Customer Reviews

Homegrown [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a shame that "Homegrown" was but a brief blip on the box office radar screen, but it hardly ranks as the greatest injustice to befall a Hollywood product. This movie isn't a masterpiece. Still, it is thrilling, intriguing, funny, and provides a fascinating look at the subculture of marijuana growers. The performances seem spot-on, and the movie's creators have admirably avoided some common pitfalls: the growers aren't presented in a "Robin Hood" light, but neither are they demonized; the violence in the film is neither overstated nor glossed-over; and the ending, thankfully, isn't stock Hollywood. The film has a lot of creative integrity going for it. I do agree with another reviewer: this look into the growers' world whets the appetite for a look at the history of marijuana growing, and it would have been nice if the creative team behind the DVD had included such, even if only as a bonus feature.

Homegrown is a gift to anyone who's ever taken part in the herbacious sporting life. Billy Bob Thornton plays the smartest of three underachieving men guarding a mondo sized field of weed. He handles the role of senior man on site well. His acerbic wit is outstanding in this. His droll delivery of sarcastic disgust when outlining the obvious for the other two partners is pure music to my ears. I'd say 9 out of every 10 things he had to say were just brutally funny. In my opinion, nobody does this better then Billy. Hank Azaria plays the second man who's almost as smart but not quite and his lines are magic, too. Ryan Phillipe does well as the clueless kid, cursed by inexperience but packed with enthusiasm as were we all at his age. It's his youthful exuberance and naivete as he screws up that is so fun to watch. Overall, the movie is funny, even when it gets violent (which there's not much of). It somehow mixes humor you'd expect from potheads and the deeper type of humor found from clearer thinking minds. I've been both and this appealed to each side of my life experience. Whether you watch this in a smoke filled room or not, you will laugh hard and often.

Homegrown is a difficult movie to explain or market. Some people seem to want to call it a comedy to help ease the touchy marijuana subject, but it is really a crime drama, not a comedy. It's a comedy only in the way that some unseasoned criminals screw up on the job (as in an Elmore Leonard novel), but that's just relief from what is truly a dramatic film about marijuana farmers. One can't help but wonder how the studio planned to deal with a possible backlash to a film that presents marijuana farmers as good guys, not demons.

The cast is terrific, from Billy Bob Thornton to John Lithgow to Jamie Lee Curtis to Jon Bon Jovi, among many other big names. If you want to see a movie most people didn't get a chance to view on the big screen, check this one out.

The characters are human enough to be believable, but silly enough to be fun to watch. It has great on-location shots that made me feel I was in the woods on the Northern California coast. If the "illegal drugs" part of it bothers you, just pretend it's period piece set in Kentucky during the prohibition era. The only difference would be that, back then, the drug deemed evil by misguided government policy was alcohol. The problems prohibition caused -- crime, an underground economy and entire communities' willingness to protect their local trade -- are the same.

I had seen this video some while past and was looking to let a fried enjoy this humor,the video is super funny and quite well directed for such a different type of entertainment,this is a must see for all of billy bob lovers,get lost in the country for a couple of hours.
This movie will entertain all Medical Marijuana advacates as well as show the value of the statement [legalize and tax it ]
hope you like it as much as myself and a few chosen friends at a gathering of like minded people

this is a great flick for those interested in the marijuana culture, esspecially the guerilla grow-ops. A lot of big name stars...i'm suprised i never heard of this until it had been on video for a while. I don't really see the comedy aspect as some other reviewers claim...but w/e, we all have different sences of humor. Def. Not for those looking for another half baked or cheech & chong...a bit more intelligent & realistic...check it out!

First of all, THIS IS NOT A SLAPSTICK DRUG MOVIE ALA CHEECH AND CHONG. I found this movie to be more of a drama/mystery than a comedy, and a very enjoyable, compelling, well-produced one at that. Sure, the plot revolves around the harvest and sale of a 'Green' crop, but the scenario that the characters are placed in and quality of the acting and direction is far from the slapstick drug comedies that I don't need to mention here. Parts of it reminded me of Fargo, in fact. With the head of the farm out of the picture, its up to the harvesters to negotiate the sale of the year's crop, and it turns out that the business side of the industry is anything but simple business. The plot twists and turns, the characters cling to their wits, and the excellent direction enhances the paranoia that creeps across every frame of the picture. This movie surprised me: definitely worth a rental.

It is a great movie. Slightly dark comedy. I stumbled onto it back in 2004, I believe, on HBO one night. Within 15 minutes I knew I had to own it. I couldn't believe all these big actors were in it and yet I had never heard of it. I made sure to check the date on it at the end of the film - 1998. I was wowed because that is farther back than I thought. In 1998, I was too young to appreciate such a movie. ****Ted Danson as the toy factory mafia guy is hilarious.**** It's a great movie, at least rent it. Actually it might be cheaper to buy it now, BUY IT.

Homegrown is part Dark Comedy/Thriller about a group of guys who sale pot.When they watch their boss get killed,they run off with enough weed to make there pay.Then they decide to good ahead and sale the rest of the pot growing on the land,so they house up with associate Lucy and they all work on selling their product together.A very entertaining movie to say the least,never boring.There is also an excellent cast, and a lot of cameo appearances.Billy Bob Thorton,Hank Azaria,Kelly Lynch,Ted Danson,and Jon Bon Jovi are just a few of the great talents in this movie.Homegrown is not a Cheech and Chong styled drug comedy,this is more of a dark comedy.

Well written (except for the writers abandon at the end)well performed, somewhat of a peek glimpse into America's growing cash srop. Chock full of cameo's and a very surprising performance from Jon Bon Jovi? would never had thought until the credits rolled. If your looking for Cheech and Chongesque reefer humour, don't watch this.