Another film I've seen a few times, so the review is as thorough as it gets. From what I've read around the internet, this was considered a flop, with more than $12 million than its production value. However, everyone I've seen it with has had a positive reaction, as well as me. I guess it's another one of those "hate it or love it" films that divide the audience (like Titanic or Twilight). If I went by the IMDb rating, I'd probably not see it, but I'm glad I did. Sometimes you just have to judge for yourself.
Premise
Silas is a dealer who generally minds his own business; he doesn't have a good idea of what he wants to do in life and doesn't care about it either. But when his friend, Ivory, dies in an accident, he uses his ashes to create a new type of cannabis. On the day of the college entry exam, Silas meets Jamal and the two hit it off, only to discover Ivory's ghost in the backseat of their car, after smoking the "Ivory". Because they could see him after smoking the special weed, Ivory helps them on their exam and the two get very high grades, which enables them to choose any college they want. And they decide to go to...Harvard?!
Something's not quite right here.
The Good
80% of the comedy lies in the delivery of lines. While the jokes may be crude and downright macabre at times, I really enjoyed them. There's a bit for everyone: slapstick, puns, mimic, chase scenes etc. I can guarantee you will find something you like, even if not everything appeals to you. Remember to keep an open mind and not get revolted at the stereotypes, they're there just for fun. Just a minor heads up of what you may encounter: "typical black language"; Asians = losers, nerds, don't speak proper English; white people = losers, scaredy-cats etc.
The rest of 20% is made up of hilarious situations the characters find themselves in, such as trying to study hard so as not to fail the exams, and failing miserably. Some situations weren't original at all, but this movie put a new spin to them - for example, studying while smoking weed or the good-girls-gone-bad cliché.
Distractions abound.
The Bad
There were some very clear stereotypes set, such as the uptight teacher and the apparently-good-but-really-naughty girl, but it was obvious they were used with the purpose of creating comedic situations. Not much to complain about, just keep an open mind and don't take them seriously. Also, a situation I will describe in The Plain WTF is highly implausible, but I suppose it's OK to exaggerate once in a while. This particular scene may be hard to stomach for some, and may take away from the general feel of the movie.
Also, some might be deterred by the heavy use of curse words; I can't think of a scene where one isn't used, but this is more towards the comedic side rather than the serious one. It's your call, really, but I'm warning you nonetheless: if you dislike swearing, you may be better off avoiding this movie. Same goes for the use of drugs: you won't find any "drugs are bad for you" moral in here, on the contrary.
The Plain WTF (spoilers concerning a not-so-important-but-nevertheless-funny scene)
After Gerald smokes all their Ivory, Silas and Jamal drag the unwilling Jeffrey with them to the cemetery and exhume the body of President John Quincy Adams in order to "smoke a smart guy" so they wouldn't fail their exams and be expelled. There is even a scene where Jamal makes Jeffrey smoke one of the fingers.
The Quotes
Silas: So, you trying to get something to bring your nerves down too, huh?
Jamal: Yeah. I figure if I study high, take the test high, get high scores! Right?
Silas: Right.
Jamal and Silas: Right...
Verdict and recommendations
Overall, it was a very, very fun movie to watch, and I say this after having seen it at least three times. It just never gets old! The use of drugs and swear words didn't bug me at all, but I suppose that's because I never took this film too seriously to begin with. It's light fun and it doesn't try to be anything else.
Again, see this with a friend. It's way better to laugh in a group than to laugh alone (and you might not even find it as funny if you do watch it alone).
Originality + creativity: 1p
Actors (acting and if they fit the parts): 2p
Soundtrack: 2p
Special effects/Natural flow: 1p
How much I enjoyed it: 2p
My rating: 
(8 out of 10)
How High (2001) on IMDb.com
