With this week’s release of The Pineapple Express, we have officially returned to the Stoner Age at the movie theater. There was a time when Cheech and Chong “pot” movies were popular, but hardly mainstream. Then came the “Just Say No” era and drugs at the movies were usually reduced the stuff that the bad guys were smuggling. But, in the past few years R-rated comedy has made a successful return to the big screen. Along with that, has been a new Hollywood attitude with regard to marijuana in movies like Knocked Up and now Pineapple Express. Interestingly, although marijuana is a huge part of the plot, the movie has been advertised as though it was about two dimwitted losers with the references to drugs being kept vague. As parents, how do you think we best let our kids enjoy movies that are flat out funny and entertaining, but at the same time make sure they don’t get the wrong impression?
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Yup, potheads have become the focus of a lot of recent movies, even before Pineapple Express (I’m thinking Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle). But I think that the point of these films is to make audiences laugh AT the characters, not think that they’re cool or to be modeled after.
I think you’ve made a great observation of current popular movies. I would also add movies like “Super Troopers” and “Dazed and Confused” to your list.
I see a strong connection to another common argument concern: violence in movies. Was it the movie that made him or her perform a real life act of violence or was it a poor upbringing that caused it. I know I believe in freedom in the arts and I know I’m against over censorship. I think it’s necessary not to deny a child of a mature age to see these movies, but even more important to educate and communicate to a child that violence is bad and drugs are bad and what’s in a movie is NOT real life. If the teen or tween is armed with this knowledge, they’ll make the right choices, no matter what they saw on screen.
I’m happy to say, that my 19-year-old just saw pineapple express and said she thought it was a waste of money. She does recognize class. I’m more concerned about my 12 -year-old watching it at a freind’s house. Or any other movie that show step-by-step instructions on acquiring, preparing, or consuming drugs and alcohol.
I don’t think we can hide our children from these movies or many of the other outside pressures they get everyday. Drugs are out there and all we can do is educate and love and test our children.
Yes I said test, you can purchase in-house instant drug tests on the internet and they work as a great deterrant. We keep one above the TV in their game room and they know that at anytime they can be tested.
My Dad used to tell me inspect what you expect and we do.
My teens are already expressing the opinion that pot is “no big deal.” These movies only reinforce that belief and make the use of marijuana seems totally acceptable and normal. It makes the job of keeping our kids drug free that much harder!
What these movies are trying to deconstruct is 78 years of propaganda and scare tactics about marijuana that have been proven time & time again to be 100% false. There is no long term effects found in any study of Marijuana. (That can NOT be said about most of the prescription drugs we take everyday. )
The fight you’re fighting isn’t against marijuana . Its against addiction itself.
Being addicted to pot, is like being addicted to a T.V show, or a video game. It’s an escape from reality.
If your child has no reason or desire to be present to reality, then why not escape it ?
If a parent engages their child’s boredom every time they see it, they will go a lot further in combating any addiction that child might face as an adult. Scare tactics will not work on this “information generation“, & thank goodness for that!