12 December 2008 (gig)
13 December 2008
For so many years, we had been teased with the rumours of a celluloid reunion of one of the most successful 70’s and early 80’s comedy duos, Cheech & Chong. While they spilt in the mid-80’s, the hopes for a new project always seemed to pop up every now and then, but would always fall apart - until the unexpected announcement of a live concert tour appeared earlier this year.
Cheech & Chong’s are best known for their movies which often portrayed the two (as their comedy albums had) as stoner living party animals/musicians who seemed to always be near or in search of ganja laced smoke filled ecstasy. The duo peaked commercially with their first big studio effort, 1978’’s Up In Smoke and their follow-up films, which all had their moments, never were as funny or as original as Smoke.
After their split, Cheech Marin had the more high profile career on TV (Nash Bridges, Judging Amy) and in films while Tommy Chongs most notable stint was on That 70’s Show as the constantly stoned manager of a Photomat (not really a stretch,but he was one of the shows highlights on many an episode).
The much ballyhooed Cheech & Chong 'Light It Up' reunion tour hit the Orpheum Theater in Boston on December 11th and while the duo is a long way from the glory days of Up In Smoke, the two have not lost their chemistry (no pun meant!), comedic timing, or their boastful love of marijuana. So intense is their drug lingo and passion for the herb that either one of the duo could have easily been the deadbeat dad of Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn’s stoner character in Fast times at Ridgemont High).
After a spotty and nepotism filled set from Shelby Chong (wife of Tommy Chong), the duo ran through their first and most memorable skit: the opening scene from Up In Smoke where Marin picks up a hitchhiker he think is a woman (Chong in a huge bra). Sure the skit (and most material) was conceived out a 70’s bong induced writing sessions, but was one the brightest bits of the whole night and still, 30 years later, still hysterical!
Another resurrected farce was 'Lets Make A Drug Deal' - which used as a back drop a photoshoped picture of George W. Bush garnishing grass – was also a great moment with Marin (as the Monty Hall-ish host of the show) offering ounces of marijuana to contestant Bob (Chong) and stating he would 'double' his prize with every question (when he was actually subtracting ounces in hopes that the already 'high' Bob would not notice). Since the questions ranged from having Bob spell his name right (and backwards) seemed to easily confuse him, putting one over on his was a fairly easy task.
While the show was filled with strong moments – there were a couple low points. The duo crawling around as talking dogs was embarrassing and juvenile (not that one looks for or wants sophistication at a C&C show) and Marin’s recreation of a pink costumed rock star (which I believe was from their film, Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams) slowed the momentum down greatly.
One the whole, the night was a successful return for the long missed duo. And while Cheech & Chong’s humour is very 70’s oriented and just about the definition of 'anti-political correctness' – but that is all the more reason to love them more.
