Great Movies While High: Don Peyote

Existential crises have been great material for stories for about as long as people have been writing them, with personal journeys being fodder for great literature and film for years. I recently came across a great new addition to the canon of personal journey stories, a film that all stoners should definitely check out: Don Peyote, an independent feature that can best be described as a psychedelic comedy.

Co-written, co-directed, and starring veteran stage and film actor Dan Folger as Warren, a mostly unemployed and under-motivated man living in New York City, Don Peyote explores what life outside the “normal” confines can be, and what it takes to reach a point where all the other BS just doesn’t matter. It’s funny and very entertaining, but with a point that should hit home with many weedists out there who might also be searching for something more from life.

The film is packed with some really great cameos, including Anne Hathaway as a “ex-everything, secret black ops” agent who divulges the secrets to pretty much every event that’s ever been important in human history, including a particularly sexy mind meld that leaves Warren spinning. Jay Baruchel of “This is the End” makes a spot-on appearance as Bates, with Folger’s narration saying that “sure, he was a drug dealer, but that was just his cover. He was part philosopher, part businessman, part outlaw.” It’s lines like these that make Don Peyote such a funny and entertaining flick.

Topher Grace makes a few “special appearances” in an incredibly meta moment during the height of the second act’s action as the real Dan Folger’s agent, lamenting how difficult a sell the film is. Breaking down the fourth wall might not be anything new, but it is certainly a great way to throw the action into a hilarious new dimension and throw the audience off guard. The meta nature of the action lets the audience in on the joke without giving too much away, a fine line to walk for any movie, though the writers navigate the juxtaposition very well.

With experimental parts, serious bits, and even musical numbers, it’s a color palate and wide range that Fogler draws on to create a very interesting ride.

As our narrator says toward the end of the just over 90 minute film, “Time is a wave and the wave is vibrating!” So get out there and experience life, Weedists of the world! (and check out Don Peyote if you want something to relax to after you’re done with all that.)

Don Peyote is now available on demand and for download on Itunes. It will appear in theaters in select cities starting May 16.

Check out other posts from Weedist’s Great Movies While High series!