Half Baked

Part of the fun of seeing Half Baked is listening to the crowd ooh and aah every time an elaborate bong comes on the screen. "Gimme some of that," yelled one ambitious teen at this past Saturday's 1 p.m. showing at Fresh Pond, when our modern-day Cheech & Chongs opened the door to a medical-supply closet full of pot. Director Tamra (Billy Madison) Davis's film may look like a waste of time, but it stars four of the country's hottest up-and-coming comics plus a slew of cameos from famous comedians and Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tommy Chong.

Dave Chappelle (a co-writer), Guillermo Diaz, and SNL's Jim Breuer play stoners who must rescue their lovable stoner friend Kenny (Harland Williams) from prison after he kills a diabetic police horse by feeding it munchies. The plot, of course, hardly matters -- it's the fond send-up of pot culture that's right on target. Steven Wright is perfect in the role of "the guy on the couch." But there are also sexist and homophobic streaks running throughout; seeming more juvenile and ignorant than cruel, they nonetheless keep the film from being fun for the whole family. Add a mess of miscellaneous, unfunny stupidity and the movie is definitely half-baked; it's up to you to provide the other half.

-- Mark Bazer