Munkey Movies: How High

By James Wyche

What's up Munkey Fam it's ya boy James from Baltimore. Hoping everyone is having a good 2021 so far. Now that we have a sensible leader in charge going into the New Year, I think for this year's Black History month we have to expand our awareness of Black excellence . We all know Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X but I recommend doing even more research into some African American heroes that may have been forgotten in history. For this iteration of Munkey Movies, it was hard for me to think of a film that perfectly represents this important month of the year. After long nights of thinking and numerous blunts smoked I think I found the perfect film which shows how two people of color gained enrollment into some of the most prestigious schools and against all odds thrived in their new environment. The film I'm speaking of is the stoner classic Method Man and Redman's “How High”. Of course, the first time I heard of either of these guys were in the songs I'd hear my older cousins playing.

I knew more about Method Man because of the Wu-Tang Clan and the song, “The What” on Biggie Smalls' debut album. Redman on the other hand, I knew very little about. Mainly because no one played his music around me as a kid. Funny enough the first project I watched starring these two was the Method & Red show on Fox in 2004 when I was ten years old. Now to the good stuff, “How High” tells the story of Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman) and their highs and lows of attending Harvard University. With help from the ghost of a dead friend stuck in a weed plant, Jamal and Silas take to college life exceptionally well. Although like all people of color who attend predominantly white institutions know, there are people who don't want you there. In this case, the two people who don't want Jamal or Silas at Harvard are Bart and Dean Cain. Bart is worried that Jamal is going to take his spot as captain of the rowing team. Meanwhile, the Dean doesn't want either of them in Harvard because they don't portray the typical Harvard student.

With the help of their magical weed plant our heroes pull pranks throughout campus, smoking weed and acing school! Their shenanigans on the Harvard campus ultimately peak at Jamal and Silas' Halloween Party. After the chaos of the party the magical plant was taken by a campus police officer. Without the plant, our protagonists' grades begin to fall and they have to work against the clock to save their scholarships to Harvard. After watching this film I understand why this is another classic stoner movie for this addition of Munkey Movies. Also, the original shows how bad that Lil Yachty, DC Youngfly attempt at a sequel was. I hope Meth and Red are able to come to an agreement to film a PROPER How High 2 and continue the adventures of Jamal and Silas. Who knows maybe 20 years in the future and their sons/daughters go to Harvard. Until next month Munkey Fam! Keep smoking good and definitely keep choosing Happy!