How High
How High is a 2001 American stoner comedy film directed by Jesse Dylan in his feature directorial debut, written by Dustin Lee Abraham, and starring hip-hop artists Method Man (as Silas P. Silas) and Redman (as Jamal King), who portray two aimless friends in New Jersey who discover a potent strain of marijuana grown from the ashes of a deceased Harvard scholar, enabling them to ace their college entrance exams and attend the fictional Harvard University analog, High Times University.[1]
Produced by Jersey Films and Native Pictures and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film was released theatrically on December 21, 2001, with a production budget estimated at $12 million, ultimately grossing $31.3 million worldwide, primarily from the domestic market.[2][3]
The movie features supporting performances by actors such as Obba Babatundé, Mike Epps, Jeffrey Jones, and Anna Maria Horsford, and incorporates cameo appearances from various hip-hop figures, emphasizing themes of underachievement, friendship, and the comedic effects of cannabis use.[4]
Critically, How High received mixed-to-negative reviews, earning a 25% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who described it as featuring "lame, vulgar jokes" and sloppy construction, though it maintains a 6.2/10 user rating on IMDb, indicating a dedicated audience appreciation within the stoner film subgenre.[5][1]
Synopsis
Plot summary
Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman), two aimless friends and marijuana enthusiasts aspiring to become rappers, inadvertently enhance their cognitive abilities after smoking cannabis infused with the ashes of their deceased acquaintance Ivory, who perished in a fire. This supernatural strain, derived from soil at Ivory's gravesite, enables them to achieve perfect scores on their college entrance exams, securing scholarships to Harvard University.[6][5] Upon arriving at Harvard, Silas and Jamal summon Ivory's ghost through continued use of the potent marijuana, which provides tutoring and academic assistance to help them maintain the required 2.0 GPA and avoid expulsion. They participate in campus life, including botany classes where they cultivate the special plant in their dorm, rowing team antics, and romantic pursuits with students Lauren and Jamie. Conflicts arise with the strict Dean Cain (Obba Babatundé), who suspects their illicit activities and seeks to remove them from the institution.[6][7] When their marijuana supply is stolen following a Halloween party, academic performance falters until they concoct a truth serum from Ivory's remaining ashes. Deploying it at an alumni gala, they compel revelations that expose Dean Cain's own history of marijuana use, including a bong purportedly linked to Benjamin Franklin displayed among university artifacts, resulting in the dean's ousting. Silas and Jamal thus retain their enrollment, solidify their relationships, and continue thriving amid the Ivy League environment.[6][5]Production
Development
The screenplay for How High was written by Dustin Lee Abraham, centering on two marijuana enthusiasts who achieve academic success after smoking a strain cultivated from a deceased friend's ashes, enabling their admission to Harvard University.[8] The project originated as a starring vehicle for the rap duo Method Man and Redman, capitalizing on their established on-screen and musical chemistry that began with their 1995 single "How High" and peaked commercially with the 1999 collaborative album Blackout!, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and sold over 600,000 copies in its first week.[9] Jesse Dylan directed the film, marking his feature-length directorial debut after prior work in music videos and commercials.[10] Development aligned with Universal Pictures' interest in hip-hop crossover comedies during the early 2000s, positioning the duo's improvisational style and stoner humor as central to the production's appeal.[11]Casting
Method Man, a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, was cast as Silas P. Silas, an aspiring musician and botanist who discovers the film's central marijuana strain, while Reggie "Redman" Noble portrayed Jamal King, Silas's carefree best friend and aspiring rapper.[5][12] The roles leveraged the duo's real-life friendship and comedic rapport from prior musical collaborations, with Method Man noting the script was tailored to their personalities, making the performances feel natural.[13] Supporting cast featured Obba Babatundé as Dean Carl Cain, the no-nonsense Harvard dean overseeing the protagonists' academic probation; comedian Mike Epps as "Baby Powder," a sleazy campus marijuana supplier; Anna Maria Horsford as Maybel King, Jamal's mother; Fred Willard as Phil Huntley, the enthusiastic recruitment officer; and Jeffrey Jones as the university president.[5][4] Casting directors Matthew Barry and Nancy Green-Keyes assembled the ensemble, blending established comedians and character actors with the leads' hip-hop authenticity to ground the stoner comedy's exaggerated premise.[14][4]Filming
Principal photography for How High took place primarily in Los Angeles, California, with additional exteriors filmed at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Key locations included the Ambassador Hotel at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard for interior scenes, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Westwood Village to represent Harvard's campus, and the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood for specific sequences.[15] The production marked director Jesse Dylan's feature film debut, following his work on music videos and commercials. Filming involved practical effects and set builds to depict the film's stoner comedy elements, including marijuana cultivation scenes and college party sequences.[16] Method Man, who portrayed Silas, stated in interviews that he and Redman consumed real cannabis on set to enhance authenticity, aligning with their characters' habits. However, he also described a period during production where they abstained from smoking to preserve concentration and performance quality, highlighting challenges in balancing improvisation with scripted demands.[17][18]Soundtrack
Featured music
The film How High prominently features hip-hop and funk tracks to complement its themes of cannabis culture and youthful rebellion, with songs appearing during key scenes involving partying, driving, and comedic interludes.[19] Among the most notable are:- "Hits from the Bong" by Cypress Hill, a 1993 track sampling the Ohio Players' "Fire" and played during marijuana-smoking sequences.[19][20]
- "Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance" by Wu-Tang Clan, highlighting apparel branding in a cultural nod to 1990s rap fashion.[19]
- "Fire" by Ohio Players, the 1974 funk hit underlying high-energy moments.[19]
- "Jamming" by Bob Marley & the Wailers, the 1977 reggae song evoking relaxed vibes during downtime scenes.[19]
- "Cisco Kid" by Redman featuring Cypress Hill and War, a remix of the 1972 War original incorporated into action-oriented segments.[19]