Premiered in 2001, How High is a movie in the stoner comedy genre, which was warmly welcomed by the public and turned into a cult one that brings the world of hip-hop, college, and cannabis under a笑 lens. This comedy film is directed by Jesse Dylan and written by Dustin Lee Abraham, in the plot of the movie two unemployed slackers who enjoys marijuana smoking acquire super intelligent ability after smoking magical marijuana , in order to share their success in their college entrance exams and receive scholarships to attend Harvard University. The major strength of the film is cast since it consisted of some of the popular stars of Hip Hop and comedy at that period. This article brings to light the characteristics of all the How High cast and their roles in the movie as well as analyzing the significance of the cast in the future.
Regina as Marlon Leading man Method Man plays the role of Silas P. Silas.
As you know, How High is predominantly starring Method Man, who is one of the co-celebrities of the famous hip-hop band Wu-Tang Clan. Silas P. Silas is a streetwise marijuana enthusiast with a knack for saying the most biting and regularly off-color things, portrayed by Method Man in the movie. As for Silas, he is also a character who gives a liberal dose of that specific Method man aura that makes him seem slow and relaxed, but at the same time, very smart and inventive.
Although there are many rapping Method Man is very convincing and likeable as Silas, who tries to cope with life and its problems with a dash of humor and a lot of business acumen. Indeed Silas’s transformation from an angry rebellious boy from an inner city school able to get into Harvard is the essence of the movie’s themes of non conformity and challenging social norms. Method Man’s portrayal of the character was able to add reality to the movie and at the same time reinforced his versatility in the entertainment industry as he successfully transition from rapper to actor.
Redman as Jamal King
Besides Method Man there is Redman who plays Jamal King, with whom Method Man has collaborated for many years. Jamal is another stereotypical slacker and pothead like Silas, albeit more hot-headed and more inclined to get into trouble. Redman gives a shot of comic energy that also bubbles with the sort of amusing sweetness as to win the sympathy of the audience.
The rapport that exists between Method Man and Redman is as authentic as it can get and is perhaps the movie’s biggest selling point. Both of these artists have already proved themselves as a perfect team in the sphere of hip-hop with their joint albums and a combination of their humor was perfect on the big screen as well. And in How High, their interactions between the two main characters are that the appearances seem spontaneous and not planed, which is pleasant in blending humor into the movie. Silas and Jamal’s friendship and fellowship form the foundation of plot; Redman’s acting is critical for the portrayal of the characters’ bond.
Lark Voorhies as Lauren
Lark Voorhies, has a part of Lisa Turtle in the famous Saved by the Bell, has the role of Lauren, a student at the prestigious Harvard University and Jamal’s love interest. Lauren is intelligent, ambitious and starts off as the type of person who would give Silas and Jamal the ‘are you guys serious?’ look. But she gradually gets fascinated by Jamal and the way he perceives the academic sphere.
Regarding the performance of actors, Voorhies’ contribution enriches film’s perspective as she plays an intelligent and self-sufficient beautiful lady. In How High her acting is quite different from the parts she previously portrayed as she plays a different character than the ones that are entirely pure. Lauren’s experience with Jamal is another social commentary, this time regarding the importance of not judging someone by his exterior and learning to change one’s mentality.
Obba Babatundé for Dean Carl Cain
Dean Carl Cain, the new, mean and conservative dean of Harvard University, is played by veteran actor Obba Babatundé who becomes the chief villain of the film. Dean Cain now has it as his goal to continue preserving this school’s image and perceives both Silas and Jamal as a shame to the university. In the course of the movie, he tries to sabotage their achievements and this elicits funny disagreements.
This is a common phenomenon of the characters who are depicted as the fish out of water especially Babatundé’s performance as Dean Cain battling with the peculiarity of Silas and Jamal. His acting contributes to the humor that is present in the film, since he mindlessly tries to test the protagonists’ intelligence and ends up embarrassing himself. Thanks to the experience in drama and comedy shows, Babatundé succeeds in the role of the concentrated and strict antagonist at the same time being an amusing personage.
Their includes Mike Epps as Baby Powder
I was thrilled to see comedian Mike Epps, give what I believe is one of the best performances in the film as Baby Powder, a flamboyant pimp, who love to ham it up. As for the actor, despite the fact that Epps appears quite often on the screen, his role is interesting only for a few scenes – nevertheless, he brilliantly elaborated the character, which brings the amount of absurdity in the film to the next level.
The relevant scenes that portray Baby Powder are among the most striking in How High, primarily by virtue of Epps’ capacity to turn absurd lines into hilarious gags. Relations with Silas and Jamal, co-workers at the depths of the ship, yield some of the film’s best comical scenes which proves Epps’ comedic acting and gifts for physical performance as well as non-scripted remarks.
Frederick Willard as Philip Huntley
Fred Willard who recently passed on due to complications of ALS, was noted for his performances in mockumentaries and sitcoms, essays Philip Huntley, the clueless and hilarious Harvard University president. Willard’s character is innocent and naive and does not have the faintest understanding of college lifestyle, which in the movie creates awkward funny situations.
The probably surefire element of the movie is the comedic performance of Willard and his overenthusiastic ability to be the ‘straight man’ to incredibly feculent screwball comedy. His characterism provides a contrast to Dean Cain’s courtroom strictness and provides a comedic take on the happenings at Harvard.
Jeffrey Jones is played a character of Vice President Thurgood Marshall.
Wendy Viele, best remembered from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Beetlejuice, portrays the role of Vice President Thurgood Marshall, by whom indeed seems to be a mere bureacrat who gets entangled with Silas an Jamal – the main film’s villains. Compared to other characters, Jones is very low key and his part in the film include the interaction with the Dean Cain and the university administration contributes to the satirization of university elitism.
Jones play another layer for comedy because his quest to discipline and order Harvard is always overshadowed by Silas and Jamal’s mayhem.
The Semiotics of How High
What ‘How High’ was and what it grew to be was a lot more than just a ‘stoner comedy’; it was a phenomenon that surpassed the regular college audience movies. The movie featured hip hop artists Method Man and Redman and due to the blend of humor and social commentary the film was well received by the target audience. Another element the film’s success was to contribute to was the boosting of the stoner comedies as a generally rising genre at the end of the 1990s − beginning of 2000s.
The usage of music from the movies by performing artists such as Method Man, Redman, and other hip-hop artists also helped in the popularity of the film. In addition to enhancing the film’s themes, the music succeeded in presenting the talents of the duo to a new audience.
Conclusion: Nonetheless, there is hardly another comedy play that holds up to date relevance as much as this play does.
Even now, two and a half years after the end of the nineties, *How High* has remained one of the great comedies whose light is not obscured to this day. Thus, there are actors’ performances, a witty script, and the ability to use comedy while discussing conflicts within cultures.
Starring Method Man and Redman, they have wonderful chemistry that is the engine of the movie and together with the rest of the cast How High has rightfully earned its place among the cult movies. Forgetting the plot and the characters, How High remains a film that tried to be different in the genre that is overloaded with cliches and majorly predictable. For more information visit ocnjdaily.co.uk
