Smiley Face

Ever since Cheech and Chong invented the stoner comedy, the genre has pushed boundaries in mind numbing uselessness, and Smiley Face may represent a new low (or high) for the format. It's certainly bold for it's blatant refusal to inject any substance to it's narrative, it simply follows a single character bumbling around with a glazed look on her face and any plot development is totally random and ridiculous.

Since it's essentially one long stoned monologue, it rests completely on the shoulders of Anna Farris to carry the film, and may possibly be a crowning achievement in the actress' career. She remains endearingly likeable throughout her dopey ramblings, and occasionally lands a good punch line. She's masterful at awkward comedy, and there's a low key brilliance to some of the more absurd musings, like when she contemplates framing a picture of president Garfield as a tribute to her love of lasagne. Things fall flat when she plays things more over the top, like the uncomfortable 3 minutes when she yells about communism at a meat packing plant.

As is often the case, the film is hit and miss with it's depiction of the effects of marijuana. There are a couple moments that accurately showcase the derailed train of thought of the baked mind, but just as many that try to pass off an unbelievable level of childish idiocy as normal pothead behaviour.

Show up under the influence and expect very little, and this inane little flick may just put a smile on your face.

This movie is now in one of my top five stoner movies. For people who don't smoke, I don't think it's the right experience for you. I watched this movie quite baked, and it was hilarious. I seriously laughed out loud many times, only because of Anna Faris. She was probably the best element of the movie.Her acting was priceless, seriously, she looked so freaking baked for the entire movie it was so hilarious to see! Very good jokes and overall very funny movie! But for the plot, it's for sure not the most epic and complex tale of the history... It's actually very omnipresent but not really important. The actress is entertaining enough to make you watch the entire film. Potheads give it a shot while you smoke a bit, it's a great fun but I don't see non-smokers really enjoying the experience. I, of course, watched the movie high and another time sober, and I can confirm a good buzz helps get you into the movie, into the character. It's worth a solid 7 out of 10!

Anna Faris is, in my opinion, the funniest young comedic actress out there today. In "Smiley Face", she is extremely entertaining (and completely unconcerned about vanity) as Jane, the much-too-stoned pothead. I just love her (and I'm not even gay)!

The story has me scratching my head a little bit. I can't decide if it's just some mindless, silly stoner movie (which works for me!), or, as another reviewer put it, some sort of 70's anti-marijuana training film. Maybe it's a little of both...? I dunno.

Story aside, I think the acting and direction are superb, very colorful, and quite hilarious! It's worth a viewing, if only for the reason that you're in the mood for something completely different. You'll definitely have something to ponder...and many scenes to remember fondly and laugh about!

Have to be honest here, I just didn't get PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. As with most David Gordon Green fare, I found it dull, unrealistic, melodramatic, and poorly acted. It just didn't make sense to me. I would have left after the first 15 minutes, but I went with a friend who I thought was enjoying it, and I didn't want to ruin it for him... until after the two-and-a-half hours of nonsense and we both found out we felt the same exact way. Not funny, not interesting, nothing new or original. And if I WERE stoned while watching it, I probably would've been even more bored. No wonder Rogen wrote this when he was 19. That's exactly what it seemed like. SUPERBAD was at least moderately interesting and had a fair story, if not a unique one, with some likable and engaging characters.

THAT all said, I was equally baffled by the poor reception to SMILEY FACE. Though the one came out some time after the other, SMILEY FACE impressed the hell out of me. I found it honest, sincere, very funny, and surprisingly well acted. There are some true moments that Araki captures exactly what it is to be stoned, wandering around LA and trying to figure out what's happening. Some of the inner-monologue of Faris is absolute genius: at once funny and truthful, particularly an entire exegesis on whether or not a "Garfield" poster would make sense being put up in the protagonist's house... all this after merely peering at a picture of corn.

The music is great, the editing and directing style are both spot-on (think a more stripped- down TRAINSPOTTING), and even though very little happens overall, I was never bored, because the screenplay continually throws interesting moments into the mix, making even something as simple as Faris trying to drive out of her parking garage or waiting at the dentist VERY engaging and laugh-out-loud funny.

Definitely Gregg Araki's best movie to date, and Faris', as well. Surprisingly creative and one of the few portrayals of stoners I've seen in far too long (hey, they're a culture, like any other!), I'm as confused at how few people saw SMILEY FACE as I am at why so many seemed to have seen PINEAPPLE (sans the Rogen factor, which clearly grew some crowds on its own).

Check out SMILEY FACE... if you can find it. Maybe buy on Amazon. You won't regret it.

Now this, fellow stoner users, is a great stoner movie. Anna Faris, better known as the innocent Cindy Campbell from the Scary Movies franchise, plays Jane, who gets real stoned and has lots of important stuff to do.

The plot sounded nice from the beginning, but I wasn't expecting it to be so artistic. It's more of an adventure film rather than a comedy. It's something like... stoner adventure. Anyway, lots of funny moments here, great to watch when you yourself are stoned. Has an unexpected ending and oh, those situations... Haven't we all been there?

Plus, good soundtrack. Watch it with your friends.