Sean Lamberger A politically-conscious documentary that steps in to cover the months after world-famous doper Tommy Chong's arrest (for the illegal cross-state sale of glass pipes) but before his nine-month prison sentence. Along the way, we get a quick-and-dirty look at the polarizing comedian's life and times, the roots of his legendary partnership with Cheech Marin, and the state's over-ambitious case against him. Judging by the facts we're presented, there's little question Tommy was entrapped and railroaded by a media-hungry federal watchdog group, but to his credit Chong takes it all in stride, serves his time and emerges ready to take up the cause as a rejuvenated activist. Pro-legalisation viewers will be nodding their heads like a bobble-head from start to finish, while the peek into our government's priorities, practices and punishments might give fence-sitters a few new things to consider. Moral crusaders, on the other hand, will see an entirely different story. At just shy of 80 minutes, it only scratches the surface of an intrinsically deep, complicated political debate. Light viewing with a few mild laughs, it reports the facts and offers a take but isn't equipped to do any really heavy digging.

Michael O'Keefe A mind-opening documentary showing tax payers money being spent frivolously. Tommy Chong, half of the famous and outrageously funny stoner team of Cheech and Chong, found himself in the slammer for his secondary career. Selling 'bongs'..colorful water pipes often used to consume marijuana. Chong became a primary target in a government sting called "Operation Pipe Dreams" under the guiding eyes of Attorney General John Ashcroft and Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.Of all the people indicted and prosecuted in the sting, with only one or two priors, Chong was the only one to receive a jail sentence...nine months in minimum security at Taft, California. Supposedly the harsh punishment was because Tommy making fun of the government's anti-drug efforts in the movie UP IN SMOKE. Chong now jokes about the only Weapons of Mass Destruction that the Bush Administration has every found is his bongs.Lesson: it might not be good in the long run to joke about DEA, IRS, CIA or Homeland Security. Innocent or not...they can do anything they want to do. Archive footage with pro and con comment include: Paul Moyer, Jay Leno, Bill Maher,George Thorogood, Ronald Reagan, Peter Coyote, Lou Adler, Cheech Marin, Alan M. Dershowitz and George W. Bush.

systems-student This is a hilarious and frightening look at the career and persecution of Tommy Chong. Loaded with hilarious clips of Tommy's classics like "Up In Smoke", the real subject of the movie is, of course, very serious. The manner in which Chong was targeted and the resources spent on his arrest and prosecution were both somewhat shocking. Bill Maher said it best: "Don't you feel safer knowing the Tommy Chong is in prison?"Whether the viewer is a relic of the 70's or just interested in constitutional rights, (these people actually do exist) this movie is definitely worth seeing.

waytek98 This movie blew me away at the U.S. debut (Palm Springs International Film Festival). It is a documentary about how Tommy was targeted in a DEA sting operation codenamed "Pipe Dreams". Tommy was arrested in 2003 along with several others in what appears to be a clear entrapment case. Tommy received the harshest sentence of all the defendants and had to serve 9 months prison time in a small California town named "Taft". Although the movie deals with an inherently controversial subject, it makes you wonder why they seem to have really socked it to Tommy as punishment for exercising his 1st amendment rights and making some great films that were loved my many and hated by a few. Hidden a little at first, but inter weaved in the fabric you will also find a story of true love and unconditional devotion... A family that loves each other and sticks together through thick and thin. Shelby and Tommy made sure to greet every moviegoer at the premiere and are two genuinely nice folks who may have achieved unwanted martyrdom but seem to deal with it in a very positive manner. Will see again and take my friends!