ffflamingoes My wife and tenant love to torture me with main stream movies...this was such a refreshing break! You could really care for the characters and the plot flowed along really well. I think I only realized it was Canadian made when the court scene happened...why can't Canadian productions make better court rooms? lol I would recommend this to anyone, especially stoners.A great film you can really get in to.I am going to look for more films by the same people, I thought it was really well written.If anyone knows more films by the same people, please post!

patrea-2 My friends and I went to see this movie today at a special viewing that had the director in the audience which was a great treat. The film itself was enjoyable, humorous, thoughtful and totally surprising. Two thumbs up - eh! Go Canada! and Go Michael Melski! What starts out as a rather typical coming of age story leads us through turns that are totally unfamiliar and unexpected. This film "buzzs" by and is a must see. I went to the film knowing only that it was filmed here in my home town and was completely thrilled. Thank you to Empire Theatres General Manager Steve Malloy for bringing this authentic tale to us. Michael Melski, we on the east coast look forward to your next tale and we will be back to show our support to another sold out audience!

John Malcovich Here we have another coming-of-age comedy, featuring a mostly unknown cast that does, nevertheless, deliver.The story centers around a recently-turned-18 Quinn (Steven Yaffee), who belongs to an uncommon family of anti-establishment cannabis-growers - the Dawsons. His parents (Wallace Langham and Rosanna Arquette) are seemingly very astute, and his younger sister Hope (Katie Boland) is the local drug-peddler.At the start of the movie we see a tired Quinn, home-schooled his whole life, who wants a normal teenage experience, as he keeps observing from the come-and-go of students of the local high school. To top things off, an incredibly attractive young girl moves next door (Rachel Blanchard) - this boosts his desire to leave the shielded home environment.Growing Op has a few flaws, but these don't deter from a fluid viewing experience. Of course, if you decide to watch a film like this, you tend to already know what it's about - cannabis, high school, and the rest.To the flaws: certainly Blanchard is a mediocre actor, at best, but then again, her good looks tend to excuse focus on her actual ability. It is certainly understandable her choice as the girl-next-door, as she's stunning. Then there's also a few cheesy moments, but these are really not that many.The good stuff: the film is funny, has some of the most original lines (Quinn's father does an impressive job with his role, being the most solid actor in the pack) spoken by any suburban father or mother I've ever seen (especially young sister!) The kid Quinn is fine as the lead, portraying an odd misplaced youth well enough. His sister is a funny, off-the-rocker type, and her role is well acted.The story itself has some unexpected twists, and the high school crowd is well depicted and represented.Frankly, a movie that could have been much worse, left me pleasantly surprised. 7/10.

carabas2003 Quinn, (Steven Yaffe), a home educated teenager growing up in a family with counter culture parents who run a suburban grow-up wants to lead a normal life. He enrolls in a local high school in order to pursue the girl next door. His attempts to win the girl of his dreams run afoul the school president who sets the high school bullies on him. After enduring humiliation Quinn manages to turn the tables on his tormentors and beat the system at the same time. The funniest high school comedy since "Rock and Roll High School" Neatly reverses the usual stoner formula. Highly sympathetic and nuanced performance from Rosanna Arquette as the mother. "Growing Op" appeals to both the sixties generation and today's teen agers. Both groups see themselves in this movie. High energy, strong music score, MTV style editing and polished script and direction drive this picture along. Not to be missed.