View source for How High

{{short description|2001 film by Jesse Dylan}}
{{for2|the Madonna song|Confessions on a Dance Floor{{!}}''Confessions on a Dance Floor''|the Charlatans song|Tellin' Stories}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = How High
| image          = How High poster.JPG
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| alt            = 
| director       = [[Jesse Dylan]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Pamela Abdy]]
* [[Danny DeVito]]
* James Ellis
* [[Shauna Garr]]
* [[Michael Shamberg]]
* [[Stacey Sher]]
}}
| writer         = [[Dustin Abraham]]
| starring       = {{Plain list|
* [[Method Man]]
* [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]]
* [[Obba Babatundé]]
* [[Mike Epps]]
* [[Jeffrey Jones]]
* [[Fred Willard]]
}}
| music          = [[Rockwilder]]
| cinematography = [[Francis Kenny]]
| editing        = Larry Bock
| studio         = [[Jersey Films]] <br />Native Pictures
| distributor    = [[Universal Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|2001|12|21}}
| runtime        = 103 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $12–20 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web |title=How High (2001) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/How-High#tab=summary |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]}}</ref><ref name="mojo" />
| gross          = $31.3 million<ref name="mojo">{{mojo title|howhigh|How High}}</ref>
}}

'''''How High''''' is a 2001 American [[stoner film|stoner]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Jesse Dylan]] in his [[feature film]] directorial debut and written by [[Dustin Lee Abraham]]. In the film, [[Method Man]] and [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] portray two [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] users who are visited by the ghost of a deceased friend after smoking his ashes; the ghost helps with their exams, and they receive scholarships to [[Harvard University]].

''How High'' was produced by [[Jersey Films]] and Native Pictures and distributed by [[Universal Pictures]]. The film was released on December 21, 2001, and received generally negative reviews from critics.<ref name="tomatoes" /><ref name="metacritic" /> A sequel, titled ''[[How High 2]]'', was released in 2019.

==Plot==
{{Long plot|date=February 2022}}
Two underachieving [[Cannabis smoking|potheads]], Silas ([[Method Man]]) and Jamal ([[Redman (rapper)|Redman]]) are visited by the ghost of Silas's recent deceased friend Ivory (Chuck Deezy). Ivory was cremated and Silas used his ashes as [[fertilizer]] for a new batch of [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]]. While sitting in the parking lot before taking their "THC" (Testing for Higher Credentials, a parody of the [[SAT]] and an allusion to [[tetrahydrocannabinol]]) exams for college, Silas has his marijuana but no cigar while Jamal has a cigar but nothing left to smoke, leading them to team up in Silas's car.

They soon discover that smoking Silas's new batch summons the ghost of the recently deceased Ivory, visible to just the two of them. Ivory tells them the test answers as they take the test and they both score perfect results. Several dubious colleges offer the pair [[scholarship]]s, but none of them are appealing. Eventually, Chancellor Huntley ([[Fred Willard]]), under pressure to increase minority admissions, persuades them to go to [[Harvard University]].

Once there, they meet Bart (Chris Elwood), captain of the [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] team, his girlfriend Lauren ([[Lark Voorhies]]), I Need Money ([[Al Shearer]]), and their roommates Jeffrey (Justin Urich) and Tuan (Trieu Tran). Once they are settled in, they visit Dean Carl Cain ([[Obba Babatundé]]) who tells them that per the terms of their scholarship, they must maintain a minimum [[Academic grading in the United States#Grade point average|grade point average]] of 2.0 in order to remain, or else face [[Expulsion (academia)|expulsion]].

Jamal joins the rowing team hoping to outrank Bart. Silas enrolls in a [[botany]] class to develop his [[Cannabis (drug)|"herbal"]] skills, and they both enroll in [[African-American history|black history]]. Throughout the semester, they pass every test with the help of Ivory. Silas continues to woo and study with Lauren, while Jamal dates the [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. vice president's]] ([[Jeffrey Jones]]) daughter Jamie ([[Essence Atkins]]).

Also during the first half of the [[Academic term#Synonyms|semester]], they pull pranks and steal, which angers Bart, Jeffrey (who is pledging for a [[Final Club]]), and Dean Cain. Things go downhill after Silas and Jamal's raucous [[Halloween]] party. At the party, Gerald ([[T. J. Thyne]]), the volunteer officer whose bicycle was stolen and crushed by I Need Money, steals and smokes the Ivory plant, leaving the pair without access to Ivory.

Silas begins working on a [[truth serum]] for his Botany class, using plant extracts. Silas concludes that, if his experiment works, he will earn an A in Botany, and a guarantee of a next semester. His experiment fails numerous times. Before [[Academic term|midterms]] Jamal suggests they go to a graveyard, dig up a "smart dead guy", and smoke his remains which they attempted to do so with [[John Quincy Adams]]. Whereas Silas suggests simply that they study hard for a few hours a day while [[Substance intoxication|high]]. They try Silas's plan, but it does not pan out, as they end up failing almost all of their midterm exams.

Desperate to stay in Harvard, they try Jamal's plan, but it proves fruitless, as well. Meanwhile, Gerald, who has morphed into a complete stoner, sees Ivory during one of his binges, and, at Ivory's behest, returns the remnants of the Ivory plant to Jamal and Silas. Due to Gerald's abuse of the plant very little remains and Jamal and Silas continue to fail their classes, which pleases Dean Cain.

With the last final exam approaching, Jamal and Silas resign themselves to give up. However, Jeffrey reminds Silas of his guarantee of another semester if he can successfully fix his truth serum experiment. Silas ultimately does, having found a solution in which the last of Ivory's leaves could be used to counteract nausea.

Nonetheless, because of their low grades, Jamal and Silas do not receive an invitation to the Harvard [[Alumnus|Alumni]] party. Dean Cain, clearly thrilled with this result, tells Bart he does not have to worry about the pair showing up or staying in Harvard. However, that changes when Jamie invites them both as her dates, as her father is an alumnus. At the party, Silas makes things a bit more interesting by testing out his truth serum experiment, which proves successful.

At Lauren's presentation at the alumni party of [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s artifacts, she shocks everyone with her discovery: the artifacts turn out to be a [[bong]]. Ivory even shows up with Benjamin Franklin to confirm the bong's authenticity. Dean Cain is outraged by this finding, but the Chancellor decides that he has had it with the Dean and fires him. Jamal and Silas are proud that the serum worked, a celebration that was almost short-lived, as Dean Cain returns and unsuccessfully attempts to kill them both with an [[axe]] in anger. He is eventually apprehended by [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]]. At the end, Jamal and Silas are able to stay, Jamal and Jamie get approval of Jamie's father to date, and Lauren leaves Bart for Silas because Bart "can't satisfy her".

==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Method Man]] as Silas P. Silas
* [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] as Jamal King
* [[Obba Babatundé]] as Dean Carl Cain
* [[Mike Epps]] as "Baby Powder"
* [[Fred Willard]] as Phil Huntley
* [[Anna Maria Horsford]] as Mamma King
* [[Spalding Gray]] as Professor Jackson
* [[Jeffrey Jones]] as The Vice President
* [[Héctor Elizondo|Hector Elizondo]] as Bill, The Crew Coach
* [[Lark Voorhies]] as Lauren
* [[Al Shearer]] as "I Need Money"
* Chuck Davis as Ivory
* Chris Elwood as Bart
* [[Essence Atkins]] as Jamie
* [[T. J. Thyne|T.J. Thyne]] as Gerald
* Justin Urich as Jeffrey
* Trieu Tran as Tuan
* Dennison Samaroo as Amir
* [[Tracey Walter]] as Professor Wood
* [[Garrett Morris]] as Canned Pork Chop Commercial Pitchman Along with Tracy Morgan
* Alem Brhan as Jamaican
* [[Amber Smith]] as Professor Garr
* [[Melissa Peterman]] as Sheila Cain
* [[Tracy Morgan]] as Commercial Actor / Field of Dreams Guy (uncredited)
* [[Cypress Hill]] as Themselves
* [[Chuck Liddell]] as Himself in the Party Fight Scene
* [[Pat Finn (actor)|Pat Finn]] as Army Recruiter
* [[Judah Friedlander]] as The Bicyclist
* Patricia Fisher as "End Table Ass"
* Sacha Kemp as "Hella Back"
* Scruncho as "Baby Wipes"
}}

==Reception==
===Box office===
''How High'' collected $7.1 million during its opening weekend, ranking in fifth place at the box office below ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'', ''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]'' and ''[[Vanilla Sky]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-signal-fellowship-lords-over-weeke/124524156/ |title='Fellowship' lords over weekend box-office as No. 1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512224035/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-signal-fellowship-lords-over-weeke/124524156/ |date=December 24, 2001 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |page=30 |publisher=[[The Santa Clarita Valley Signal|The Signal]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''How High'' has an approval rating of 25% based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "How High is a sloppily constructed stoner movie filled with lame, vulgar jokes."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |title=How High (2001) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_high |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=15 October 2024 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film received a score of 29 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |title=How High |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/how-high |website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>

Mike Clark of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film two and a half stars out of four. He concluded that it did not have enough material "to sustain its 91 minutes" but did have enough "low-grade laughs" for its target audience.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Mike |title='How High': Weed it and weep, stoners |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-12-21-how-high-review.htm |access-date=April 21, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=December 20, 2001}}</ref>

Writing for the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', Bob Graham noted that "It looks like a movie somebody hallucinated and put up on the screen". He praised some humorous scenes such as the exhumation of John Quincy Adams, but criticized an abrupt ending.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Bob |title=FILM CLIPS / Also opening today |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-CLIPS-Also-opening-today-2836395.php#high |access-date=April 21, 2020 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 21, 2001}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' rated it third in their "Best Stoner Movie" top ten list.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pastorek |first=Whitney |title=Joint Ventures |newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 6, 2004 |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/08/06/ews-top-10-list-best-stoner-flicks/ |access-date=May 23, 2007 |archive-date=June 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602115809/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,673986,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It also won the [[Stony Awards|Stony Award]] for Best Stoner Movie in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2002/03/daily-news-showtimes-lift-stony-winners-and-spooky-plans-80499/ |title=DAILY NEWS: Showtime's "Lift"; Stony Winners; and "Spooky" Plans |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=7 March 2002|access-date=2019-10-04 }}</ref>

==Home media==
''How High'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] on May 21, 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Churnin |first=Nancy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-pooh-charms-in-25th/124032416/ |title=Pooh charms in 25th anniversary video edition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506011045/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-pooh-charms-in-25th/124032416/ |date=May 17, 2002 |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |page=73 |work=Knight Ridder |publisher=[[The Greenville News]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
* [[How High (soundtrack)|''How High'' (soundtrack)]]

==Sequel==
{{main|How High 2}}

In May 2002, a sequel to ''How High'' was reported as being written by Don D. Scott (the co-writer of ''[[Barbershop (film)|Barbershop]]''), with Method Man and Redman reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMovies/may31_methodman-can.html|title=Method Man, Redman set for 'How High' sequel|date=May 31, 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020612010200/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMovies/may31_methodman-can.html|archive-date=2002-06-12}}</ref>

In October 2008, Redman revealed that a script for the sequel was still in the middle of being written, stating that "we wanna represent all the smokers", believing that since ''How High'', no one has done justice on a stoner film.<ref>Cyrus Langhorne (14 October 2008). "[http://www.sohh.com/2008/10/redman_promises_fans_new.html New York: Redman Promises Fans New "Blackout" Album, "How High" Sequel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115114349/http://www.sohh.com/2008/10/redman_promises_fans_new.html |date=2008-11-15 }}". ''[[SOHH]]''. Accessed 27 November 2008.</ref> In April 2009, it was reported that Redman blamed [[Universal Pictures]] for the film's delay, stating: "They're not opening that money door for us to shoot it. We promoted the shit out of that movie. We got the whole world waiting for a ''How High 2''."<ref>Danica Dow (April 26, 2009. "[http://www.sohh.com/2009/04/redman_blames_universal_f.html Exclusive: SOHH Exclusive: Redman Blames Universal For "How High 2" Delay, "They're Not Opening That Money Door"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151155/http://www.sohh.com/2009/04/redman_blames_universal_f.html |date=2014-07-14 }}". ''[[SOHH]]''. Accessed May 28, 2009.</ref>
 
In December 2010, Redman confirmed that Universal Pictures was indeed holding the rights to ''How High'', so the chances of ''How High 2'' coming out were slim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2010/12/redman-to-give-live-interview-on-xxlmag-com/ |title=[Watch Now&#93; Redman Gives Live Interview on |publisher=Xxlmag.Com |date=April 20, 2011}}</ref> In April 2013, Method Man told [[TMZ]] that the script was being written by Dustin Lee Abraham, who wrote the first one, but it all would depend on Universal if the film would happen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/method-man-gives-update-on-status-of-how-high-2-news.5299.html|title=Method Man Gives Update On Status Of|first=Rose|last=Lilah|work=HotNewHipHop|date=17 April 2013|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref> In November 2015, Redman stated ''How High 2'' would be released in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2015/11/redman-reveals-how-high-2-2017/|title=Redman Reveals 'How High 2' Might Soar Into Theaters In 2017|work=Vibe|access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref>
 
In 2017, there was a written script, confirmed by Matt "M-80" Markoff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.42371/title.method-man-redmans-how-high-2-still-in-the-works# |title=Method Man & Redman's "How High 2" Still In The Works |publisher=hiphopdx.com |date=15 February 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> Redman stated that the script was being rewritten, and he expected production to begin late 2017, early 2018; he also stated he and Method Man could move on to something other than the sequel. The two men confirmed they would not reprise their roles in the sequel because "the business wasn't right".<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/BovDn52HOCS/ {{Dead link|date=April 2022}}{{Better source needed|date=February 2022 }}</ref>
 
The sequel was greenlit by [[MTV]] and Universal 1440 Entertainment in June 2018. The film takes place in [[Atlanta]] and production began September 25, 2018, starring [[Lil' Yachty]] and [[D.C. Young Fly]]. MTV announced ''How High 2'' would premiere on [[420 (cannabis culture)|April 20]], 2019, with Mike Epps reprising his role as Baby Powder.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |last2=Andreeva |first2=Nellie |title='How High 2': Mike Epps To Reprise Baby Powder Role In MTV Sequel; Premiere Date Set |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/how-high-2-mike-epps-reprise-baby-powder-role-mtv-sequel-premiere-date-set-1202571048/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 7, 2019 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.howhighmovie.com}}
* {{IMDb title|0278488|How High}}
* {{TCMDb title|451884|How High}}
* {{Letterboxd film|how-high}}

{{Jesse Dylan}}
{{Danny DeVito}}

[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2000s buddy comedy films]]
[[Category:American buddy comedy films]]
[[Category:American teen comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:American films about cannabis]]
[[Category:Films directed by Jesse Dylan]]
[[Category:Films produced by Danny DeVito]]
[[Category:Films set in Harvard University]]
[[Category:Films set in universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Films set in 2002]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:African-American comedy films]]
[[Category:Stoner films]]
[[Category:2001 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2001 comedy films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Benjamin Franklin]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of John Quincy Adams]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language buddy comedy films]]