Python Hyena
Growing Op (2008): Dir: Miohael Melski / Cast: Stephen Yaffee, Rachel Blanchard, Wallace Langham, Rosanna Arquette, Denis Theriault: Amusing comedy about growing marijuana and the reality of somebody entering the public school system. Stephen Yaffee plays a teenager whose parents grow marijuana. He and his sister are home tutored until he decides to enroll into a public school. Hilarious setup is very detailed but the ending is questionable depending on one's view of marijuana. Directed by Miohael Melski with a great set that is totally a marijuana lover's wet dream. Hilarious performances by all headed by Yaffee whose childhood was somewhat secluded and all about as his parents constantly moved when their secret was threatened. Yaffee is joined by Rachel Blanchard as that mysterious girl next door. Wallace Langham and Rosanna Arquette steal scenes as the parents. Langham is at his best when hosting Blanchard's parents in what becomes the funniest moment in the film. Arquette is the brains of home schooling. Together they present the ultimate self sacrifice but unfortunately that opens doors to a questionable moral dilemma. Denis Theriault plays one of Yaffee's pot head pals. With an interesting concept and creative screenplay it presents a strong theme that deals with where you came from and where you aim to be. Score: 8 / 10
mlgoode
I can't believe all the positive reviews for this awful movie. I suspect that most of the reviews are plants by the children of the embarrassed adults involved taking this horror of embarrassingly bad writing and phoned-in acting to market. Even the plants look artificial.Have these critics never seen a movie before? And speaking of lack of background, did the set designers do no research whatsoever about a real grow op? Nothing rang true about this movie--not the parents, not the cops, not the growing operation, not the high school...nothing. Come to think of it, maybe the other reviewers and the screenwriter are one in the same; both are totally lacking in credibility.
lainek321
Okay so I am a sucker for coming of age stories but seriously. The whole point of growing up is to learn and grow. I would understand if the main character is either growing into a wiser human being or even a flat out stupid human being by just not caring. How is that during this coming of age story surrounding the importance of family is justified by further endangering your family. This makes no sense and makes what could have been a story of life lesson learned of anti conformist and the beauty of herb into just flat out stupidity. I would mind if the theme was bases on idiocracy but instead has a theme and musical background of how happy things can turn out if you continue to put yourself and even more importantly your family in danger. Seriously! You had me the first few hours but then just made me wonder what immature pot head thought this was a good ending. Ah it had such potential to move a human spirit and make them laugh. If I could retract all positivity I had throughout the movie I would.
Greenie123
Saw this tonight at the film's premiere at the Atlantic Film Festival. The crowd was great, and we were laughing our heads off all the way through.As a recently-graduated homeschooler myself, it was amusing to see an outsider's (highly inaccurate in my case, but hilarious) take on the practice. Some of the questions raised in the film are questions I ask myself often.Kudos to the excellent cast, especially Steven Yaffee as the main character, and Wallace Langham as his father, who both really get into their characters and make us feel their emotions.There's a plot twist near the end that seems a bit ridiculous and unnecessary at first, but may make more sense once you think it over.All in all, a great film, and it's always nice to see films from Atlantic Canada that are just good fun to watch.
AD
