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Smiley Face

Stoner comedy is, at best, half-baked

By Geoff Berkshire

November 16, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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Slacker pothead and sometime commercial actress Jane (Anna Faris) sets out to find enough money to pay off her dealer (Adam Brody) and replace the cupcakes she devoured in a fit of the munchies before her creepy roommate (Danny Masterson) discovers they’re gone.

Big question: Does this movie really deserve a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it theatrical “release” before its DVD debut on January 8?

Skip it: After writer-director Gregg Araki made a significant creative leap forward with the stunning indie “Mysterious Skin,” he regresses to the uncomfortably amateurish realm of his early cult favorites like “The Doom Generation.” The film’s press notes try to draw a comparison with “Being John Malkovich,” but “Smiley Face” is actually closer to any number of uninspired YouTube clips. Flashes of brilliance begin and end with the animated title sequence.

Catch it: If you think movies just haven’t been the same since Cheech & Chong split up. Faris is certainly funnier, and a lot cuter, than either of them but her committed comedic work only goes so far with material that’s as stale as it is thin.

Bottom line: “Smiley Face” might be amusing if you’re as stoned as Jane (not that we advocate marijuana use, it’s illegal, stunts your growth, makes you sterile and is all around very, very bad), but Rob Schneider movies and reruns of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” are also funny under those conditions, so there’s no need to be picky.

Bonus: “The Office” co-star John Krasinski has a prominent supporting role as a nerdy guy with a crush on Jane. He’s basically playing an über-dorky version of Jim Halpert, except he also has to masturbate in a shower. You won’t see that on NBC.

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