Bongwater

Unlike many of the people here, I did enjoy this movie. It's not going to appeal to someone looking for Half Baked or any other stoner comedy, because it's really a romance. It has comedy elements tied in throughout the film and it does have its moments although nothing is totally laugh out loud funny. The characters are not nearly as ludicrous as half baked (people don't literally go flying out their windows when there stoned), but I felt they were more true to life. It is very much your typical love story backbone. The bottom line is if you hate love stories you will probably hate this. It's like the Chasing Amy of stoner films. I gave it a commendable 7/10.

This is a movie which is just for fun. I think you just have to get it or like this kind of film to enjoy it, as I am sure a ton of you out there will think its a waste. I liked it very much. Alot of familiar faces in this one before they became more well known. Andy Dick is great, so is Jack Black. Some cool songs too which worked great with the scenes. Just a messed up fun escape for an hour and a half, if not just to see some of these stars of today in a smaller indie film. Simple, witty, and a guilty pleasure.

Saw this at the Temecula Valley Film Festival last week. One of the best ones there. Luke Wilson is great, Alicia Witt is *tops*. Looking for more of her as soon as possible. I know someone exactly like the character she plays here. Very funny, very cool movie.

When I first saw the trailer for Bongwater, I thought, "This will be the best movie of all time." I really did think that. This could not be further from the truth. Quite frankly, I'm not quite sure what I saw. I would analogize it to cotton candy(or Chinese food, just hear me out). I ate a lot, but it just kind of dissolved. I know that I watched this movie, but what was it that I saw? Was I too deep for it or was it too deep for me?? Unfortunately, this is another case in the grand tradition of "Mr. Wrong" and "Dude, Where's My Car" where a trailer writes a check that it's ass simply cannot cash. My advice is to watch the trailer continously- it's hilarious on so many levels. Watch the "Mr. Wrong" one as well to really get a taste of unbridled potential gone horribly awry.

I read many of the other review before adding my comments, so the net result may be a review of the reviews more than commentary on the movie itself. What a twisted, postmodern web I weave, huh?

The first point I would like to address is criticism of the plot - sure it meanders a bit, but it seems more cohesive and lucid than the lives of the stoners this movie illustrates. Also, there is a pretty clear parallel between the stoner sensibilities of the characters and the way the movie was directed. Without giving too much away, I can say that the movie is about inertia. And sometimes the movie is similarly inert. To me this does not challege the the viewer's imagination too much.

There are far more challenging movies out there, even in the same genre (if there is in fact a stoner/slacker genre) - well, Slackers is a good example. It has virtually no plot, no Jack Black comedy payoff, and yet it is a good film. Bongwater, although it does not rely on the same devices, is a good film for the same reasons.

The writing seems to be perfectly good. But there is no accounting for taste. It was not sublime, but neither was it conspicuously bad. I think the characters are rendered well too. Even the smaller parts played by Andy Dick and Jeremy Sisto have a proper amount of complexity to them.

I'll sum up by saying that I think the disappointment I have read here is a reflection of expectations of the movie and the movie not aligning to some viewers' satisfaction. So if you have not read the book, or you have not seen the trailers, and you don't have unrealistically high expectations hot chicks in daisy dukes, prepare to be amused. Excepting most of the scenes Brittany Murphy is in.

I give it a solid B+