Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

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Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

Directed by	Tommy Chong
Produced by	Howard Brown
Written by	Tommy Chong Cheech Marin
Starring	Cheech Marin Tommy Chong Evelyn Guerrero Edie McClurg Paul Reubens
Music by	Mark Davis
Cinematography	King Baggot Nick McLean
Distributed by	Universal Studios
Release date(s)	July 18, 1980
Running time	99 min.
Country	US
Language	English
Preceded by	Up in Smoke
Followed by	Nice Dreams
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Chong with Cheech's cousin, Red, in the background on the right

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie is the second feature-length film by Cheech and Chong, released in 1980. It was directed by Tommy Chong.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Cheech & Chong's Next Movie opens with the two aging stoners stealing gas in a trashcan. The rest of the film employs many slapstick scenes such as this one with some quick witted (and dull-witted at times) lines. The film centers on Cheech's pursuit of a beautiful social worker and their upcoming date and Chong's adventures with Cheech's cousin 'Red' who comes into town with thousands of dollars worth of marijuana in a knapsack. Cheech gets so pumped and excited about the date that he wears himself out and ends up sleeping through it while Chong and Red walk the streets of Los Angeles where they get kicked out of a music store and visit a high profile brothel. Other notable scenes include the checkout from the hotel and the comedy club scenes which both include Paul Reubens. The film ends with a trip to Red's Mexican weed fields and a ride on an alien spaceship.

[edit] Trivia

Rita Wilson, Phil Hartman, Cassandra Peterson and Michael Winslow have cameo appearances in the film.
Considered by some critics at the time to be a superior film to the previous Up In Smoke, the film however performed somewhat less than expected at the box office. According to some sources, including Tommy Chong, the film actually made more money during its second-run release as a double-bill with The Blues Brothers movie.
There are two versions of this film in release. One is the theatrical version shown during its initial release, the other is a heavily edited version aired on several cable networks. The edited version adds in some cut scenes - such as the neighbor being revealed to be a transvestite, and extended footage on the alien spacecraft - but also has some of the more drug-related scenes cut or altered. Most notably altered is the contents of Red's duffle bag, which in the TV version contains not hundreds of thai sticks, but diamonds. Fans and critics disagree as to which version is better.
By the phone in Cheech & Chong's apartment, "Dave's not Here" is scrawled on the wall. It is a reference to one of their first and most popular comedy sketches.
The lowrider van which Cheech customizes is a Chevrolet G-series.
The comedy club scene featuring Paul Reubens (in his first of two appearances in Cheech & Chong movies) was one of his earliest appearances as his famous alter-ego Pee-wee Herman. Within months of doing his small part, Reubens was starring in his now famous stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show.