Super High Me

I saw this film in its Regional Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. The point of the film seems to be to openly steal Morgan Spurlock's 30-Day premise from Super Size Me and apply to stoner comedian Doug Benson being stoned for 30 days. It lacks the originality of Spurlock's premise. For one, many people spend every day stoned and the affects are well-known. I agree with their premise that that they want to show that marijuana doesn't do much harm to human health and therefore should be legalized. But if this is the best they can do, it should perhaps offer some caution about the degree to which marijuana effects cognitive thinking skills and behavior. While it is a funny film at times, it adds little to the political debate - unlike the Spurlock film - and doesn't really offer anything new or interesting.

As the filmmakers (including Benson and director Blieden) volunteered during their Q & A after the film, they really didn't know what sort of film they wanted to make. Did they want to tell of Benson's humorous 30-day stoned journey? Did they want to make a political film about the dispute between state and federal authorities on Marijuana legalization in California? Or did they want to make a club film about Benson's comedy act during the period of his 30-day experiment? They couldn't really decide, so they combined all three efforts and the film shows that lack of a clear direction.

Also, they throw in all of these cameos with Benson's comedian buddies that add almost nothing to the film. Incidentally, their 10th amendment Constitutional arguments are poorly presented since there is a long tradition of Federal legal supremacy based on Article 4, section 2 of the Constitution which has been the basis of America's Federal system of government for centuries.

So it is good for a few laughs and its own political diatribe, but it could have been much better. One of the best points that they make is that medical marijuana is, in many cases, an excuse for recreational drug usage. They imply that it is sort of farce and real debate should be over the legalization of recreational use. If we want to have that debate, let's find better film makers and other advocates to make that argument, because this barely qualifies as a political documentary. I recommend the film "Grass" which is a much better film and presents a fascinating history of the prohibition of marijuana in the U.S.

A semi-spoof documentary of Super Size Me, which explores a similar premise to the McDonald's movie, but exchanges burgers with 'medical' marijuana. The lead of this movie is the no2 cannabis comedian in the country - Gary Cohan. He goes through before and after tests, describes his ordeal and does stand-up in the meantime.

Only three things really stand out in this movie: - the short presentation of the situation of medical marijuana in California, where federal law is raping state law and DEA is closing down and arresting legal medical marijuana stores; - the interesting observation that marijuana seems to have improved psychic abilities :); - the fact that the stand-up comic is way funnier on marijuana than off it...

Apart from that the movie is rather a bore and you really feel that it is too long and unnecessary. I'll give you one thing - its absurd that McDonald's is legal, while marijuana is forbidden.

For fans of Doug Benson's comedy, be it stand-up or "Best Week Ever", you'll get more out of this documentary on him as he goes 30 days with weed and 30 days without then other viewers. If one goes into the film expecting an intelligent documentary on the pros Vs. cons of weed you'll be vastly disappointed. One only needs to know that this was made 'in cahoots' (the film's words not mine) with 420 Partners Llc to know which side of the fence this film firmly sits on and thus skews the 'infomation' in that direction and to suit it's need. Propaganda in a way, not to say it's not (vaquely) entertaining in bits and pieces, it is. Just go into the film knowing that it's slanted and you'll be fine.

My Grade: C-

It's 4/20 and I couldn't have found a more appropriate date to watch this movie. It stars comedian Doug Benson, who I knew from The Marijuana-Logues.

As Benson describes in the beginning of the film, the basic premise is like the one in "Super Size Me", but with pot instead of McDonald's.

He goes through 30 days of "detox" only to spend another 30 days smoking marijuana non-stop. He has 'tests' done, interviews a bunch of other comedians and his stand-up routines all intertwined with the 'experiment'. This makes for a nice, light-hearted, fun movie. There's offensive language, but it's what you'd expect from stand-up comedians.

Stoners will certainly find something to enjoy here. And although this movie is a comedy and Doug claims he just wants to get stoned, there are a few key moments in the film that show people who actually need medical marijuana and the ridiculous state of affairs in which the DEA violates state laws and makes things difficult for folks that are in pain - these moments are intense and sad. One can only hope this will change in the near future.

Had this movie turned into a more political direction, it would be deserving of a much higher mark, in my opinion. As it stands, it's a nice and funny movie about pot and I'm glad I had the chance to watch this today and celebrate.

Peace out, 8/10

While I agree that this is not the most political nor the most medically conclusive of documentaries, it seems to me that this misses the whole point of what the filmmakers were trying to do. There is no need for another "Grass" type documentary -- as that one already exists. Super High Me is a comedy first and a documentary second. And that's OK. More than OK, it might even be better, because it has the potential (since it is funny and entertaining as well as informative) to reach a wider audience and make more people aware of the entire medical marijuana issue, the existence of 'dispensaries' in California and the conflict between state and federal laws.

So is there another more activist documentary to be made about medical marijuana? Sure. But it would probably be boring and no one would really go see it. (Kinda like the fate of "Grass" for example.) This one is fun AND informative. And it will probably do very well and get more people talking about the issues, even more than if it were a "real" documentary.