Plot: What’s it about?
As long as teens have taken interest in marijuana, some adults have cooked up a plan to prevent them from lighting up, but those methods have not always been steadfast. You can talk about scare tactics, propaganda films such as Reefer Madness, and baseless rumors, but anything viewed as a potential path to dissuade youth was used. A stream of reports linked marijuana to any number of problems, from back pain to impotence to loss of brain cells to total insanity, but of course, the plant remains in widespread use, even though it is an illegal substance. In Grass, director Ron Mann (Comic Book Confidential) and narrator Woody Harrelson (who even wears clothes made of hemp materials) shows us the battles marijuana has endured in the past hundred years, especially the wars waged by the government. The film has a light tone and never talks about why marijuana should be legal, aside from the many uses of hemp, which sort of levels off the issue and prevents any real points from being made. But it is a real gas and provides some hilarious moments, so don’t be afraid to sample Grass…I promise you won’t suffer any memory loss.
This is not your usual documentary to say the least, thanks to director Ron Mann, who ensures that Grass entertains, in addition to presenting the usual elements. So no, this is not an A&E style piece that takes a serious, hard look at the subject matter, as Grass takes a more stylish approach and less serious tone. The material is loaded with interesting tidbits and Mann’s project explores a lot of them and presents some worthwhile information, although it doesn’t always remain as balanced as a true documentary should. I liken this to Reefer Madness, in that it presents one side of the story and pushes that ideal, without giving much credence to the opposition. If you’re in favor of legalizing marijuana, then Grass will probably feed that fire and give you more ammunition, but never takes a good foothold on why the plant should be legal. Instead, Grass focuses on some of the unwise choices made by the government to control and combat the plant, as well as its users and in the process, winds up very biased. So don’t watch this for a down the middle take on marijuana’s trek through American culture, but it does have some good moments, terrific visuals, and solid entertainment value, I think. I recommend this to fans of getting high, as well as those interested in Reefer Madness-esue materials, as Grass is a lot of fun.
Video: How does it look?
Grass is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As this film contains a lot of stock footage, older film stock, and interviews from years ago, the image quality varies from scene to scene. The newly created content looks sharp and refined, but as expected, the older material looks worn. I found the footage to be in fine condition however, always in solid form and watchable, even the oldest of the clips, which is good news. There’s not much else to discuss here, as both new & old materials look good, which is all we can ask here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track has a lot more punch than expected, thanks to a terrific musical soundtrack and some inventive sound effects. Now this won’t become your next reference level disc, but it is a great overall mix that enhances the material, without a doubt. The music has some nice depth and range, while the sound effects in the transition screens bounce around the speakers also, very cool indeed. This disc contains no alternate language tracks or subtitles however, which is unusual for a Home Vision release.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes an interview with director Ron Mann, a selection of High Times cover artwork, a deleted scene, a text based guide to the laws that govern marijuana, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
