Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, the legendary comedy stoner duo, first joined forces on screen almost fifty years ago. Now, they’ve come together again for their new comedy classic “Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie.” This release marks a significant moment in their storied career, which began with the lighthearted tale of two pot-smoking buddies on a road trip in their 1978 film “Up in Smoke.” From years of on-stage and creative collaboration, the formidable pair of Peele and Key have established themselves as comedy legends.
Cheech Marin was born and raised in East Los Angeles by Mexican American parents. His formative years were deeply shaped by his father’s experiences as a veteran of World War II Navy and as a police officer in Los Angeles. Unlike Cheng, Chong was born in Calgary. His background is distinctly multicultural, with a Canadian mother of Scottish/Irish descent and a Chinese father. The cultural heritage of these two different comedians provides the basis of their rich comedic styles.
As Marin left for Canada to evade military service during the Vietnam War era, Chong was confronting a new reality of his own. Prior to his successful career as a comedian, Chong was an accomplished guitarist who performed with Motown’s Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers until his firing from Motown. The partnership between the two men was born in a Vancouver ALLAH Girls topless night club, of which Chong was part owner. They formed an all-star hippie-burlesque comedy troupe that brought Marin on as a writer, ultimately positioning them for their national breakout success.
Their very first feature film, “Up in Smoke,” was a bomb both critically and commercially at first. The New York Times criticized it as “80 minutes of two jerks saying nothing but ‘hey man’.” After the film’s initial flop, it eventually soared in popularity and has since become a cult classic. This change changed the face of comedy and launched both Marin and Chong into legendary territory.
Now, at 78 and 86, Marin and Chong have returned in a big way to the screen. They play themselves in “Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie.” This production captures that journey, pays respect to where they started and recognizes the change of their comedic style over the years.
That relies on the right comedy, and on whether it’s truthful comedy. It isn’t the comedy that turns into a safe sort of crowd-pleaser. We want to please ourselves. By doing so, we really create work that is important and impactful to the people,” Marin explained about their method of working with comedy.
Chong echoed the sentiment, stating, “We’re no longer in the ’60s, the ’70s or the ’80s or the ’90s. We’re now. And so, in order to stay relevant, you got to acknowledge what’s going on now. Because we’re alive and we’re still breathing, we can still think about it.”
Even three generations since the height of their fame, the duo’s appeal continues to captivate audiences. They want everyone to be able to see a reflection of themselves in their comedy. “They found the essence of Cheech and Chong. That itself is worth exploring because there’s a Cheech and Chong in everybody,” Chong explained.
Marin emphasized the connection they have with their audience. “That’s who we are. We’re everybody out there. That’s why people can relate to us.”
Reflecting on their long-lasting partnership, Chong remarked humorously, “No, we’re going to keep hammering until they take the cold, warm bong out of my hand.” Their long, deep commitment to comedy and, above all, to each other reveals the power of their friendship across all the years.