Reefer Madness - The
Movie Musical (Cable Telefilm)
Picture: C
Sound: B- Extras: C Telefilm: C
They’ll make anything into a Musical, but that does not
mean it will work. Instead of offering
something funny, ironic and memorable, Reefer Madness - The Movie Musical
(2005) can only rehash (no pun intended) the same conservative 1930s to 1950s
world of oppression and think that is somehow sufficient enough to be funny,
entertaining and mean something.
Unfortunately, the songs are remarkably forgettable and it is not from
any drug use that they will slip your mind.
No drug will make you remember them either.
This is instead a one-joke piece that never goes anywhere
despite a name cast that includes Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell, Alan Cumming,
Ana Gasteyer and Steven Weber. Even a
sudden animated sequence does not click.
Conclusion, this one is a bad trip!
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 x 1 image is surprisingly
soft, shot on digital HD of some sort, then transferred with issues. This should be cleaner and clearer than it
is, but is still watchable enough. The
Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is not bad, though not so dynamic that it is a
must-hear. Extras include text on the
film, an audio commentary by the creators that does not add much and the original
1936 Reefer Madness film that is still at the crux of things. It certainly plays better than this
telefilm, but some may enjoy both.
- Nicholas Sheffo
