This is one of those movies I watched a LOT 'back in the day' as one might say.

His work here is still electrifying and high-charged, though maybe this time I saw more of the obvious 'tics' of the character (like, we get it, the Angel Dust bit is one of the major highlights of the movie, but can't you move on?) And Cube is good as straight man for Tucker's foole, and has a few moments too.

What we get here also, of course, is the breakthrough for Chris Tucker - an opportunity he'd only really pursue for another few years before spending his life, it appears, on Rush Hour checks (and a surprise guest spot in Silver Linings Playbook, of all things). If it doesn't really have the same existential heft as Clerks, well, it's not fully trying to be that anyway.

The lack of any cops shows this is a fairly insulated world. And both borrow of course from Do the Right Thing, though Cube actually goes for his own version of the violent climax with a fight. But it's also like the Watts equivalent of something closer Clerks, also by first-time filmmakers: it's mostly about two guys who don't have much going on with their lives or prospects or action, but they're surrounded by so many 'lively' personalities and moments that are meant to get BIG laughs, regardless of a story structure that is super-strong outside of the Day-In-The-Life thing. For all of the comparisons to it being Boyz N tha Hood as a crude comedy, that it is in part. Sadly, I couldn't attend full of the green stuff, but it was still an enjoyable experience seeing it again. It's also become a benchmark for stoners for the 20th anniversary, it was screened for a special event on 4/20. I'm sure there have been others - though written by, of all people, Joel Schumacher, I've always thought of 1976's Car Wash as the grand-daddy of them. (Re-review in 2015): It's interesting to see how this has been labeled the first 'Hood' comedy.

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