The movie ends at a Rock club where the boys play some really strange music. On a final note, "Up in Smoke" has a very nice appearance by Stacy Keach who plays Sgt. Stedenko.

If you are a fan of "Cheech and Chong," then add this to your collection. If you want to be a fan of "Cheech and Chong," then add this to your collection! Enjoy!

I saw this at the drive-in when it was first released! It was hilarious then and it is hilaious now! I watched the first 4 Cheech & Chongs films recently with my wife(a social drinker at best) and she thought they were very funny. They hold a lot more for me being a little more of a party animal(Hey I'm a musican). To my fellow musicans friends please don't start chimming in about how you never did any drinking etc. because of being in a band. The fact of the matter is, you are more inclined to do these things playing in bars all the time. OK? This is the first movie and the best in the series, but the next 3 movies are all excellent and funny! The DVD could use an upgrade.

This has to be their best film by far. I almost split my sides laughing at these two clowns. Cheech and Chong go on a hunt for some smoke and end up in Mexico driving a Van made of Hemp back to the states. Their journey is full of laughs, especially at the expense of the police. They are not even aware that the van they are driving is made of the illegal substance. Anyway everyone ends up high including the police which I found extremely amusing. An absolute classic and a must by for all those soft drug lovers and fans.

What can I say about this movie that hasnt already been said except that it's one of my all time favorites. I watched my VHS copy so many times it doesnt play anymore so of course I had to get the DVD. I still find this movie very funny, but feel the last 30 minutes or so tend to drag a bit. Maybe because the punk music concert is a bit dated. Nevertheless this movie has some of the funniest lines and gags ever. Just a few:
"I didn't know your name was Alex man"
Cheech "Am I driving ok?" Chong "I think we're parked man"
"I wasn't looking at his neck"
Cheech to Chong on the phone "Don't answer the phone even if it's me calling"
Gloria the drug dealing cop. The police dog that ends up stiff on his back after sniffing the van made of pot.
And of course the "bevy" of nuns that are wrongfully busted.
Buy this movie when you just want to sit back and laugh.

I can't believe I've watched this movie from time to time for 30 years now and it's STILL timelessly funny. The 1970's stand-up duo who sold thousands of comedy albums hit paydirt with their first movie, Up In Smoke. Followed by five sequels, this first film is considered by most to be their absolute best. And you didn't have or had to be in the "pot-culture lifestyle" to get the jokes either. A true comedy classic. Paramount released it first in 2000 with a couple of extras but now in 2007, a new Special Collector's Edition has toked it's way to stores. But is it worth a repurchase or should you save your stash?

At first glance this 2007 version's cover from the original 2000 issue doesn't look worth it, but trust me it's a vast improvement. First, the new menus are nice with new smokey animations, a strange-at-first CGI-like animated music video for the album version of Earache My Eye complete with the full original monologue, a quick video version of the movie where all you see is each time every actor says "Man" in it (trust me, it's funny), a couple of 70's radio spots, and be it slightly too short, an 11 minute retrospective on the movie with Cheech, Chong, and director Lou Adler. Even the movie's picture itself has been greatly improved, with an amazingly colorful picture free from any blemishes whatsoever. The 5.1 mix, commentary, and deleted scenes are ported over from the 2000 release, so this is one double-dip you can toss the original for.

Highly recommended for your stoner library, even just for the comedy-in-general one.
(RedSabbath Rating:9.0/10)

Very enjoyable to those with a Stoney point of view...and even sober folks such as my pop can enjoy this one....There is no mind blowing plot, all these fellas want is to score some smoke, now can't we all relate to that struggle?? Check this out!!! And also try "Nice Dreams" & "The Next Movie"! "Still Smokin'" & "Corsican Bro's" are for the hard core fans only...they totally blow..

Cheech and Chong are a hoot in their first (and funniest) feature film. The "plot" revolves around two bozos looking to score a lid of weed and get their band off the ground while dodging narcotics officers (led by Stacy Keach) who aren't much smarter. Curiously, film seems harmless despite the subject matter. Probably because it's impossible to take seriously, as Cheech and Chong appear to be nothing more than cartoon characters. Film is still hysterical even after the "Nancy Reagan Just Say No" era.