The Stöned Age

I was a senior in high school in 76 living in West Los Angeles and this is EXACTLY what we used to do. We had more drugs than these guys were able to get but we would do ALL the exact same s***. There is no exaggeration. We had the "Crump's brother" guy who had just gotten out of Chino Correctional. We had a Tack and a Hubbs.

I had a friend who looked EXACTLY like the red haired guy (Joe) in this movie.

The language is accurate too.

This was probaby what a lot of kids in California was doing in those days.

The Stoned Age (1994)

*** (out of 4)

Buddies Hubbs (Bradford Tatum) and Joe (Michael Kopelow) are out driving around looking for some fun chicks when they hear about two of them. They decide to pay them a visit even though they belong to a crazed criminal and soon they're trying to score with them as well as get some alcohol. THE STONED AGE is a pretty lame brain movie but that really doesn't matter because it's a lot of fun. The cast is excellent, the director keeps things moving at a very good place, there's sex and nudity, a lot of drinking, mean pranks and a great 70's rock soundtrack. Many people have called this a dumbed down version of DAZED AND CONFUSED, which actually isn't fair because both films set out to do something completely different so it's not really fair to compare the two. With that said, this film here has so many hilarious moments that it's impossible to not really enjoy it. I think a lot of the charm comes from Tatum and the rather silly Joe as they get into one bad situation after another. Or, should I say that Joe gets into one bad situation after another and you just want to see the guy catch a break. The little journey here certainly isn't anything ground-breaking but it's a lot of fun and we get some great laughs along the way. The stuff dealing with Blue Oyster Cult is very funny and the chemistry between the two stars is very memorable and it's too bad more movies weren't made with them. I think ones entertainment level will probably be even higher if you can relate to these two guys. The driving around, looking for girls, smoking weed and just getting into trouble. The film is very innocent and oh so much fun.

Well, this is a party movie. I can't tell you how many times me and my friends have watched this film in relation to a record-breaking party night. Forget 'Dazed'. "YOU JUST GOTTA GO FOR IT!!!" If you are a young guy, this movie will become your bible. Celebrate your manhood and watch a great film before you tear loose on the women of your city. No fat chicks! Rock Out!

If you read my review of this one from August of 99, then you have my opinion after watching only once and being disappointed by its comparisons to Dazed & Confused. The fact is-- after I rented it, I thought of this movie often. I thought of some of the funny lines, but mainly it was thought provoking in a sense; as though it worked on a deeper level than it was meant to deliver on. The characters were somehow very believable and the situations, though far fetched in a movie way, really reminded me of being there years ago. For example, while Joe's ramblings are misguided and nonsensical, it was evident that he had higher aspirations. His dialogue was like how a kid like that might talk in real life-- not like someone reading from a script might. Hubbs and Tack were classic movie characters, as well.

Unable to get the film out of my head, I decided I had to own it. I ordered a copy and watch it about once a month or so, howling with laughter each time. My point is that my initial impression was not nearly as favorable as it is now, partly based on certain expectations. If you realize from the outset that you're watching a B-movie and just enjoy it for what it is, you may find the hidden gem that I found.

Bit of advice to low budget filmmakers - have your film take place during the present day. Setting your film in the past is expensive and takes a lot of time and energy. This movie's depiction of 1970's era Southern California is so bad, it's as if they made no effort whatsoever. I mean, the very first scene has Crump's brother standing on the side of the highway as Ford Explorers and late 90's model Volvo Station wagons go cruising by. I didn't even know it took place in the 70's until Joe had his 8-track eaten by the Blue Bomber. Even the wardrobe and hair is terrible. Half the cast looks straight out of the Seattle grunge scene - tight, ripped jeans, leather jackets and long, straight hair. Hell, Hubbs looks more like the dude from the Cult than a 17 year-old high school kid in the 70's. The "hot" chick adds even more confusion, with her late-80's, metal groupie, "she's my cherry pie", Warrant video ensemble. Now, with that said, there are some great moments. Tack is hilarious and perfect. Joe's brush with Blue Oyster Cult and "the laser" is classic. The soundtrack of Ted Nugent, Sabbath, and the aforementioned BOC totally rocks (guess we know where the budget went). The Schnapster rules (*ping!*) Mike Dick and Mike New York and all their cases of talls rule too. Kind of amazing how such a bad flick can have so many classic moments. As a matter of fact, every poorly contrived scene of bad dialogue and even worse wardrobes is actually worth sitting through, if just for that one scene where Tack starts talking about his zits. Dazed and Confused, one of my all time favorite movies, doesn't have a single scene as funny, as candid, as just straight up randon, as that one. "I don't want no chicks with zits, I want fine chicks!" Amen, Tack.