Joe Day
Like any Cheech & Chong film, ideally the viewer should be bombed in one way or another. That said, you probably couldn't make this film today; with political correctness being what it is, the various racial and ethnic stereotypes would surly create a boycott. Watch it anyway. Just keep in mind the year it was made and what was going on in the world at the time. As for the boys, Cheech seems to be having the most fun and for my money is the better actor. In their dual role as Arab brothers,Chong can't hold on to his accent. Rip Taylor is funny in a cameo. Lastly, it is always fun to see film of Las Vegas in it's various stages of development/demolition. A good, rainy day movie and like I said, it's best when "stoned".
BlackJack_B
The 4th Cheech & Chong movie starts out strong with hilarity but fizzles as it progresses.The title obviously refers to the 1981-82 recession that was going on at the time. Cheech & Chong have dual roles as themselves and two wealthy Arab brothers who own a chain of car washes.The stoner duo somehow have found themselves in Chicago working for the brothers in a car wash. After they are fired for incompetence, they are re-hired as singers in a band (where they perform One-Eyed Snake) and find out the Arab's French girlfriends (played by Cheech & Chong's wives) are attracted to them.Later, they are told to drive a limousine to Las Vegas. However they have no money and in lieu of cash, they give away parts to pay for gas. Unbeknownst to Cheech & Chong, there was a ton of cash hidden in the car and when they mistakenly give it away without a second thought, the Arabs find out about it and they go on a search in the desert outside Las Vegas to off the stoners.Things Are Tough All Over has its moments but there are too many scenes of repetition and boredom in the middle. The characters of Slyman and Habib are actually funny at times but at this point, we already know all too well what will come out of Cheech & Chong's mouths. The same stuff we heard in the prior 3 films.It's still an O.K. film but it just lacks the full-court press zaniness that the prior three entries had.
lost-in-limbo
The comic-doped up duo Cheech and Chong were on a bit of a high within the late 70s through to early eighties with "Things Are Tough All Over" being their fourth feature film as their infamous brand of humour (simply low-brow with sexual and drug references --- although the usage of drugs was rather minor for a Cheech and Chong outing) had a real shine on cult audiences. After this particular entry, I didn't really care/or like what came afterwards. A change was in the air (especially after the much flipped stoner comedy "Nice Dreams") and you could see it coming, as it kind of started on this ambitious effort.Cheech and Chong are now living it up in the freezing winter of Chicago, but have trouble keeping a job. That's until their old Arabian bosses Prince Habib and Mr. Slyman re-hire them to drive a custom made limousine to Las Vegas, while unknowingly to them it contains five million dollars.Anyhow "Things Are Tough All Over" was one of their better made and better looking productions, as it didn't entirely focus on the drug scene (usual pot smoking and drug abuse) --- but girls, music (rock 'n' roll!) and road-trip mayhem takes control. The mellow plot has a coordinated structure than being aimlessly linked together by loose set-pieces and running gags, but still its made more memorable by the perfect combination and carefree performances of Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin with their snappy wisecracks (taken from their trivial, but solidly written script) never takes a break and well timed gags in many accidental situations on their wacky journey. Visually or lyrically they were spot on
and politically incorrect with their slant. Chong and Marin also get geared in make-up to portray a couple of wealthy, but bumbling Arabs. Marin was quite entertaining as the dim-witted Mr. Slyman with uncontrollable violent tendencies . Rip Taylor shows-up in a short role and looks like his enjoying it. Also the likes of character actor John Steadman and the lovely Evelyn Guerrero joins in with the fun. Plus their wife's (Rikki Marin and Shelby Chong) were truly hard to forget in their flirtatious roles.
Joseph P. Ulibas
Things are Tough All Over (1982) was the duo's fourth feature length film together. Tommy Chong wasn't the director this time around. It was also their second film that was filmed in Cinemascope. Cheech and Chong are living in Chicago, They work at a car wash during the coldest winter ever. There employers Prince Habib and Mr. Slyman (Cheech and Chong) want them to deliver some goods to Las Vegas (after they screwed up several other jobs). The two want to make it up to Slyman and Habib and go on a cross-country adventure. Meanwhile two French ladies have a crush on the two and they want to have a wild night together. Will Cheech and Chong deliver the package without any troubles? Can they stay away from Habib and Slyman's wives? How will they be able to score dope whilst on the road? Just watch THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER to find out!!!Not a classic, just another funny film from Cheech and Chong. Follwed by another sequel STILL SMOKING!!!Recommended.