It's New Year's Eve 1981. There's a party, and seemingly everyone is invited. Story lines inter-mingle with one another as fate twists and turns for a colorful assortment of characters on their way to the party. Humiliation, depression, sexual inadequacy, selfishness and love – all fodder for "200 Cigarettes."
There's a lot going on in "200 Cigarettes" with countless story lines to accommodate its extensive cast. Everyone from Ben Affleck to Janeane Garofalo and Dave Chappelle to Christina Ricci shows up for this party and many memorable characters are molded. A still-on-the-cusp-of-fame Dave Chappelle sticks out the most as the smooth talking, marijuana-smoking cabbie who seems to know all the right things to say. Paul Rudd mopes around in a typically self-loathing character, but is actually likable in one of his most over-looked roles. Martha Plimpton – as the hostess of said party – plays a nut-job with sincerity, while Ben Affleck well, Ben Affleck isn't given much to do, and you're bound to have a few laughs at his character's expense. Director Risa Bramon Garcia's only film to date captures the party atmosphere and its era perfectly, as the film is fun and truly feels like stepping into a timewarp. This is pure fluff, but there's nothing wrong with that. Anyone willing to get lost in some 80's nostalgia and who can appreciate a young and talented cast will enjoy a drag off of "200 Cigarettes." Heck, any film that can make Courtney Love seem likable can't be all that bad, can it?
There's a lot going on in "200 Cigarettes" with countless story lines to accommodate its extensive cast. Everyone from Ben Affleck to Janeane Garofalo and Dave Chappelle to Christina Ricci shows up for this party and many memorable characters are molded. A still-on-the-cusp-of-fame Dave Chappelle sticks out the most as the smooth talking, marijuana-smoking cabbie who seems to know all the right things to say. Paul Rudd mopes around in a typically self-loathing character, but is actually likable in one of his most over-looked roles. Martha Plimpton – as the hostess of said party – plays a nut-job with sincerity, while Ben Affleck well, Ben Affleck isn't given much to do, and you're bound to have a few laughs at his character's expense. Director Risa Bramon Garcia's only film to date captures the party atmosphere and its era perfectly, as the film is fun and truly feels like stepping into a timewarp. This is pure fluff, but there's nothing wrong with that. Anyone willing to get lost in some 80's nostalgia and who can appreciate a young and talented cast will enjoy a drag off of "200 Cigarettes." Heck, any film that can make Courtney Love seem likable can't be all that bad, can it?