Alright, fellow tapeheads, let’s dim the lights, maybe crack open a beverage that isn't featured prominently in today's film, and slide a well-worn copy of Cheech & Chong’s Still Smokin' (1983) into the VCR. If you remember the late-night glow of the rental store aisles, chances are you encountered this one, perhaps nestled between their more structured narrative flicks. This wasn't quite Up in Smoke (1978) or Nice Dreams (1981); this felt different, looser, like someone just pointed a camera at the duo and let the tape roll... mostly because that's kind of what happened.
### Amsterdam Haze and Movie Maze
Dropping us right into the hazy canals and permissive atmosphere of Amsterdam, Still Smokin' finds our titular heroes, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, arriving for a film festival... only there’s no film. And possibly no festival, just a slightly bewildered promoter (Hans Man In 't Veld, bless his patience) trying to make sense of it all. The plot, such as it is, serves merely as the thinnest of connective tissues between what the movie really is: a showcase for Cheech & Chong's stage routines and improvisational riffing, filmed live before a Dutch audience, interspersed with skits featuring Cheech as the delightfully sleazy "Mr. Burt" and Chong as the perpetually confused "Ralph."
Directed by Tommy Chong himself, who also co-wrote with Cheech Marin, the film feels less like a structured comedy and more like a filmed version of their greatest hits album, performed in a foreign land. This approach was partly born of necessity. After facing studio hurdles following Things Are Tough All Over (1982), the duo reportedly financed much of Still Smokin' themselves, leveraging their established stage material for a quicker, lower-budget production far from Hollywood oversight. You can almost feel that freedom – and perhaps the lack of second-guessing – in the film's rambling energy.
### The Main Event: Live and Unfiltered
The real meat of Still Smokin' lies in the extended performance sequences. Captured live, you get the raw energy of their stand-up, the familiar characters, the musical numbers ("Mexican Americans," "Born in East L.A." - though the latter song became huge later after its own movie). It’s here the undeniable chemistry between Cheech and Chong shines brightest. They play off each other with the ease of decades, slipping into well-worn personas that still got huge laughs. Remember seeing this on a fuzzy CRT? The energy of that live audience, even muffled through TV speakers, felt palpable. It was like getting a concert film and a comedy rolled into one messy, glorious joint.
Sure, some of the humor hasn't aged like fine wine – more like that baggie you forgot about in your old jean jacket. The jokes are often low-brow, relentlessly focused on their trademark subject matter, and occasionally veer into stereotypes that were questionable even then. But viewed as a product of its time, and specifically of Cheech & Chong's particular counter-culture niche, it's a fascinating time capsule. There's an endearing shagginess to it all.
### Low Budget Charm, High Times Vibe
Forget polished effects or intricate set pieces. Still Smokin' embraces its low-budget roots. The Amsterdam location footage provides some authentic European flavour, but the "plot" segments feel almost like home movies – albeit starring two comedy legends. The Burt and Ralph skits, involving mistaken identities and Burt’s disastrous attempts at wooing women, are pure C&C absurdity. They're silly, often nonsensical, but delivered with that trademark deadpan confusion (Chong) and misplaced bravado (Cheech).
Did critics shower it with praise back in '83? Absolutely not. It was largely dismissed as lazy, plotless, and repetitive. But for the fans? It delivered exactly what they wanted: more Cheech, more Chong, doing their thing with minimal interference. It found its true home, like so many cult items, on VHS, passed around among friends, watched late at night, becoming a comforting, familiar buzz. I distinctly remember renting this multiple times, the slightly degraded tape quality somehow adding to the grungy charm. It wasn't cinematic genius, but it felt like hanging out with Cheech and Chong for 90 minutes.
### Final Burn: Still Worth Firing Up?
Still Smokin' isn't the place to start for Cheech & Chong newbies – Up in Smoke remains the essential entry point. It lacks the narrative drive of their best work and relies heavily on familiarity with their established routines. But for seasoned fans, it's a unique entry in their filmography, capturing their live act energy in a way the other films don't. It’s messy, uneven, and unapologetically itself.
VHS Heaven Rating: 5/10
Justification: This score reflects its niche appeal. For die-hard Cheech & Chong fans who appreciate their stand-up roots and improvisational chaos, it’s a must-see piece of their history (maybe even a 6 or 7). For casual viewers or those unfamiliar with their act, the lack of plot and repetitive gags might be baffling or tedious (closer to a 3 or 4). The 5 acknowledges its cult status and importance within their specific canon, while admitting it's far from their most accessible or well-crafted film.
Final Thought: Less a movie, more a hazy Amsterdam souvenir starring two comedy icons doing exactly what made them famous – pure, uncut Cheech & Chong, perfect for when you just want to relive that specific 80s comedy burnout vibe.