Kid Cannabis Review

 Kid Cannabis (2014)

Cast: Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kenny Wormald, Ron Perlman
Director: John Stockwell
Country: USA
Genre: Drama
Official Site: Here

Editor’s Notes: Kid Cannabis opens in limited release today. 

A weed comedy released during 4/20 has a target audience.  The poster and trailer suggest a light comedy with young boys saying funny things and getting themselves in and out of sticky situations. Maybe some are expecting Pineapple Express but the marketing for this film sells an entirely different movie. Kid Cannabis misses the mark because it cannot decide on a tone. The film also stumbles due to a poor lead performance.

Kid Cannabis misses the mark because it cannot decide on a tone. The film also stumbles due to a poor lead performance.

Kid Cannabis tells the true story of Nate Norman (Jonathan Daniel Brown) and his pursuit of getting rich through trafficking marijuana. Norman locates a supplier (John C. McGinley) in Canada and finds a backer (Ron Perlman). With his best friend Topher (Kenny Wormald) and a group of childhood friends he devises a plan to smuggle mass quantities of marijuana across the border. Sounds like a lay-up, right?

Kid Cannabis starts out as a pro-marijuana film then spirals into various tones that make it a frustrating watch. Most of the jokes fall flat due to poor couriers in the form of Brown and Wormald. There is one bit in the beginning where a Canadian marijuana retailer dances circles around them in terms of comedic timing and screen presence. The film is doomed when the most entertaining character is on-screen for 90 seconds. The film toys with the idea of becoming a teen sex romp, then delve into darker themes when the antagonist is introduced.  After the eventual conflict it’s no longer “funny” due to poor writing and performances it’s hard to take seriously in the final act.

Brown is not a leading man. He was barely noticeable in a supporting role in Project X.  He has some lines that should make the audience laugh but his flat, monotonous delivery drags the film down. Brown is offered a meaty inspiring speech but instead he sounds like a guy reading directly from the script for the first time. The film may have been enjoyable with better casting in the lead role.  It’s great that seasoned actors show up to show their support but their cameos cannot rescue this film.

 The film may have been enjoyable with better casting in the lead role.  It’s great that seasoned actors show up to show their support but their cameos cannot rescue this film.

Sprinkled through the film are marijuana-friendly tracks from the likes of Snoop Dogg (Snoop Lion?) and N.W.A. This is an old trick intended to distract the audience and get them into music they love. It’s like the time your mother coated medicine with sugar. It’s a tough pill to swallow but it’s just a little easier while you wax nostalgic of the good old days to the tune of “Fuck Tha Police.” These are mere distractions. If I had to guess, a large percentage of the budget for the film went to licensing music. A great song can elevate a film (dare I say, make it higher?) but the use of music in this film is forced. This could have been a golden opportunity to license local talent and spend the budget on re-writes or a better lead.

John Stockwell (Director) is no stranger to making films targeted toward a younger audience. His resume includes: Crazy/Beautiful, Blue Crush, Into the Blue and Turistas. Maybe younger audiences will connect with this film. Maybe some will marvel at the fact that a “weed movie” is out on 4/20. If only Stockwell could have decided on a tone for this film: light-hearted marijuana comedy, straight-faced gangster movie or pro-marijuana film. It seems Stockwell intended to remain true to the real events but the movie is a mess as a result. The movie could benefit from cutting out the antagonist and abandoning the dark tone altogether. Changing tones in a movie can be a tricky business; ultimately that gamble cost the film severely.

There is little to enjoy in Kid Cannabis. The premise of the film is sound, the story is interesting but the execution is poor. The story suffers due to underdeveloped characters, an inconsistent tone and poor performances overall. It’s hard to imagine any audiences will connect with this film. If you’re seeking drug-related films this weekend there are better choices.