Cheech And Chong Nice Dreams [2021] Now
Released in 1981, Nice Dreams is the third feature film from the iconic comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Following the massive success of Up in Smoke (1978) and Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), this film cemented their status as the counterculture kings of Hollywood.
Visually, the film utilizes the sprawling, sun-drenched landscapes of Los Angeles and Malibu to create a dreamlike atmosphere. The ice cream truck itself—painted with whimsical graphics—acts as a moving oasis of joy in a world populated by stressed-out cops and eccentric locals. The visual effects, particularly the practical puppet and makeup effects used for the lizard mutations, add a charming, B-movie sci-fi flavor to the comedy. The Cultural Legacy of Nice Dreams
: The concept of using an ice cream truck to distribute illicit substances became a recurring trope in pop culture, referenced in everything from hip-hop music to video games like Grand Theft Auto .
The premise is delightfully simple. Cheech and Chong have hit on a winning formula: an ice cream truck that serves as a front for selling weed . Their special product, known as "Nice Dreams," is so potent it can turn a smoker into a lizard . Soon, the duo amasses a considerable fortune and dreams of retiring to a private island with plenty of beautiful women . Their plans are complicated when Cheech reconnects with his long-lost love, Donna (Evelyn Guerrero), and the pair find themselves pursued by a hilariously incompetent DEA agent, Sgt. Stedanko, played by the great Stacy Keach . Cheech And Chong Nice Dreams
: Their wealth is short-lived. Chong unwittingly exchanges their millions for a worthless bank check from a mental patient named Howie (played by Paul Reubens The Antagonist : Returning from Up in Smoke Sergeant Stedenko
The premise of Nice Dreams is brilliantly simple and perfectly suited to the duo's comedic personas. Cheech and Chong play fictionalized versions of themselves who have struck it rich by operating an unconventional business: an ice cream truck that sells a highly potent, secret strain of marijuana instead of frozen treats. Operating under the banner of the "Happy Herb's Ice Cream" company, they amass a fortune, stashing millions of dollars in cash inside ordinary trash cans.
Upon its release by Columbia Pictures in June 1981, Nice Dreams was a commercial success. It grossed over $35 million at the domestic box office, proving that the duo's appeal was not a fluke and that stoner comedy was a highly profitable Hollywood subgenre. Released in 1981, Nice Dreams is the third
Here’s why it’s a "good story" in the cult comedy sense, broken down like a good campfire tale.
Making a standout cameo appearance, Reubens plays "Howie Hamburger Dude," a manic patient in the mental institution. Reubens, who was developing his Pee-wee Herman persona around this time, brings a jolt of avant-garde energy to the film's third act.
Released in 1981, Nice Dreams is the third feature film starring the comedy duo Cheech & Chong The premise is delightfully simple
The plot of Nice Dreams centers on Cheech and Chong running a highly unconventional ice cream truck business. The "Nice Dreams" truck serves as a clever cover for them to sell a specialized, incredibly potent strain of marijuana, which, according to the film's premise, causes some users to experience side effects like turning into lizards.
The film, and Cheech and Chong's work in general, have influenced countless comedians and filmmakers. They demonstrated that comedy could be both socially relevant (or at least, socially aware) and incredibly silly, all while maintaining a laid-back, "nice" vibe.
(credited as Thomas Chong), the film was notoriously light on scripting. Mental Floss Improvisation : The script was reportedly only 3.5 pages long