Still Smokin
Cheech & Chong are invited to a celebrity party/festival in Amsterdam. When they get there, however, it turns out that the guy who invited them has taken off with all the money, and the rest of the hosts have a VERY limited budget. They are actually expecting Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, so our heroes gets to be Mr. Burt and Mr. Dolly. We follow them around Amsterdam, at their hotel, (still) smokin' joints and doing shows.
The film earned $15.5M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Still Smokin (1983) showcases meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Tommy Chong's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Cheech and Chong are established as struggling comedians in their everyday routine, setting up their world before the Amsterdam opportunity.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Cheech and Chong receive an invitation to perform at a festival in Amsterdam, disrupting their ordinary lives with an unexpected international opportunity.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Cheech and Chong actively decide to go to Amsterdam and embrace the adventure, boarding the plane and committing to the international performance despite confusion., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The big performance moment arrives where Cheech and Chong take the stage for a major show, representing a false victory as they seem to have achieved success., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A performance piece or moment where the chaos of their approach seems to backfire, representing the death of their confidence or the fear that they might not actually belong on this stage., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The duo realizes they should just be themselves and commit fully to their unique comedic style, synthesizing the lesson that authenticity wins over trying to please everyone., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Still Smokin's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Still Smokin against these established plot points, we can identify how Tommy Chong utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Still Smokin within the comedy genre.
Tommy Chong's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Tommy Chong films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Still Smokin exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tommy Chong filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tommy Chong analyses, see Nice Dreams.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Cheech and Chong are established as struggling comedians in their everyday routine, setting up their world before the Amsterdam opportunity.
Theme
A character mentions that sometimes opportunities find you when you least expect them, hinting at the film's theme of accidental success and going with the flow.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Cheech and Chong's comedy world, their relationship dynamics, and the setup of their performance style and struggles in the entertainment industry.
Disruption
Cheech and Chong receive an invitation to perform at a festival in Amsterdam, disrupting their ordinary lives with an unexpected international opportunity.
Resistance
The duo debates whether to go to Amsterdam, prepare for the trip, and navigate the confusion about whether they're actually invited or mistaken for other celebrities.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Cheech and Chong actively decide to go to Amsterdam and embrace the adventure, boarding the plane and committing to the international performance despite confusion.
Mirror World
The duo encounters the liberal Amsterdam culture and festival organizers who represent a more accepting, free-spirited world that mirrors their comedy philosophy.
Premise
The fun and games of Cheech and Chong exploring Amsterdam, performing comedy bits, experiencing the drug-friendly culture, and living out the premise of stoner comedians in the most permissive city.
Midpoint
The big performance moment arrives where Cheech and Chong take the stage for a major show, representing a false victory as they seem to have achieved success.
Opposition
Various sketches and performance pieces that test whether their comedy actually works, mounting pressure to deliver, and the challenge of living up to expectations in a foreign environment.
Collapse
A performance piece or moment where the chaos of their approach seems to backfire, representing the death of their confidence or the fear that they might not actually belong on this stage.
Crisis
Cheech and Chong grapple with doubts about their performance and whether their brand of comedy translates, processing the low point before finding renewed confidence.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The duo realizes they should just be themselves and commit fully to their unique comedic style, synthesizing the lesson that authenticity wins over trying to please everyone.
Synthesis
The finale performance where Cheech and Chong deliver their authentic comedy without reservation, bringing together all their bits and winning over the Amsterdam audience completely.
Transformation
Cheech and Chong are celebrated and validated as international comedy stars, transformed from struggling performers to confident artists who proved their worth on a global stage.