The main reason I saw this film was because of the cast- it has a great line up of young talent, some who are fairly new and some that have been around for ages. The film itself is fairly incoherent in places, with many storylines running at the one time. I thought Kate Hudson was fantastic in her first main role, and Paul Rudd was good as always. Gaby Hoffman probably put in the most irritating performance of her career to date, while Ben Affleck didnt really have much to do. The story itself is pretty simplistic, focusing on new years eve where a bunch of people are slowly making their way to a party hosted by Martha Plimpton's character. Only a few of the characters have any real depth to them, with many just skimming the surface, thus remaining shallow like most of the dialogue in the film. There are some scenes that work, others that don't - a real hit and miss - if you like the actors in it- then watch it- if you don't, then stay well clear.
188 Reviews
Cleverly Disguised chick-flick
Quicksand6 September 1999
This movie had a lot of bad things said about it upon its release, but my girlfriend dragged me to it anyway. I didn't really like it, but after extended conversation, we realized exactly what we were dealing with.
And that is, a movie before its time. Most all cinema, both in and out of Hollywood, is brought to us by upper-class white males, complete with their beliefs, morals, what have you. One would argue, then, that even if a film came from someone who was not an upper-class white male would still have to work within that system, probably even being influenced by it, in order to get a film made.
Note, then, that this film was written by a woman, and directed by a woman. The characters in it are not testoserone-driven or in any way the pumped-up dumbed-down characters we have seen in recent decades. They are sensitive, but open to communication, a little irrational at times, but still human. They are characters from the female mind, a female psychology, and have very feminine ways in interacting with each other.
Then note that is was probably marketed by the same male-dominated Hollywood.
This is, of course, mostly backed up with the amount of psychology classes I have taken, but the simple version is that when this movie was new, I discussed it with many of my friends. All of the men either had no desire to see it, or hated it. Every single one of the women thought it was excellent.
Granted, this is a common rationale used by people who think themselves movie critics, but just you try seeing with a member of the opposite sex, and see how your opinions differ.
This is the first movie of a New Hollywood, tho it will certainly not be remmebered as such. Check it out and see what I mean.
And that is, a movie before its time. Most all cinema, both in and out of Hollywood, is brought to us by upper-class white males, complete with their beliefs, morals, what have you. One would argue, then, that even if a film came from someone who was not an upper-class white male would still have to work within that system, probably even being influenced by it, in order to get a film made.
Note, then, that this film was written by a woman, and directed by a woman. The characters in it are not testoserone-driven or in any way the pumped-up dumbed-down characters we have seen in recent decades. They are sensitive, but open to communication, a little irrational at times, but still human. They are characters from the female mind, a female psychology, and have very feminine ways in interacting with each other.
Then note that is was probably marketed by the same male-dominated Hollywood.
This is, of course, mostly backed up with the amount of psychology classes I have taken, but the simple version is that when this movie was new, I discussed it with many of my friends. All of the men either had no desire to see it, or hated it. Every single one of the women thought it was excellent.
Granted, this is a common rationale used by people who think themselves movie critics, but just you try seeing with a member of the opposite sex, and see how your opinions differ.
This is the first movie of a New Hollywood, tho it will certainly not be remmebered as such. Check it out and see what I mean.
Disappointing
perfectbond10 January 2004
This movie tried to provide insightful revelations into human relations through humor. I know humor is subjective but I found the film to be only intermittently funny. I think the film could could've been better had they trimmed some of the characters. There are many big names in this film but they all receive only scant screen time. There are better offerings out there, 6/10.
Ultimate '80s party flick!!!
PeachHamBeach29 March 2004
I really love party movies, really mindless, fun party movies w/good music, bright, outlandish fashions and hilarious memorable characters. The entire cast was laugh out loud funny, from Dave Chapelle as the jive talkin' disco cabbie to Martha Plimpton's howl of a distraught party hostess. Paul Rudd was exceptionally great as Kevin the dumpee who is all grouchy and depressed, and so was Angela Featherstone as Caitlyn the poser. Ben Affleck was good as the bartender, mainly because he didn't talk much. Brother Casey was very cute as a punk/roadie who befriends the two underage partyers played by Christina Ricci and Gaby Hoffman. Courtney Love was really good as Lucy. I always love Jeaneane Garafalo and she didn't disappoint here as Ellie. I really didn't get why Guillermo Diaz got more exposure, like on the DVD cover art, than characters who were much more memorable, like Hillary played by Catherine Kellner (hilariously ditzy), Bridget, played by the very pretty and funny Nicole Parker, and the lousy lover Scotsman Eric, played by Brian McCardie. Jay Mohr and Kate Hudson were also very lovable as Jack and Cindy. Lots of good music by the Commodores, the Cars, Bow Wow Wow, Blondie, Rick James and many more. A great film to revisit the outrageous Reagan era!!!
i think you gotta be puff puffed out to be into this film
bigmik217 March 2005
It may just be me but when i was introduced into this flick through a mate of mine back in 2002 and thought it was absolutely brilliant...BUT this may just be me.I love films with small budgets/small budget looks etc and with a plot that can keep you well entertained.
Personally i felt that every actor/actress involved done a marvelous job with their roles, and being a fan of the likes of Paul Rudd, Dave Chappelle (also tied with him Guillermo Diaz - Half Baked is a classic) and definitely not forgetting the Afflecks, and to stimulate that macho side of me i better name Janeane Garofalo as a great cult actor.I found myself gut-twisted to realize that Courtney Love (to whom i thought i despised) was pretty damn alright in this flick (again i haven't really seen another flick with her in).
Back on point and to conclude i watched this flick about 3 years ago and loved it...Over time it kept creeping up on me and remembering the title i search the net and was sad to realize that a PAL(UK/Euro) copy was not available...Thy blessed thou Multi-region DVD Player and bought an NTSC from the states and the results were that of one satisfied customer. As to summarizing, if you enjoy films such as Half Baked, Idle Hands or teen movies to the likes of Van Wilder then buying this movie is without a doubt for you..If you are the absolute opposite of this then i advise you SPRINT away from this movie as with all NEW satirical comedies there are phrases/words that may be offensive to some and also not too many people are comfortable with liberal-type issues, older generations shall i say?.
Buy this movie but remember you are not buying the "meaning of life" so don't expect miracles such as water into wine but do expect an attractive cast and plot with many many laughs throughout.
******* out of **********
7 out of 10 because life's worth IT
Personally i felt that every actor/actress involved done a marvelous job with their roles, and being a fan of the likes of Paul Rudd, Dave Chappelle (also tied with him Guillermo Diaz - Half Baked is a classic) and definitely not forgetting the Afflecks, and to stimulate that macho side of me i better name Janeane Garofalo as a great cult actor.I found myself gut-twisted to realize that Courtney Love (to whom i thought i despised) was pretty damn alright in this flick (again i haven't really seen another flick with her in).
Back on point and to conclude i watched this flick about 3 years ago and loved it...Over time it kept creeping up on me and remembering the title i search the net and was sad to realize that a PAL(UK/Euro) copy was not available...Thy blessed thou Multi-region DVD Player and bought an NTSC from the states and the results were that of one satisfied customer. As to summarizing, if you enjoy films such as Half Baked, Idle Hands or teen movies to the likes of Van Wilder then buying this movie is without a doubt for you..If you are the absolute opposite of this then i advise you SPRINT away from this movie as with all NEW satirical comedies there are phrases/words that may be offensive to some and also not too many people are comfortable with liberal-type issues, older generations shall i say?.
Buy this movie but remember you are not buying the "meaning of life" so don't expect miracles such as water into wine but do expect an attractive cast and plot with many many laughs throughout.
******* out of **********
7 out of 10 because life's worth IT
Characters galore
Quinoa198424 July 2000
This is a film about the New Year (party), but seeing the preview, I thought it would be for the 79-80 crossover. But no, It's for 1981 (not that that was a bad year). Characters run rampant here like The Wedding Singer meeting American Graffiti. Actors (not the best at that) include Courtney Love, Ben & Casey Affleck, Jay Mohr, Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Diaz, Christina Ricci, Janeane Garofalo, Kate Hudson and a cameo (funny one at that) from Elvis Costello. Not reccomended, unless this film is appealing to fans of any actors. Others beware the fart smelling script. B
enjoyable fluff
cherold3 January 2023
Enjoyable, eminently forgetable comedy about the adventures of a bunch of people going to a New Year's Eve party in the '80s. It's amusing they're not hilarious, with an American graffiti style episodic structure. A friend of mine watches it every New Year's, but while I enjoyed watching it once I can't say it's something I would go out of my way to see a second time. Also, I just do not get why those two guys are considered attractive, what's up with that? Paul Rudd looks like a middle manager at an insurance for so how is he considered a sexy guy? Someone please explain.
I don't really have a recommendation, watch it or don't.
I don't really have a recommendation, watch it or don't.
Uninspired
MartianOctocretr525 March 2007
A complete flop. This is one of those "people finding themselves in spite of themselves" type of stories. Lame script writing, unrealistic situations, dreadful overacting, and aimless direction lead this movie on a meandering voyage to nowhere.
It's New Year's Eve, and some 20-somethings are having an overdue dose of coming-of-age, mentally, socially, etc. Already, I hear you snoring. Why should anyone care about losers who are 10 years behind in their intellectual development? The film engages on a wild dance between several groups of characters, each more dimwitted than the last, as they try to seek out some big "in people's party." We all know that we find ourselves by getting bombed on New Year's Eve, don't we? Every single character is a familiar "Dumb and Dumber" stereotype, and the pseudo-philosophical speeches they deliver fit these stooges about as well as The Gettysburg Address would fit being recited by Michael Jackson. The cornball link for the disparate group of random fools is that they're all chain smoking nerds. Inspired? Thought provoking? Maybe you'll be thinking about what you'll do after the film is mercifully over; that's about it.
Nobody achieves anything useful, and the story just plods along until you have an epilogue sequence on New Year's morning, most of the characters waking up in strange beds, and realizing that they learned nothing from all of this. The audience ends up feeling the same way.
It's New Year's Eve, and some 20-somethings are having an overdue dose of coming-of-age, mentally, socially, etc. Already, I hear you snoring. Why should anyone care about losers who are 10 years behind in their intellectual development? The film engages on a wild dance between several groups of characters, each more dimwitted than the last, as they try to seek out some big "in people's party." We all know that we find ourselves by getting bombed on New Year's Eve, don't we? Every single character is a familiar "Dumb and Dumber" stereotype, and the pseudo-philosophical speeches they deliver fit these stooges about as well as The Gettysburg Address would fit being recited by Michael Jackson. The cornball link for the disparate group of random fools is that they're all chain smoking nerds. Inspired? Thought provoking? Maybe you'll be thinking about what you'll do after the film is mercifully over; that's about it.
Nobody achieves anything useful, and the story just plods along until you have an epilogue sequence on New Year's morning, most of the characters waking up in strange beds, and realizing that they learned nothing from all of this. The audience ends up feeling the same way.
a great little movie
jimmyplm21 March 1999
I thought this movie was very entertaining. I loved every minute of it. I love nostalgic movies about the 1980's, and this is one of the better ones to come out recently. Courtney Love stood out as the best actress in the movie; she definitely stole the show. I only had one complaint, there were lots of high quality stars, but not enough time devoted to each individual one. Go out and see this one. It is worth the time! :-)
A fun party flick that hinges on its brilliant cast.
Mr_Censored13 July 2009
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?
Highly Boring Movie
austin617416 June 2001
200 Cigarettes is a highly boring movie. A cast of mostly highly talented actors were wasted on the useless plot of this movie. The film takes place on New Year's Eve 1981 and follows a number of people around town in New York City on their way to a party. None of the characters or plot lines were especially interesting and the ending was rather flat and pointless. Unless you are a big fan of any particular actor in this movie, I do not recommend this movie. I give this movie 5/10 stars for the few funny scenes which were not enough to save this from being overwhelmingly boring.
Stellar ensemble vehicle
mitch-233 January 2010
this is one of my all-time favorite movies; as evidenced by my review history, I am not a compulsive reviewer, but decided that if one more movie deserves my shout-out it is this low-profile and vastly underrated effort so I dredged up my registration information which I hadn't used in years; I remember stumbling upon the movie at my local home video rental store nine years ago; I immediately fell in love with this star-jammed vehicle that effortlessly manages to be stridently observant and yet retain a light and joyfully irrelevant touch; some of the reviewers complain that its crowded story-lines don't allow for fully-fledged characters but fail to see that it's one of the successful wink-wink aspects of the movie: most of the protagonists ARE fully-fledged, it's just that there just so much to their character! They are either shallow/vapid people or one-track minds desperate to score before the last hours of the old year ring out; both types can be sketched with a few confident strokes! for instance, just listening in on the bathroom conversation of Caitlin and Bridget you get all the insight into their character that you need to know perfectly well where they come from and what is their motivation; come on, given the lightweight subject matter I don't see how you can expect a 162-minute English patient-calibre backstory; you might ask then why waste time on a movie about shallow people or people obsessed with hosting the perfect party? because shallow plus zero self-awareness plus NYC art-scene types equals funny; being so caught up in party dip and New Year's decoration that it leads up to existential drama and queasiness is also hilarious in my book; and 200 cigarettes serves up just that sort of delightful cinematic entertainment; not to mention that it has one of my all-time favorite one-liners: "I DARE you to f*** me!"
The Vidiot Reviews...
capone66610 May 2012
200 Cigarettes
The best way to quit smoking is to replace cigarettes with food. Conversely, the best way to lose weight is to replace food with cigarettes.
Fortunately, the acquaintances in this ensemble comedy are more apt to resolve to have better relationships this year.
On the last day of 1981, Monica (Martha Plimpton) agonizes over the attendance record of her New Year's Eve party.
Elsewhere, two teens from Long Island (Gaby Hoffmann, Christina Ricci) navigate the streets of New York, while two opposites (Kate Hudson, Jay Mohr) embark on an uncomfortable first date.
Across town, life-long friends (Courtney Love, Paul Rudd) confront their sexual tension. And chaperoning the couples around is a sage and sedate cabbie (Dave Chappelle).
An amorous anthology of quirky couples dealing with riotous relationship woes, 200 Cigarettes assembles a talented cast to supply the absurdity.
Besides, January 31 isn't about unfulfilled expectations; it's about dispelling end-of-world prophecies. (Green Light)
vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca
The best way to quit smoking is to replace cigarettes with food. Conversely, the best way to lose weight is to replace food with cigarettes.
Fortunately, the acquaintances in this ensemble comedy are more apt to resolve to have better relationships this year.
On the last day of 1981, Monica (Martha Plimpton) agonizes over the attendance record of her New Year's Eve party.
Elsewhere, two teens from Long Island (Gaby Hoffmann, Christina Ricci) navigate the streets of New York, while two opposites (Kate Hudson, Jay Mohr) embark on an uncomfortable first date.
Across town, life-long friends (Courtney Love, Paul Rudd) confront their sexual tension. And chaperoning the couples around is a sage and sedate cabbie (Dave Chappelle).
An amorous anthology of quirky couples dealing with riotous relationship woes, 200 Cigarettes assembles a talented cast to supply the absurdity.
Besides, January 31 isn't about unfulfilled expectations; it's about dispelling end-of-world prophecies. (Green Light)
vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca
Whoa
libmartin65120 March 2014
I can't really find anything good to say about this movie, so im not going to say much. its hard for me to understand how anyone could like this movie. I don't care about the ensemble cast, if they're all give poor performances what does it matter. I think Courtney Love should be banned from acting in feature films and then I think we would be able to this country a serious justice. I found myself bored and scratching the paint off the walls during this movie. I hope no one in the production considers they did a good job or have made something of merit because they really haven't
I'd rather have a bran aneurysm than see this movie a second time. There are only so many things in the world that are just utter trash
I'd rather have a bran aneurysm than see this movie a second time. There are only so many things in the world that are just utter trash
You Know Them All
MarquisDD13 December 1999
Everyone seems so grumpy about this film! C'mon, it's just doing what you've been wanting to do for years. Envy is so unbecoming.
Admit it. You've always meant to take all your friends, cook them down to provide enough essential oil to include each of them as a character in a vignette, toss them all into a conglomerate situation and see where they go. 200 Cigs accomplishes this goal with effortless ease. The archetypal characters can still be found wandering the East Village today.
And if you've ever spent a night bumbling around the lower east side, trying to get somewhere, but getting caught in the mire of the late night social whirlwind that simply *is* Manhattan dahlink, you'll recognize the look and feel of this film as well. It is captured with alarming verisimilitude. It's quite amazing how little things change. Except today, Stephy's fear of Ave. B would be bumped up to D.
And, okay, it bears mentioning -- the soundtrack nails down 1981 flawlessly. Buzzcocks? Kool & the Gang? Bow Wow Wow? B Movie? Go-Go's? Grace Jones? Courtney Love singing along wistfully with the Ice Castles theme? And the most brilliant band to feature, Blue Angel -- Cyndi Lauper's pre-Lauper band. The only band they missed was the B-52's.
I watched this movie on a Friday night before I went out. I was feeling tired and done with the day and would have preferred to stay home. 200 Cigs so perfectly captured the fabulousness of being out on the town, that I caught the fevah, bay-bee, put on my glitter clothes and made some splashes. I was inspired.
$$$$1/2 out of 5 in the "Money Shot" scale.
Admit it. You've always meant to take all your friends, cook them down to provide enough essential oil to include each of them as a character in a vignette, toss them all into a conglomerate situation and see where they go. 200 Cigs accomplishes this goal with effortless ease. The archetypal characters can still be found wandering the East Village today.
And if you've ever spent a night bumbling around the lower east side, trying to get somewhere, but getting caught in the mire of the late night social whirlwind that simply *is* Manhattan dahlink, you'll recognize the look and feel of this film as well. It is captured with alarming verisimilitude. It's quite amazing how little things change. Except today, Stephy's fear of Ave. B would be bumped up to D.
And, okay, it bears mentioning -- the soundtrack nails down 1981 flawlessly. Buzzcocks? Kool & the Gang? Bow Wow Wow? B Movie? Go-Go's? Grace Jones? Courtney Love singing along wistfully with the Ice Castles theme? And the most brilliant band to feature, Blue Angel -- Cyndi Lauper's pre-Lauper band. The only band they missed was the B-52's.
I watched this movie on a Friday night before I went out. I was feeling tired and done with the day and would have preferred to stay home. 200 Cigs so perfectly captured the fabulousness of being out on the town, that I caught the fevah, bay-bee, put on my glitter clothes and made some splashes. I was inspired.
$$$$1/2 out of 5 in the "Money Shot" scale.
occasionally funny line was enough to keep me interested
minnow-627 July 2000
`200 Cigarettes' **1/2. New Year's Eve, 1981 and everyone is going to the same party. The story line follows a half dozen, maybe ten `couples' around NYC going to the party. Slow in places, funny in places. The slow parts are annoying, but the occasionally funny line was enough to keep me interested. Worth the rental.
This movie sucks! Sucks! I mean really sucks!
baumer14 July 1999
Oh man I wanted to like this movie. It has a great cast and it is a small independent film. And I really admire Ben Affleck. I like his story of his leap to stardom. But I think his loyalty is what got in the way of his good sense. Because how he got suckered into this film has to be becaue of brotherhood. Now I don't know if this is true or not but I read somewhere that Casey Affleck was very instrumental in getting this film going. It was his baby. And perhaps big brother decided to add his name to the film just to help him out. Whatever the story is, the film is trash. It isn't funny, it isn't interesting, it isn't even remotely likable. And Christina Ricci is so incredibly annoying in this film that I wanted to shoot her every time her winy voice invaded the soundtrack. " Yuaa wwwuuaanna gyet sum cwoffee? " Arrrgggh, please stop the insanity. I am kind of upset about it too because I generally enjoy indie films, there is a freshness to them. But this wasn't fresh. It was just down right annoying. Don't ever see this, unless you are about to head to the gym for an intense workout. This will give you new frustrations to take your anger out on.
Very MTV
gbheron23 July 2000
Not too many people appear to have liked 200 Cigarettes. I did, but then my expectations were not very high. Set in Manhattan on New Year's Eve, 1981, 200 Cigarettes follows a few groups of twenty-somethings as they head to the same New Years Eve Party. The casting is great, the characters they play much less so. The characterizations are pretty shallow and the plot thin. But in the end, it works well enough and the conclusion on New Year's morning is cute. The real saving grace of the film is the soundtrack, but that's what you'd expect from MTV.
Bad for your health...
moonspinner5529 August 2004
In a 1998 issue of Premiere Magazine, a female producer on this film told a writer, "It's a romantic comedy. It lets the girl get the guy. It's adorable. It's gonna be great!" All right, so what do we get? A bunch of losers swearing and smoking. That producer must've been a flunky at MTV who got a break (and now hopefully she's busy being adorable some place else). This collection of 'wacky' characters, all trying to make their way to the same 1981 New Year's Eve party, have nothing fresh to say. The script seems to be written as an inside-joke, but it's hard to laugh when the actors on-screen are humiliated (and in such a lifeless vacuum). The ashtrays are overflowing, but the dialogue is stilted and the scenario strangely aloof and cold. Martha Plimpton plays the unfortunate girl giving the party and one feels sorry for the performer, not the character. Plimpton is a young actress who is difficult to cast; she's tough and direct, but her toughness isn't engaging and her direct, no-nonsense manner isn't particularly feminine or fetching. Janeane Garofalo has some sparkle, but the teaming of an annoying Courtney Love and an even more annoying Paul Rudd doesn't pay off. Other party-poopers include Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Gaby Hoffmann and Christina Ricci--all portraying people with low IQ's. * from ****
1982 is going to be like the best year ever.
vertigo_145 April 2004
I love this movie. Plain and simple, I thought everyone in it did a good job being a giant bunch of twenty-something city kooks, each involved in their own various attempts to find a date, culminating in a New Year's Eve party to ring in 1982.
The movie has whole slew of great comedians -- Paul Rudd as Kevin, the depressed and readily available friend of happy-go-lucky Lucy (Courtney Love) who goes out of her way to cheer up her friend after being dumped by long-time girlfriend, Ellie (Janeane Garafolo), the artsy fartsy type. Caitlyn (Angela Featherstone) Bridget search out dates after dumping Scotsman Eric following news that her lumberjack boyfriend was suddenly discovered alive and well. Dave Chepelle plays the raddest cab driver as he tries to get his passengers to just ease up, toke up, and go nuts...because it's New Years.
But no one is funnier than Martha Plimpton, who plays the paranoid host of the party, and the two party hopefuls played by Christina Ricci and Gabby Hoffman, who wander as far as the notorious "Avenue B" to find Val's cousin's party.
Unfortunately, the night is accompanied by top 40s 80s music, but it doesn't matter. The situations in the movie are so hilarious, it sure it a funky movie.
The movie has whole slew of great comedians -- Paul Rudd as Kevin, the depressed and readily available friend of happy-go-lucky Lucy (Courtney Love) who goes out of her way to cheer up her friend after being dumped by long-time girlfriend, Ellie (Janeane Garafolo), the artsy fartsy type. Caitlyn (Angela Featherstone) Bridget search out dates after dumping Scotsman Eric following news that her lumberjack boyfriend was suddenly discovered alive and well. Dave Chepelle plays the raddest cab driver as he tries to get his passengers to just ease up, toke up, and go nuts...because it's New Years.
But no one is funnier than Martha Plimpton, who plays the paranoid host of the party, and the two party hopefuls played by Christina Ricci and Gabby Hoffman, who wander as far as the notorious "Avenue B" to find Val's cousin's party.
Unfortunately, the night is accompanied by top 40s 80s music, but it doesn't matter. The situations in the movie are so hilarious, it sure it a funky movie.
Mostly pointless but pleasant
stills-617 June 2000
I wasn't expecting much, so I was pleasantly surprised. I was disappointed at how many scenes were ripped off from other movies (like the car seat in the next room from "Sixteen Candles"), but it didn't matter too much. It was fun watching the young bratty actors do their best with a relatively weak script. Paul Rudd gives the best performance by far and has the good luck to play one of the only two consistent characters in the movie, the other being Courtney Love. In fact, I would have preferred watching just their story as it is the most interesting and least objectionable.
As a child of the 80s I loved the soundtrack, but at the same time most of it was pointless and distracting. I also didn't see much point in setting these stories in the early 80s (but it's a convenient way of sidestepping the issues of cell-phones, AIDS, post-Reagan malaise, and unfriendly cab drivers).
As a child of the 80s I loved the soundtrack, but at the same time most of it was pointless and distracting. I also didn't see much point in setting these stories in the early 80s (but it's a convenient way of sidestepping the issues of cell-phones, AIDS, post-Reagan malaise, and unfriendly cab drivers).
Is this some sort of product placement for Big Tobacco?
JamesHitchcock29 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Most of the film takes place during the evening of December 31st 1981, with the last few scenes set during the morning of January 1st 1982. There is not a great deal of plot other than an account of how a group of young people spend New Year's Eve in New York. The one linking thread is that most of them are on their way to a party being given by a mutual acquaintance named Monica, although we do not see much of the actual party itself. For most of the film, in fact, the neurotic, self-pitying Monica worries that none of her friends will actually turn up- even her best friend Hilary leaves- and that she will be forced to spend the entire evening arguing about her sex life with her equally self-pitying ex-boyfriend Eric, a Scottish artist who specialises in multicoloured close-ups of the female genitalia.
A number of reviewers have wondered why it was necessary to set the film in the early eighties rather than the late nineties when it was made, speculating that this may have been a device to market a nostalgic soundtrack album. Certainly, we get to hear a lot of songs from the era by artists such as Blondie, Roxy Music, Kim Carnes and Elvis Costello (who makes a brief cameo appearance)- all of which took me straight back to my own college days- although I suspect that the real reason for choosing 1981/2 was that this represented the end of the carefree, pre-AIDS era.
If the film has been set in, say, 1998/9 all the bed-hopping and partner-swapping that goes on would seem a lot less innocent. This is very much a film about sex. Some of the characters are looking for love, but most of them are just looking for sex. Most of them end up with a partner, although not always the one they started the film with. Monica dumped Eric because she found him inadequate in bed, but now worries that she will be unable to find another boyfriend. Val, Monica's young country cousin from Long Island, throws herself at every man she can find, overcome by the excitement of being in the big city. Lucy, a girl even more man-hungry than Val, tries to get off with a handsome young bartender and her (hitherto platonic) flatmate Kevin, who is depressed over the failure of his own relationship. Cindy, a naive and innocent girl, has just lost her virginity to the handsome but obnoxiously conceited Jack, a young man who complains that every girl who goes to bed with him falls in love with him. (He sees that as a major problem).
Cindy, in fact, is one of the few attractive characters in the film. She is terminally clumsy and accident-prone (in one of the film's grosser moments she manages to slip over and land in a pile of dog-dirt), but there is at least a certain sincerity and sweetness about the way Kate Hudson plays her. (Justice is done when Cindy ends up with sensitive punk rocker Tom, about the only likable male character on view). Most of the other characters are an unlikeable bunch, whose main vices are self-centredness, arrogance, reckless promiscuity and an even more reckless tobacco addiction. (The early eighties may have been pre-AIDS but they were certainly not pre-lung cancer). The title presumably refers to the number of cigarettes the characters smoke between them. Is this some sort of product placement for Big Tobacco?
The film has certain similarities with Barry Levinson's "Diner", another nostalgic film (in that case made in the eighties about the fifties) about a group of young friends in the period leading up to New Year. Both films are episodic in character and concentrate on character rather than action. "Diner", however, is by far the better film, the main reason being that the characters in that film emerge as rounded individuals, whereas the characters in "200 Cigarettes" are little more than one-dimensional ciphers. "Diner" concentrated on only half a dozen characters; the scriptwriter of "200 Cigarettes" made the mistake of trying to interest us in nearly twenty in a film lasting just over an hour and a half. There are really no stars of this film, just a long list of big-name actors in cameo roles.
The film's other main weakness is that, although it is meant to be a comedy, the script is not really witty. The running dog-dirt-on-the-back-of- someone's-coat joke may be gross, but it is about the only memorable joke in the film, even if it is memorable for the wrong reasons. It must say something about a scriptwriter's lack of imagination when you are forced to include that corny old gag "how do you like your eggs done in the morning, scrambled or fertilised?" in your list of "Memorable Quotes". The words "scraping the bottom of the barrel" come to mind. 5/10, chiefly for the music.
A number of reviewers have wondered why it was necessary to set the film in the early eighties rather than the late nineties when it was made, speculating that this may have been a device to market a nostalgic soundtrack album. Certainly, we get to hear a lot of songs from the era by artists such as Blondie, Roxy Music, Kim Carnes and Elvis Costello (who makes a brief cameo appearance)- all of which took me straight back to my own college days- although I suspect that the real reason for choosing 1981/2 was that this represented the end of the carefree, pre-AIDS era.
If the film has been set in, say, 1998/9 all the bed-hopping and partner-swapping that goes on would seem a lot less innocent. This is very much a film about sex. Some of the characters are looking for love, but most of them are just looking for sex. Most of them end up with a partner, although not always the one they started the film with. Monica dumped Eric because she found him inadequate in bed, but now worries that she will be unable to find another boyfriend. Val, Monica's young country cousin from Long Island, throws herself at every man she can find, overcome by the excitement of being in the big city. Lucy, a girl even more man-hungry than Val, tries to get off with a handsome young bartender and her (hitherto platonic) flatmate Kevin, who is depressed over the failure of his own relationship. Cindy, a naive and innocent girl, has just lost her virginity to the handsome but obnoxiously conceited Jack, a young man who complains that every girl who goes to bed with him falls in love with him. (He sees that as a major problem).
Cindy, in fact, is one of the few attractive characters in the film. She is terminally clumsy and accident-prone (in one of the film's grosser moments she manages to slip over and land in a pile of dog-dirt), but there is at least a certain sincerity and sweetness about the way Kate Hudson plays her. (Justice is done when Cindy ends up with sensitive punk rocker Tom, about the only likable male character on view). Most of the other characters are an unlikeable bunch, whose main vices are self-centredness, arrogance, reckless promiscuity and an even more reckless tobacco addiction. (The early eighties may have been pre-AIDS but they were certainly not pre-lung cancer). The title presumably refers to the number of cigarettes the characters smoke between them. Is this some sort of product placement for Big Tobacco?
The film has certain similarities with Barry Levinson's "Diner", another nostalgic film (in that case made in the eighties about the fifties) about a group of young friends in the period leading up to New Year. Both films are episodic in character and concentrate on character rather than action. "Diner", however, is by far the better film, the main reason being that the characters in that film emerge as rounded individuals, whereas the characters in "200 Cigarettes" are little more than one-dimensional ciphers. "Diner" concentrated on only half a dozen characters; the scriptwriter of "200 Cigarettes" made the mistake of trying to interest us in nearly twenty in a film lasting just over an hour and a half. There are really no stars of this film, just a long list of big-name actors in cameo roles.
The film's other main weakness is that, although it is meant to be a comedy, the script is not really witty. The running dog-dirt-on-the-back-of- someone's-coat joke may be gross, but it is about the only memorable joke in the film, even if it is memorable for the wrong reasons. It must say something about a scriptwriter's lack of imagination when you are forced to include that corny old gag "how do you like your eggs done in the morning, scrambled or fertilised?" in your list of "Memorable Quotes". The words "scraping the bottom of the barrel" come to mind. 5/10, chiefly for the music.
What the hell does that title refer to???
stamper16 September 2000
One thing I do not get about this movie is it's title, for what have 200 Cigarettes got to do with New Years eve, OK there is smoking but still. The title is not good. The same can be said maybe of the film's Trailer. It is not in a way intriguing or funny and it implies that this is merely an average story film. It also contains, by the way, scenes not featured in the movie and I really wonder why that is. The Trailer really did not make me look forward to seeing this, yet I watched it anyway, for I thought there was a good cast (Ben + Casey Affleck, Courtney Love and Christina Ricci).
The film itself is much different than the Trailer. The film is pretty funny and it shows in a good way all the stuff that happens when you are going to a party. What can go wrong, which difficulties can arise and so on. It is all about sex, relationships and the need of some people to leave WITH someone when leaving a party. It really gives the viewer a good image of the way parties are and the people who go to them. It is very realistic and not only applicable to the year 1981. The same could have happened on New Years eve 1999 or could happen this year on New Years Eve 2000. Pretty entertaining.
post scriptum: Paul Rudd rocks, he, Casey Affleck and Courtney Love are the best ones in this one.
7 out of 10
The film itself is much different than the Trailer. The film is pretty funny and it shows in a good way all the stuff that happens when you are going to a party. What can go wrong, which difficulties can arise and so on. It is all about sex, relationships and the need of some people to leave WITH someone when leaving a party. It really gives the viewer a good image of the way parties are and the people who go to them. It is very realistic and not only applicable to the year 1981. The same could have happened on New Years eve 1999 or could happen this year on New Years Eve 2000. Pretty entertaining.
post scriptum: Paul Rudd rocks, he, Casey Affleck and Courtney Love are the best ones in this one.
7 out of 10
Painfully Pointless
kingboyj2 August 2002
WARNING: Do not waste 101 min. of your life on the dog. One of the worst things I have seen in I can't remember when. I could go on forever about this.,but I am going to go get shock treatment to help me forget about it.
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