Cheech & Chong's Last Movie
It’s been 41 years since Cheech & Chong’s The Coriscan Brothers, the last time Cheech & Chong were featured in a live-action theatrical feature together as their comedic stoner personas. David Bushell (producer of such indie darlings as Sling Blade and The Minus Man) makes his feature directorial debut here with Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie, an inspired mix of surreal comedy and documentary that brings to mind a less narrative American Splendor.
Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie features Tommy Chong (Color Out of Space, Evil Bong) and Cheech Marin (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Race to Witch Mountain) as somewhat heightened versions of themselves (think Curb Your Enthusiam) on a road trip to meet up with friends at a place known as “the joint” but they don’t have a clue where they are going, let alone a map. After a few bits, some more amusing than others (in keeping with the times, they share an edible during the drive instead of a spliff), they talk about their professional partnership’s rise, fall, and reconciliation over the years.
Sometimes the wraparound story features cameos that join them on the trip, the most notable of which is record and film producer Lou Adler. Documentary footage is peppered with loopy minimalist animations in keeping with the groovy 1970s theme. Their movies are covered in due time, but not as much as you might think. Most of the documentary focuses on their different childhoods, how they met in Canada, and their rise to fame doing comedy sketches and songs in front of a crowd transitioning to releasing a boatload of best-selling comedy albums.
Perhaps the most revealing parts of Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie are the vintage interviews, a few of which are hosted by Geraldo Rivera; one is even shot at the Playboy Mansion! Their enthusiasm and body language towards each other changes over time, to say nothing of Cheech’s facial hair which at one point sprouts into a full-on beard. Director David Bushell does a fine job balancing out the documentary segments with their present-day discussions on their life and careers.
One of the best moments comes near the end when Cheech & Chong get into a pretty fierce argument over why they split up to begin with. Their beef on who directed the films and what constitutes a fair partnership runs deep, and it’s refreshing, even uncomfortable, to witness them airing their dirty laundry in such close quarters.
Having a sort of fairy-tale ending (the quest to find the joint was never the point!), Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie works both as a primer for new fans to seek out their albums and flicks while also serving as a celebration to their faithful fanbase. It makes one hope that Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie won’t be their final soiree after all.
Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie releases in movie theaters on April 25, 2025. An advance copy of the movie was provided for review.