Written and Directed by Danny Jacobs & Darren Grodsky
After failing in his journey to become a doctor, Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong) is disillusioned about the life he has chosen, and after a chance encounter, ends up in Humboldt County, CA, the pot growing capitol of California. Going against everything he knows, Peter spends his time getting to know these people that live a lifestyle he didn't know existed.
The loose-knit family he stays with is headed by the enigmatic Jack (Brad Dourif) who believes in marijuana as a plant, and a cure for the ills of human nature, he doesn't do it to make tons of money, only a living, and enjoys the plant in the way he sees fit. However, there are others in the "family" that see the need to grow more pot than they can handle, the type of amount that will bring feds to break up their happy little homes.
Peter is pulled into this situation by Bogart (Fairuza Balk) a musician he has a chance encounter with. However, she doesn't stay long, stranding Peter in this strange land, where he is forced to face change, something he's never had to do. His father, Professer Hadley (Peter Bogdonovich) is the overbearing perfectionist doctor that failed Peter in the first place, and all summer while he is away he ponders his and his father's relationship, and what it means for the son to get away from the opinions and control of his father.
Think of this as the film Homegrown, directed by Wes Anderson, and you have Humboldt County. It's a fun character film, with a subject I find most interesting, and one of my favorite actors (Dourif) having a blast with a meaty role. The film is well made, and captures the overall sentiment of most people that live in Humboldt County, which is not easily done. Highly enjoyable and heartfelt film that they just don't make enough of these days.
9.1/10
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