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Smiley Face (2007) DVD Review
Smiley Face (2007) DVD Credits:
Smiley Face (2007) Directed by:
Gregg Araki
Smiley Face (2007) Written by:
Dylan Haggerty
Smiley Face (2007) Cast:
Anna Faris, John Cho, Jane Lynch, John Krasinski
Smiley Face (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Smiley Face (2007) DVD Release Date:
8th January 2008
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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Smiley Face (2007) Synopsis:

Centers on a young actress and hopeless slacker (Faris) who, after she inadvertently ingests her roommate's pot-laced brownies, attempts to manage her day as it goes awry through a series of misadventures.

Smiley Face (2007) DVD Review:

Typically when one thinks of a Greg Araki film it is the heavier disturbing issues that come to mind, usually involving sexual abuse of some sort, recently with underage children and of a homosexual nature. Even though he has made films with comedy integrated as well, this is not the director I would have imagined chosen for a stoner comedy. Then again, I also never would have imagined David Gordon Green as the director for the Judd Apatow produced and Seth Rogen written stoner comedy Pineapple Express. I can already guarantee Pineapple Express to be one of the funniest films of 2008, and the combination of independent/art film director and stoner comedy is far superior to the sloppy and silly styles of the past. I suppose it’s only fair I also mention Harold and Kumar, as well, since they seem to be the Cheech and Chong of this generation, and they certainly fall into the silly stoner category with a new film being released this year as well. It is a new time for stoner films, and with Smiley Face now and Pineapple Express for later with a little Harold and Kumar to top it off, this is the year to be looked forward to by smokers.

The thing about Smiley Face is that it is painstakingly accurate in many ways. While other stoner films are trying to appeal to the nature of the assumed stoned audience, whereas Smiley Face simply tries to recreate what it is like being extremely stoned. This means the film is often filled with what feels like obtrusive and exaggerated noise for anxiety and several representations of paranoia. In other words, the entire ride is not entirely enjoyable, but it is nearly always dead on.

What makes the film so painful is the fact that our protagonist Jane F (Anna Faris) is both barely functional as a stoner, but also happens to be extremely stoned on this particular day. Jane is an actress, mostly unemployed and stoned all day, but on this day she eats her roommate’s (Danny Masterson) entire batch of cupcakes. What Jane doesn’t realize is that the cupcakes were pot-cupcakes, and becomes extremely stoned. The rest of the day spirals out of control as she tries to set this one action right, owing her dealer (Adam Brody) and needing to get to Venice Beach to pay him back, among other tasks. When in desperate need of help Jane even calls her roommate’s geek friend (John Krasinski) who is infatuated with Jane. Jane’s day gets worse and worse as she makes each bad decision. The exaggerated effects of weed smoking are believable because Jane has ingested so much of it.

The journey along the way allows for plenty of bit roles from memorable character actors, while Faris is a perfect stoner. She captures the physical humor better than most young actresses working today wouldn’t be able to. Faris commits completely to the humor in her films, and the portrayal in Smiley Face is pitch-perfect. The DVD contains a making-of featurette as well.


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Smiley Face (2007) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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