Up in Smoke

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Up in Smoke is available in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 638 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Cheech Marin — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Kanopy.

There is a reason Up in Smoke keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Up in Smoke from the crowd. An unemployed pot-smoking slacker and amateur drummer, Anthony Stoner ditches his strict parents and hits the road, eventually meeting kindred spirit Pedro de Pacas. While the drug-ingesting duo is soon arrested for possession of marijuana, Anthony and Pedro get released on a technicality, allowing them to continue their many misadventures and ultimately compete in a rock band contest, where they perform the raucous tune "Earache My Eye." Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1978. Up in Smoke earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Up in Smoke respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Cheech Marin is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.