‘Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie’ Review: A Lively and Informative Look at the Duo, Then and Now

It’s only fitting that the first thing you see onscreen in the new documentary about Cheech & Chong is, what else, a lot of smoke.

David Bushell’s directorial debut receiving its world premiere at SXSW provides a fairly definitive portrait of the legendary comic duo who became a cultural sensation starting in the early 1970s thanks to their sold-out live performances, top-selling comedy albums, and hit movies. There’s much fun to be derived from their reunion for this film chronicling their decades-long, on-and-off association, not to mention seeing them driving through the desert and riffing together in their distinctive gonzo way. It’s the closest thing we’ll have to another real Cheech & Chong movie, and considering the woefulness of their last few cinematic efforts, that’s not the worst thing.

Related Stories

Movies

'The Gutter' Review: Susan Sarandon and Shameik Moore Face Off in a Boisterous Bowling Comedy

Movies

'The Greatest Hits' Review: Lucy Boynton Time-Travels Back to Her Dead Boyfriend in Predictably Weepy Musical Drama

The filmmaker has uncovered a wealth of vintage clips and archival footage, including priceless scenes of the pair being interviewed at the Playboy Mansion, complete with nude women swimming in the grotto behind them (they’re only momentarily distracted), and also by a pre-Fox News Geraldo Rivera, who almost seems to be auditioning to join their act. The documentary also includes extensive contemporary interviews with the pair, in which they talk freely and frankly about their lives and collaboration.

Their partnership makes for an unlikely story. The half-Chinese Tommy Chong, born in Canada, quit high school after being introduced to the joys of pot and the music of Ornette Coleman. He became a musician, playing guitar in various bands before scoring a modest hit single, “Does Your Mamma Know About Me,” which he co-wrote for Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers. The Mexican-American Cheech Marin, born Richard Anthony Marin in Los Angeles, was the son of an LAPD officer and moved to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft.

There, he met Chong, who by that point was performing with an improv comedy troupe at a strip club that he also managed. The two quickly found that they had a unique, heavily pot-infused chemistry and decided to become a comedy duo. They explain that they decided on their name because “Cheech and Chong” was more rhythmic than “Chong and Cheech.” After moving to Los Angeles, they quickly achieved popularity with their live shows featuring such routines as “Sister Mary Elephant” and “Basketball Jones.” The latter is the subject of a hilarious anecdote involving Jack Nicholson and George Harrison and accompanied by crude animation.

They made their first comedy album, produced by Lou Adler, that featured their trademark catchphrase “Dave’s Not Here!” Adler, who describes them as “the first rock ‘n’ roll comedians,” also directed their first movie, 1978’s Up in Smoke, which became a smash hit on a miniscule budget. In the documentary, they bitterly recount how Adler screwed them over and that they made only $2,000 and a tape recorder for the film. Despite that, they’re still on cordial terms with Adler, who briefly shows up in the film when they amusingly spot him walking in the desert and give him a ride.

Among the many hilarious clips stemming from that era is one featuring their appearance on, of all things, The Virginia Graham Show, in which the clearly befuddled host refers to them as “Cheech and Kong” and asks Chong if he’s really Chinese.

The success of the first film led to several follow-ups, which gradually decreased in popularity, including Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie, Nice Dreams,Things Are Tough Are All Over and Still Smokin’. They hit their cinematic nadir with Cheech and Chong’s The Corsican Brothers, a strained, unsuccessful attempt to make a shift from their stoner comedy.   

The films caused the personal friction that eventually led to them going their separate ways. They talk frankly about the tensions, although even now they don’t fully agree about the specifics. It seems to boil down to the idea that while they co-wrote all their films, Chong directed most of them and attempted to exert a creative control that rankled his partner. “He’s got an ego out of proportion to his actual talent,” Marin comments.

Marin went on to solo success, directing, writing and starring in the film Born in East L.A., based on the duo’s hit single, and notching many acting credits in film and television. Chong had a harder time, serving nine months in prison in 2003-2004 for distributing drug paraphernalia through the internet. Nonetheless, they’re reunited for various projects numerous times over the years.

“So, is this a documentary or a movie?” asks Chong at one point. “I don’t know, man,” Cheech replies in inimitable fashion. That vagueness is what makes Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie as entertaining as it is informative. Their low-key chemistry and obvious affection for each other despite their past issues are still very much on display, delivering a nostalgic kick that you don’t even have to be high to enjoy.