Mad Ramblings of a Movie Geek 04.22.09: Top 5 Movie Stoners

Posted by Jordan Bruns on 04.22.2009

Celebrating the elite of fictional wasteoids...

Welcome to this week's Mad Ramblings of a Movie Geek! This week I'm doing something really special. I'm going to explore a genre of movies that doesn't get a lot of recognition: the Stoner Movie. You don't have to be a pothead to enjoy these movies, even if the humor can sometimes seem sophomoric and asinine otherwise. This is a fairly recent genre, as its only been around since Cheech and Chong popularized "weed movies" in the ‘70's. However, in a short time there have been a number of memorable and iconic stoner characters, from Jeff Spicoli to the guys from Half Baked. Even movies that don't fit the definition of a stoner movie sometimes have memorable characters who happen to smoke a lot of dope. Since April 20 is sort of a national holiday for pot smokers, this column is almost perfectly timed.

I've decided to recognize some of the more memorable stoner characters that have graced the screen over the years. However, I opted out of doing a top 10 so I really had to narrow the field. This week, Mad Ramblings presents a list of the Top 5 Movie Stoners…

Special Recognition- Cheech and Chong:





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I'd be stoned if I didn't mention this duo (pun very much intended) because they more or less invented the stoner flick, and they are truly in a league of their own. However, that is exactly the reason I cannot include them on this list. They were so instrumental in popularizing the genre, and their influence is felt in every pot movie that has come since. They've pretty much claimed the top spot for all eternity, so let's call this a Lifetime Achievement Award, or a passing of the torch. They've gotten their recognition time and again so let's share the wealth a little bit. I might as well call this the Top 5 Movie Stoners That Aren't Cheech and Chong.

# 5: Floyd from True Romance:





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This was one of Brad Pitt's early film roles, and though he has only a handful of scenes he steals every one of them. He does nothing but sit on the couch smoking out of honey jar he's converted into a bong. He's so oblivious to his surroundings that he's not even threatened when mob hitmen show up at his place with shotguns in tow- not only is he completely unfazed, he even offers them a toke. Although he inadvertently causes the death of several key characters, you can't help but love him for how completely clueless and burned-out he is.

#4: Saul Silver from Pineapple Express:





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Saul's a pretty recent stoner character, but he's good enough to make the cut. This was a different kind of role for James Franco but he nailed it- the weed man whose dope is good but whose mind is fried. He's got a good heart, and with an actor like Franco tackling the role, Saul transcends the boundaries of the typical Hollywood pothead.

#3: "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski:





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Typically the movie stoner is a teenager or twenty-something because, theoretically, most people give up the weed when they settle down and start a career. That's not the case for The Dude, a middle aged burnout doing nothing with his life, except bowling and becoming entangled in a bizarre kidnapping and extortion plot. We never really get any back story on The Dude or any explanation as to how he got where he is. All we really know is that "that rug really tied the room together."

# 2: Jay and Silent Bob:





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The closest thing our generation has to a Cheech and Chong, this wacky stoner duo is popular worldwide, with action figures, T-shirts, and all other kinds of merchandise bearing their likeness. There's not much to say about these two that hasn't already been said- they have made it to the realm of celluloid immortality. But the number one spot on the list goes to someone else…

#1: Ron Slater from Dazed and Confused:





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Slater can arguably be called the most iconic movie stoner of the 90's, and rightfully so. He's the guy every smoker wants to get high with, though you wouldn't want to bring your entire bag. However, you could wax philosophical and intellectual with this guy for hours if you had enough herb. Who wouldn't want to listen to him talk about George Washington's life as a hemp farmer, and his claim that Martha Washington had a "big fat bowl" waiting for him every night when he came home? Who knows from what book Slater might have retrieved that information, because he probably smoked the pages when he was done.

There you have it. My Top 5 Movie Stoners. Since I decided to only include 5, a lot of omissions had to be made. With a bigger list, guys like Spicoli, Harold and Kumar, and Smokey from Friday would have easily made it. I encourage and welcome any and all feedback.

Until next time…