Reefer Madness - The Movie Musical (2004)

60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(9,047 ratings)

The made-for-cable musical satire Reefer Madness is based on the award-winning play of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the notorious -- and deliciously awful -- 1936 anti-marijuana film originally titled Tell Your Children. A smarmy lecturer (Alan Cumming in the first of his three roles… More The made-for-cable musical satire Reefer Madness is based on the award-winning play of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the notorious -- and deliciously awful -- 1936 anti-marijuana film originally titled Tell Your Children. A smarmy lecturer (Alan Cumming in the first of his three roles in the film) arrives in a typical small town of the late '30s to warn the populace of the dangers of the "evil weed," bringing along a lurid propaganda film to dramatize his message. In broad, unsubtle, and hilarious strokes, the movie-within-a-movie shows how even a squeaky-clean pair of highschoolers named Mary Lane (Kristen Bell) and Jimmy Harper (Christian Campbell) can become hopeless dope addicts by succumbing to the lure of marijuana. Reefer Madness is not only a savage skewering of the original black-and-white movie (some of the musical's campiest lines are taken directly from the earlier script!), but also a devastating attack on what playwrights Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney consider to be the real reason that the 1936 movie was made: to frighten the public out of their wits in order to keep them under the thumb of an oppressive government. Thus, the musical manages to take a number of not-so-veiled swipes at xenophobia, racism, McCarthyism, the Bush Administration's Homeland Security policy, and even the recent FCC clampdown on "offensive" TV fare (one of the film's highlights is a garish nightclub number featuring Jesus Christ). The ebulliently staged songs include "The Stuff," "Down at the Ol' Five and Dime," "Lonely Pew," "Listen to Jesus Jimmy," "Mary Jane/Mary Lane," "The Brownie Song," "Tell 'Em the Truth," and the title number. Officially titled Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, this film first aired April 16, 2005, on the Showtime cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Andy Fickman
Written By: Dan Studney, Kevin Murphy
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 27, 2005 Limited
On DVD: Nov 8, 2005
Studio: Showtime Networks Inc.

Critic Reviews

Brian Thomas, Now Playing Magazine
Even if you hate musical theater -- or maybe especially if you do -- you might want to check out this very silly satire...
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Maybe a few bong hits would make this thing funnier.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=blue]The latest version of "Reefer Madness" is a musical that is a remake/parody of the original 1930's anti-drug movie(which I've never seen even though I've seen clips from time to time. There must have been a clip in the 2000… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=blue]The latest version of "Reefer Madness" is a musical that is a remake/parody of the original 1930's anti-drug movie(which I've never seen even though I've seen clips from time to time. There must have been a clip in the 2000 documentary "Grass", even though I cannot remember for sure.). A mysterious stranger(Alan Cumming, in this role and many others) comes to lecture the kind parents one night in 1936 about the evils of the drug, marijuana.(Which here seems to be a combination of angel dust, crack and steroids.) He shows them an anachronistic film that starts out with a sweet innocent high school couple, James Harper(Christian Campbell) and Mary Lane(Kristen Bell). But there is evil lurking in the corners willing to seduce them to the dark side...[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#0000ff][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#0000ff]Surprisingly, "Reefer Madness" turned out to be a very enjoyable movie musical with catchy tunes and great dance routines. It is a rather enjoyable romp. [/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#0000ff][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#0000ff]There is also a political edge to this movie in that it criticizes the fearmongering that goes along with the film within a film. It reminded me of the hapless drive to teach abstinence only sex education in high schools.[/color][/font]
Alec B

Its ludicrous in the best possible way. Great songs and great comedic performances.
Lovable M

This movie was fun and campy. Loved the songs and the acting was good too.

Cast

            Kristen Bell as Mary Lane

            Christian Campbell as Jimmy Harper

            Neve Campbell as Miss Poppy

            Alan Cumming as FDR

            Ana Gasteyer as Mae Coleman

            John Kassir as Ralph Wiley

            Amy Spanger as Sally DeBains

            Robert Torti as Jesus

            Steven Weber as Jack Stone

            Kevin McNulty as Mayor Harris MacDonald

            Stephen J.M. Sisk as Blumsack

            Stephen E. Miller as Mr. Paul Kochinski

            Robert Clarke as Principal Poindexter Short

            Ruth Nichol as Mrs. Roxanne MacDonald

            Lynda Boyd as Mrs. Deirdre Greevey

            Harry Murphy as Warden Harrah

            Christine Lakin as Joan of Arc

            John Mann as Satan

            Michael A. Goorjian as Mickey Druther

            Patti Allan as Jimmy's Mom

            Jeanie Cloutier as Mrs. Lori Wang

            Tom Arntzen as Off. D.J. Sordelet

            Ken Kirzinger as Secret Service Agent Matthews

            Alexz Johnson as Arc-ette

            Brittney Irvin as Arc-ette

            Abraham Jedidiah as Dead Old Man

            Chang Tseng as Asian Guy

            Peter Jorgensen as Billy Curio

            Ross Atley as Shakespeare

            Christie Arellano as Mrs. Park

            Ray Myers as Sibley "Sax" Jenkins

            Jonathan Bruce as Inmate Magnanti

            Jim Beardon as Moses

            The Dolly Dots as Herself
See full cast