Far Out Man (1990) User Reviews

Do You Like Cheese With Your Buzz

[digitalzomby · 6/10 · 18 April 2022]

I have been a huge fan of Cheech & Chong since they released their first album on vinyl, Cheech and Chong in 71 and it kind of tickled me when Far Out Man said Dave's not here.

This is a few days in the life of an old Hippie Tommy Chong solo with his real family in tow. His daughter thinks he needs help... maybe ... maybe not. I say not. It's him without Cheech, but yea this film which Tommy wrote and directed is pretty cheesy but I can dig it because it is Tommy Chong after all.

Not Horrible

[art-pfenning · 6/10 · 22 May 2010]

I had zero expectations going into this film but, OK maybe I thought it was really going to stink.

It didn't.

Sure, it doesn't have the subversive, cool, heady tripping of a Cheech & Chong flick and Tommy's casting his talentless wife in a lead role was way wrong, but there are still enough cool clips to keep your attention.

One of the things that's sort of distracting about this film production is the excessive number of scenes that appear to be obviously overdubbed. Must have been a one take fix it later wonder film!

Worth Watching

[pmtelefon · 5/10 · 21 May 2023]

"Tommy Chong's "Far Out Man" may not be one of his best but its still worth the watch. There some laughs to be had in this movie. Many of those laughs are delivered by Reynaldo Rey. Rey gives a very funny performance in this movie. The rest of the cast is also likeable, including the always dreamy Rae Dawn Chong. Sure there are quite a few clunkers in this movie but with a very friendly running time of 81 minutes, who wants to nitpick. "Far Out Man" is worth the watch, especially for fans of Tommy Chong (like me). (Just for the record I just bought a pipe from Cheech & Chong glass. I guess Chong figured out a way to sell that kind of stuff without going to prison this time.)

SuperStoner Flik and fun comedy

[fun_guy20 · 31 July 2002]

Don't listen to any of the other negative comments about this movie until you've seen it.

This movie is awesome! One of my all time favorites.

To me it is a classic. Plus this movie has some art, and very unique parts too.

It is really really funny. Feed your head and sit back for an awesome ride!!

J

I paid 2.00 for the DVD. I want my money back!!

[BikeBill · 1/10 · 28 December 2008]

I listened to Cheech and Chong in their day; yeah, even though I wasn't a pothead I thought they were at least moderately funny. Maybe you needed to have been (or still be) a stoner to appreciate this film....but seriously, this movie is so screwed up that watching it stoned would merely be a waste of good weed.

In a word, this sucked!! I wasn't expecting much in the first place, but even then I was disappointed. A couple of reviewers have described this as something like a Chong family home movie; that's giving this thing far more credit than it has coming. I couldn't get the plot, it made no sense whatsoever; and the cast (especially for Martin Mull) seemed to be merely going through the motions in order to just make it to the end of this fiasco. Frankly, this cost me about 90 minutes out of my life that I'm never going to get back, and I'm upset about it.

You will notice that there are entries under the "memorable quotes", and even one item listed under "trivia", but nothing under "goofs". I think that's because this film was one big mistake from start to finish, and there was no way they could fit the whole movie into that one little section.  It gets one star only because I couldn't figure out how to give it any less.

I did get *some* good out of the disc, though. I super-glued it in a stack with two other turkeys and it made for a passable clay pigeon.

Surprisingly enjoyable...

[Markmainwaring · 7/10 · 11 March 2006]

I had heard bad things about this Chong solo effort. But surprisingly its quite entertaining. I wasn't expecting much after the later Cheech and Chong films such as Still Smoking but this is much better.

Essenstially its just Cheech and Chong without Cheech, although he does have a brief cameo in this. Also there is not much in the way of drug use either. Chongs character even at one point advising another not to use cocaine. Some cast members acting abilities are questionable and a lot of the jokes fall flat. But it is a lot of fun.

Just don't expect another Up In Smoke! That way you should enjoy this more than say, Still Smoking.

Watch it next time its on TV...

Little known comedy gem!

[Euphoria954 · 7/10 · 3 April 2007]

I saw an ad for this in (popular stoner magazine) a few years back, thought "Hey, I'd like to get that!", and then promptly forgot about it. I rediscovered it while searching through Amazon.com for stoner comedies, and after seeing Tommy Chong's own review, decided I HAD to have it.

Basically, I loved it. Yep, a little weak in places, but they weren't trying to make a cinematic masterpiece here. I'd put this in the same category as movies like "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" or, in a more similar time period, "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane: Rock and Roll Detective" starring Andrew Dice Clay, one of my favorite cheeseball comedies from the late eighties/early nineties.

Oh, and that's one other thing - I could've SWORN this movie was made (and released) recently - the copyright on the DVD says 2001, and all the reviews and info I read led me to believe it was a recent flick. Maybe just an oversight on my part, but it was actually made in 1989. Personally, that makes it even MORE enjoyable for me, as I love finding flicks that I missed in my youth, and get to see now for the first time. Then I get to show it to all of my friends, who are then similarly amazed that THEY hadn't heard of it, either. It's definitely a fun hobby :)

[** A FEW VERY MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD, FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T WATCHED IT YET **]

So anyway, like "Ford Fairlane", this movie is hit & miss at times, but when it hits, it hits great, with some real goofball humor that you'll be instantly quoting with your friends at the end of the movie. Also like "Ford Fairlane", this movie had a bunch of cool cameos, either playing random characters, or more typically, playing themselves. The brief Cheech spot was UTTERLY unexpected and was one of the biggest laughs of the movie. Dokken jamming out at Tommy's house was also an unexpected sight. C Thomas Howell's scene with Judd Nelson was simply AMAZING, with Howell being utterly floored that Judd Nelson had never heard of him. (Like Howell, I also thought Nelson kicked much butt in "From The Hip", another infrequently seen but highly enjoyable 80s comedy) Howell's line, "You've seen (random porn title) but never saw RED DAWN?!?" was a laugh-riot, and I totally agree. Did Judd Nelson live under a rock in the eighties, or what? RED DAWN = MUST SEE MOVIE!

In conclusion, I really, REALLY liked this movie. Mad respect to Tommy Chong and family for putting this together. In the end, I guess Martin Mull's hypnotic suggestion ("You'll like this movie. Tell a friend.") made an actual impression on me. I liked this movie, and I'll be telling a LOT of friends. Check this out for sure - as long as you love goofy comedies, you'll dig it. It's far out, man. :)

Not up to Cheech & Chong originals, but funny anyways

[obloco · 8/10 · 10 September 2004]

I liked this movie. It has some lame moments, but then I think all of the C&C, except for Up In Smoke (an absolute classic), have a few of those. I'd rate this better than Still Smokin' and definitely a step above The Corsican Brothers (which I really didn't care for).

Cheech & Chong had a hard time of it thru the 80's, with the Drug Wars in full swing, and were basically blackballed from Hollywood. Cheech caved in, and went "straight" to keep working (since he is the son of a cop, I can't blame him too much). Tommy never gave up, and suffered for it. This movie was an attempt to make a little money, and I think the main reason the family fills out the cast is because they would work cheap. The few others (C. Thomas Howell, Michael Winslow, Judd Nelson) are in this film mostly as favors, including the cameo by Cheech. Don't take this as gospel, it is just what I've heard thru the grapevine. I also heard they almost didn't get this film published, the "heat" was still on.

The plot is thin, but so is the plot in every other C&C movie. Cheesy at times, it still has some great lines and a few laugh out loud moments. Oscar material it ain't, but as a silly stoner movie it isn't half bad. If you are looking for Northern Lights, the commercial Mex quality will disappoint. Don't expect too much, and you'll probably enjoy it.

Pull up a dick and have a seat.

All units, we have a report of a crazy mutha-fuka with a gun... a crazy mutha-fuka with a gun.

A Far Out Comedy

[makiprettywoman3 · 7/10 · 16 June 2013]

I was looking on netflix and ran into this movie "Far Out Man." This movie stars Tommy Chong who plays a hippie searching for his family. He meets up with son and together they go off to see America. In Far Out Man Tommy Chong plays a character that's totally oblivious to what is happening or what is going on. Basically this ends up being a lot like a Cheech and Chong movie. This movie has many of the crazy antics found in the Cheech and Chong movies.

There is some stuff that is really weird and some stuff you might not find funny. They had a rock band in this movie named "Fartz." I guess some people would think that is funny. Martin Mull plays a Dr with the name Liddledick that sounds a lot like "Little Dick."

I don't know why this movie has a rating of 4.4. There's parts of this movie that are really funny. I wasn't expecting this to be a good movie. This movie is a lot like "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane." This is one big adventure. There is some crude humor in this movie including some sex related stuff. There is some stuff that doesn't make sense. There isn't much of a plot in this movie. It's pretty straightforward.

one of the top ten movies I've ever seen

[johnschneidhorst · 10/10 · 30 December 2006]

I just have to post a response to the one who dissed this movie, as it is one of the best I've ever seen; so good, in fact, that I am frustrated at my inability to ever see it again, much less show it to anyone else. And to Tommy Chong, my best regards go out. You made a good film.

It's the small details that count, -yes, you have to look for them, and they make all the difference.

For example, I like the part where Dawn Rae Chong is taking the visitor/intervewer, up to Chong's mountain retreat, while to kill time plays a demo tape in the car of her dad's upcoming album, -all seemingly '70's guitar riffs of the BTO era. While most of us slowly let that era pass, only to be replaced by worse tripe, Chong never let it go, so much so, that the movie has influenced me to also continue in music, despite what others may feel.

I think the movie instilled in me the belief that what I AM is most paramount, and to never, ever, let that go, despite what may be. The theme of 'Far out Man', is to 'hang on to your dreams'. Then, maybe, just maybe, your dreams will hang on to you, eg., like in the movie where his old lady and son find him again.

The reviewer mistakenly says Chong was, 'searching for his family'? NO WAY. His family was searching for him, and only after also finding themselves after 15 years, finding him by accident. Chong did nothing more than just keep being himself throughout, and carrying on, despite them leaving him. Chong just being himself made it all the more easier for them to find him again. Strong message, and important for these times.

Chong, Family and Friends

[Michael_Elliott · 13 May 2014]

Far Out Man (1990)

** (out of 4)

Tommy Chong wrote, directed and stars in this film as an aging hippie who goes on a road trip to try and get all of his family back together. If you're going into FAR OUT MAN expecting some sort of story then you're going to be disappointed because what we've got here is basically Chong getting some family and some famous friends together for a bunch of scenes involving him doing weird or dumb things. At the start of the film we see him fixing breakfast, dropping stuff on the floor and picking it back up to cook. This here, as well as the pot humor, is pretty much the type of laughs Chong goes for and for the most part it's a complete dud. With that said, as bad and as strange as this movie is, there's just something intriguing about it that makes it worth viewing if you're a fan of Chong. The film certainly has an "I don't care what you think" type of attitude for it. I mean, I doubt Chong was trying to win an Oscar for this thing and it's clear that he's just kicking back and having fun. The supporting cast includes a wide variety of famous faces including Martin Mull, Rae Dawn Chong, C. Thomas Howell, Reynaldo Rey, Judd Nelson, Michael Winslow and a cameo that I won't ruin. For the most part, with the exception of Martin, no one is taking their parts all that serious and it seems everyone is just helping Chong as a favor. FAR OUT MAN often fails when it comes to laughs but I think it still remains entertaining due in large part to Chong and his fun nature.

Far Out Fun!

[von_ningue-984-916490 · 10/10 · 4 November 2018]

If you're a fan of Cheech & Chong, then there's no need to make a big deal over Tommy Chong's solo comedy effort. This film debuted in the early '90's when stoner comedies like "Flashback" and "Rude Awakening" were coming to pass. With Tommy Chong's "Far Out Man" though, you get the real deal. Tommy Chong is the ultimate stoner who "awakens" in a new decade and he's just as lost as he was in the '70's. This film is a really fun watch and only gets funnier every time I watch it. Featuring numerous cameos from some of the greats like Martin Mull, Fernando Rey (who's a real gem in this film) and Tommy's own daughter Rae Dawn and real life wife Shelby! The songs were also a real standout in this film, not to mention the cool animated sequence for Hippyland! Growing up with these guys' party records and listening to "Up In Smoke" countless times at age 10, I was wishing I could have seen this one on the big screen. I had to wait almost two years before obtaining a copy on VHS, which I still own, and hope to see this film resurface on the Blu-ray format sometime. If you'd like to sit down with a fan commentary, I'm available Tommy!

Basically a high budget home movie of the Chong family.

[haznael · 20 April 2002]

If you are a big fan of the Cheech and Chong films,you might want to give Far out Man a try, but unless youre really starved for Tommy Chong and his Hippie comedy, I say to stay Far Out of this movie's way. The plot is rather thin, the humor is far-placed and unfunny, and overall I'd say that this film is quite boring. You'll get to see Chong's son and daughter, along with his wife--all of whom can't act in the slightest, and take up large portions of the movie. It's basically a home video, which he probably put together just to have a good time with the family. I'm sure it was great fun for them, but for us it's only a lame film.

What does Soul Man 2 do 4 u?

[the_boss · 22 March 2001]

If you like Chong, Soul man or C Thomas Howell then this is the movie for you. Chong is trying to make us laugh on his own, but realistically is in desperate need of Cheech for this one. I liked it, but have also met people who didn't, maybe Im being bias cause im a C&C fan. Honestly speaking, it doesn't touch classics like "the Corsican Twins" or "Up in Smoke" but something about the film seems to draw me to it. We begin with an old skool hippie (chong) who goes on a road trip in search of his long lost family. He meets up with his son (Paris Chong, Tommy's real-life son), who is pretty straight in real life, but in the movie he's totally the opposite. Together they go off to see America. A majority of Tommys real life family have roles, daughter Rae Dawn and Wife Shelby both have lines. I think in order to make a judgment you should view it first.