After their drug-dealing boss is shot dead, three pot-smoking employees decide to continue growing and selling the marijuana. The all-star cast's main players are super-cool leader Billy Bob Thornton (as Jack Marsden),muscular ex-hippie Hank Azaria (as Carter) and photogenic young hunk Ryan Phillippe (as Harlan Dykstra). The three California men encounter danger, sexual partners and a bunch of cameo-appearing guest stars. Hanging around most often is attractive blonde Kelly Lynch (as Lucy). She likes well-built men...

"Homegrown" is directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. Not coincidently, a couple of cameos originate from the Gyllenhaal home. The director gets a fine crew, including photographer Greg Gardiner, to work with. It may look tousled, but Mr. Phillippe's hair is amazingly well-kept, for a stoner. Trouble with this film is you don't laugh at the comedy and aren't intrigued by the dramatic turns. Most likely, it's intended to be primarily a comedy. Having to look that up indicates a problem. The abduction sequence is the film's highlight.

**** Homegrown (4/17/98) Stephen Gyllenhaal ~ Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria, Ryan Phillippe, Kelly Lynch

"Homegrown" is a look at marijuana farming in northern California, and the often unpleasant things that go along with it. The cast is pretty funny, but the whole movie seems a little bit like they got together for the weekend to party and just filmed what happened. In a way, the movie seems a little bit more relevant nowadays, as political action committees challenge the government's "war on drugs". The best part is really the end scene; "Saving Grace" has a similar ending. Overall, it's an OK way to pass time. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ryan Phillippe, Hank Azaria, Kelly Lynch, John Lithgow, Judge Reinhold, Jamie Lee Curtis and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The tabloid fodder and poor film choices aside, it's still pretty clear why Billy Bob Thornton is considered a quirky actor of genuine merit. Here he heads up a strong cast of low-keyed eccentrics, and he's the best thing in the picture--a bona fide movie star for perhaps the first time. Director/co-writer Stephen Gyllenhaal is an odd filmmaker: the subjects he's drawn to and the crazy spin he puts on the situations can be fascinating, even while he takes his time mounting his story. "Homegrown", about three not-too-bright marijuana growers who try taking over their boss' business affairs after the guy is murdered, is a rather thin black comedy helped by a frazzled, funny last-act. For the first hour, however, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot happening, even though the actors hold interest. It's sadly too disconnected and too minor to make the grade. ** from ****