Storyline

Aspiring doctor Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong) gets the shock of his life when his hard-nosed father (Peter Bogdanovich) -- and medical-school professor -- fails him, invalidating his acceptance to an elite residency program. His long-standing life plan suddenly in question, the introverted Hadley stumbles through the streets of Los Angeles, until a one-night stand with singer Bogart (Fairuza Balk) lands him on an unexpected pilgrimage to Humboldt County, the marijuana capital of the West Coast.

Plot Keywords

medical student, father, professor, singer, eccentric, young girl, charming, emotional, profound, los angeles, campus, field, forest, family home, self-discovery, marijuana, road trip, career aspirations, father/son relationship, adventure, transformation, 2000s

Short Review

I saw this in the theater in Humboldt County with a boy I had met there. Like Peter Hadley, I was from somewhere else. Unlike Peter Hadley, I was searching, not kidnapped, and especially curious about medical pot, because I suffer from refractory epilepsy. Back then it wasn't legal in my state. My ex-boyfriend said, "I didn't like it. It was too realistic." To this day I remember him saying that, and wonder about it, because I see the characters as absurd symbols for what the creators want to express. However this is a propaganda movie. It tries to make you feel sympathy for people growing pot and the character who takes you on this journey is a guy who might be a doctor. That doesn't make it bad. I think it's for legalization.You cry for Max The Truman because his life as a pot farmer was given to him by his parents, and he's afraid he will give it to his daughter. From the outsider's perspective, Peter Hadley, he's envious of Max. Max and Jack live their lives freely like true men. They don't allow someone to tell them what to do if they don't believe it's right so they don't follow the rules. They can do whatever they want, unless they get shot at. Although he tries to deny this envy, it's there. By comparison, Peter Hadley's life is nothing but an endless cascade of paperwork as he sleepwalks through life doing exactly as his father wishes. However, that's exactly what Max has been doing, and why he eventually kills himself. Or just has an accident that was confusing. Peter Bogdanovitch look's very much like a dour basset hound. So does J.K. Simmons, actually. Strange. Peter Hadley might start to look like a basset hound too. Anyway, his rejection of his father to get on the bus is really a symbol that unlike his father who dismisses the idea of medical marijuana, he has by that time embraced it. Brad Dourif is a favorite of mine as he's terrific at being really creepy. He was in a Star Trek episode and was a super creepy murderer guy. Other actor's who excel at being super creepy are Patrick Fischler.But Dourif's performance as a creepy hippie was somewhat creepy but also lovably creepy. The true cowards here are the DEA, for stealing people's livelihoods, the true hero, the hippies for not doing what their told. Unfortunately, it has to be a tragedy, because you have to understand that people are hurt by prohibition. I recommend the movie even though it's a bit silly and obviously very politically motivated. And Peter Hadley is right. Humboldt County is beautiful and magical, and that's why I miss it.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership

2. Vudu : [SD - Buy: 9.99, Rent: 2.99] [HDX - Buy: 13.99, Rent: 3.99]