“Reefer Madness” is a movie that leaves me feeling like I’ve been left out on the street while there’s a party going on inside. It’s become considered a cult classic due to its apparently amusing portrayal of the effects of marijuana. Maybe if you’re a drugs expert, it’s funny but to someone who wishes to stay as clear of drugs as I do, “Reefer Madness” is just a bland propaganda drama.

“Reefer Madness” was a propaganda film but rather just trying to hit us with shocking statistics like a documentary piece, the film relies on fictional drama to convey its anti-drug message. As a result, it comes across as very dull. It’s not all that bad but it leaves you with emptiness, I was much more interested in the more factual parts near the beginning.

The characters are boring. It’s not bad enough to be funny; it’s more just that awkward level where you’re totally unengaged. I guess for a propaganda piece, there’s no need to try and make “Citizen Kane” but if you’re going to try your hand at drama, at least try making it somewhat captivating. The only person with any degree of charisma is the guy playing the piano with hair like Groucho Marx (“Duck Soup”).

As a propaganda piece, the film feels underwhelming by using bland fictional drama to convey its messages. To those who say it’s funny, I wonder if they are using drugs because I’ve seen bad movies that’ll make you laugh (“The Giant Claw” and “Robot Monster” instantly spring to mind). “Reefer Madness” isn’t worth the attention it has received, it’s too mediocre. I’ll admit that some of the early scenes explaining about how criminals hide drugs is somewhat interesting but aside from that, this is a weird film to bring up after so many years when there are so many that have been better and so many that have been worse (amusingly bad).