Bongwater Reviews

Poor Alicia Witt — this was her second inane relationship comedy of 2001 (the other was PLAYING MONA LISA). Small-time dope dealer David (Luke Wilson) has put his painting aspirations on hold in favor of kicking back with fellow slackers and scoring weed for buddies like Tony (Andy Dick). Drama queen Serena (Alicia Witt) rescues Jennifer (Amy Locane), one of David's client, from a bad drug experience and takes it upon herself to give David a good dressing down. But Serena, who's known for cultivating and bedding artists who stir her creative impulses, is impressed with David's talent and smitten with his self-effacing charm. So she weans him off marijuana, re-awakens his artistic drive and introduces him to oversexed gallery owner Mary (Brittany Murphy). Cultural butterfly Serena then dumps David for rock singer/scitar-player Tommy (Jamie Kennedy), whom she to accompanies to the Big Apple. Realizing that Tommy won't further her ambitions, Serena moves in with a skateboarder and phones Jennifer to bail her out. Serena then attends an NYC record promoter's party, where she's drugged and raped. As Serena re-evaluates her reckless lifestyle, Mary dumps David in favor of his pot-farming boss. David decides that his creative goals are meaningless without self-promoting but lovable Serena by his side. Are David and Serena fated to be mated or will she deny her heart and keep seeking the next gravy train to greatness? This smoke-dream love story gives aimlessness a bad name: It's hard to concur with the screenplay's insistence that there's both pathos and humor to be found in the bong-inhaling, bed-hopping lives of these indolent characters.