1994’s The Stöned Age isn’t the best-known stoner movie, but it’s one that has managed to hold a spot in a lot of people’s hearts over the past 30 years. Thanks to Lionsgate Limited and its Vestron Video Collector’s Series, we finally have a The Stöned Age Blu-ray release, which is appropriately releasing on 4/20. Let’s take a look if the underrated stoner movie is worth picking up in high def.
“Making its debut on Blu-ray,The Stöned Agefollows Hubbs and Joe, in pursuit of partying and girls in Torrance, California, one Saturday night. When they hear about an epic rager going on near the beach, Hubbs and Joe head over, setting in motion a comedic adventure of rad proportions. Hubbs gets the girl! The cops show up! An ex-con loses his temper! And…Joe’s mind gets blown in the gnarliest way imaginable. Featuring a killer lineup of iconic ’70s rock bands,” reads the official synopsis.
Director James Melkonian’s own life of growing up in California is used for the inspiration of 1994’s The Stöned Age, and it’s this lived experience that gives the film a lot of its eccentricities. The dialogue feels very real, the leads are wonderfully goofy, and it’s a reminder of a different time. While darker than many other stoner movies, The Stöned Age has some great moments, including a cameo from Frankie Avalon. It is worth noting that some aspects of the film are definitely products of its time, as it uses many homophobic slurs, so there might be a clash when revisiting it for some.
This is the first time that The Stöned Age has gotten a Blu-ray release, and it’s a good one. The 1080p transfer looks great, as the film looks much better than previous DVD releases, especially for the nighttime scenes. The only disappointment is that it doesn’t have a lossless audio, instead having a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, which is a shame since the film has a truly stellar soundtrack. It still sounds good, and it’s easy to make out all the dialogue, though.
The Stöned Age Blu-ray features several new bonus features, plus a legacy audio commentary with director and co-writer James Melkonian and co-writer Rich Wilkes. The new special features include a 22-minute retrospective called “Back toThe Stöned Age,” which has a lot of fun interviews, plus a 25-minute reunion called “Tales from The Blue Torpedo:The Stöned AgeReunion,” which sees Melkonian, Wilkes, Michael Kopelow, and Bradford Tatum reunite decades later. These two major additions are both great watches, and there’s a 2-and-a-half-minute extended scene featuring some dialogue that was cut from the film.
The Stöned Age Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict
While it might not join the best Cheech & Chong movies and Dazed and Confused as classics in the stoner movie canon, James Melkonian’s The Stöned Age isn’t that far behind them. It’s certainly a fun film to revisit, especially thanks to its killer soundtrack, and is a fun addition to anyone’s 4/20 collection.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our The Stöned Age Blu-ray review.
