200 Cigarettes

Starring:Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Guillermo DÃaz, Angela Featherstone, Janeane Garofalo, Gaby Hoffmann, Kate Hudson, Catherine Kellner, Courtney Love, Brian McCardie, Jay Mohr, Nicole Ari Parker, Martha Plimpton, Christina Ricci, Paul Rudd, Jennifer Albano, Jenni Blong, Morgan Brown (II), Caleb Carr
Director: Risa Bramon Garcia
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Trying to cash in on the '80s-nostalgia bandwagon, this New Year's Eve ensemble comedy, set in 1981 Manhattan, offers a vintage soundtrack, some memorable fashion statements, and most notably a talented ensemble that's pretty much all dressed up with no place to go. The large cast--featuring such bleeding-edge actors as Christina Ricci, Ben Affleck, Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo, Jay Mohr, and a surprisingly demure Courtney Love--does manage to exude some charm, but in all the cross-cutting between numerous subplots we never get a chance to spend much time with anyone. Just when the story about two friends (Rudd and Love) who decide to have sex starts to get interesting, we're thrust into the adventures of two Long Island girls (Ricci and an uncannily authentic Gaby Hoffman) lost in SoHo. And then when they get picked up by two punk boys, it's off to the uncomfortable second date between an egotistical actor (Mohr) and the young virgin he just deflowered last night (Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn's daughter), and then off to even more characters, etc. The closest we get to a focal point in the film is a dizzyingly hysterical Martha Plimpton (better than she's been in a while), the hostess of the party everyone's going to--except no one's shown up yet, sending Plimpton into neurotic rages about crab dip going bad. Longtime casting director Risa Bramon Garcia, making her directorial debut, exhibits a fine hand with her actors--she succeeds in making Courtney Love a believably insecure firebrand who when drunk sings along to "Through the Eyes of Love"--but trips herself up by diluting her characters' misadventures. As a result, Affleck's charmingly goofy bartender gets lost in the shuffle, and Garofalo's part is reduced to a glorified cameo (though she lights up the screen when she's on). Make sure, though, you take in the wide-eyed Hudson, who at times seems to be channeling her mother's mannerisms and speech inflections to great if eerie comic effect. Nobody's mixed innocence, sexiness, and physical comedy so deftly since... well, Goldie Hawn. Also, look for Elvis Costello in a brief but pivotal cameo. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

200 Cigarettes- one of the best all-time movies!!.......2007-06-02

I had seen this movie once on tv a long time ago since it was released in the early 80's. The movie shows the best of the 80's in the way they dressed, talked and partied- you will instantly want to go back to those days!!

The whole movie takes place over one new year's eve in new york and is so entertaining, wickedly funny with an intelligent comic scenes throughout the movie. Everybody managed to act so naturally; when they are drunk, happy or angry it is breathtaking and makes you giggle all the way.
Ben Affleck, Courtney Love, Kate Hudson, Paul Rudd, Dave Chapelle, Janeane Garofalo, Christina Ricci all in one movie!

Highlights issues like friendship between a guy and a girl, then getting drunk and messing it up, falling in love, virginity& innocence, despair on new years eve on getting off with any guy, teenagers& punks and the madness about this endless night. Rumour has it that they really do smoke 200 cigs during the film.

Puts you in a brilliant party and friends mood! The 80's were fantastic! So much fun, why not make part 2?

great 80's movie.......2007-05-14

I love, love love this movie. Dave Chappelle is soooo funny. It has a great cast and a very funny story line.

Excellent movie!!!.......2007-03-12

Great reminder of the time, very funny, great music,great actors, just worth it in every way.

Rock on. .......2006-02-07

SERIOUSLY, One of my favorite movies of all time. Thank goodness for 1980's rewinds. Kate Hudson's character is ridiculous, in the absolute best sense of the word. Oh, and, Martha Plimpton never ages...she's a freak of nature. Now get off the computer and let's go party Risa Garcia style. F*** yeah.

Fun Ensemble Flick!.......2005-08-25

This arty quirky film about a New Years Eve gone wrong in the mid- 80s is one of my favorites. Was the first time I saw Kate Hudson and she is so sweet and funny in this one.
Martha Plimpton is a riot as the overwrought hostess with a failed party on her hands.
Ben Affleck is actually semi-funny for once- he is trying desperately to get into someone's pants- watch and see who he starts the new year with.
Courtney Love and Paul Rudd are friends- she wants to be more but she scares him....

Indy gal J. Garafolo is her dark and dismal chain smoking wisecracking self and fun again.
Dave Chappel is the cabby who tells the tale.

Fun! Romantic comedy a guy will like! --.

Average customer rating:

200 Cigarettes- one of the best all-time movies!!
great 80's movie
Excellent movie!!!
Rock on.
Fun Ensemble Flick!

200 Cigarettes
Starring: Ben Affleck , Casey Affleck , Dave Chappelle , Guillermo Díaz , and Angela Featherstone
Director: Risa Bramon Garcia
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Urban | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Go (Special Edition)
Reality Bites (10th Anniversary Edition)
Pecker
Gossip
Heathers (THX Version)

ASIN: 630549892X
Release Date: 1999-08-31