Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Smiley Face Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 20, 2025

Gregg Araki. He’s a filmmaker specializing in provocative features that largely explore the ways of sex and violence. He emerged in the 1990s, riding an indie film wave with his hostile endeavors, charming art house audiences with his aggressive viewpoint and creative freedom, amassing cult fandom with releases such as “The Doom Generation,” “Nowhere,” and “Totally F***ed Up.” In 2004’s “Mysterious Skin,” Araki dared to go a little deeper, exploring the abyssal pain of abuse and neglect, shedding most of his artistic hostility to be sincere for a change. Perhaps such a deep dive into the horrors of life was too much for the helmer, who tries to shed his funk in 2007’s “Smiley Face,” which is as polar opposite a production as possible. Instead of inspecting depression and personal ruin, Araki turns to a streak of silliness for a stoner comedy, out to capture the comedic experience of a young woman battling her impossible high, pulling herself beyond the confines of her apartment to deal with the challenges of society and responsibility. It’s pure stupidity from Araki, who’s not known for his light sense of humor, and this lack of practice is quite evident in “Smiley Face.” It has Anna Faris in full goofball mode, which is a treat, but she’s the only element in the effort that’s worth following, as the rest of the offering can’t rise above dismal ideas for comedy.

Jane (Anna Faris) is a struggling actress and a fully committed pothead. She lives with roommate Steve (Danny Masterson), but fails to recognize the value of responsibility, preferring to exists solely inside a marijuana haze and play child games on her laptop. Today is a very big day for Jane, as she has an audition around lunchtime, while Steve has left money out for her to pay the power bill in person. He’s also left a plate of cupcakes in the refrigerator, baked for his pals to celebrate an upcoming sci-fi/fantasy convention, leaving explicit directions that forbid Jane from eating them. Lost in the munchies, the stoner can’t resist the baked goods, devouring all of them, unaware that the treats have been made with marijuana. Now facing the day the highest she’s ever been, Jane tries to function normally as she creates a “plan” to fix all her mistakes, sending her out into Los Angeles to nail her audition, bake a fresh batch of cupcakes, and acquire some money to help pay her debts, doing so without a clear thought to work with.

“Smiley Face” is scripted by Dylan Haggerty, who’s looking to create a farce with Jane’s predicament, setting up a series of misadventures for the character, who begins her day with bong hits. She’s stoned from the start, disgusting Steve, a roommate she’s fearful of, imagining his potential for violence and love for ocular sex with skulls (Masterson’s casting in this menacing part certainly hasn’t aged well). Jane’s days as an actress vaguely explains her lifestyle, still living off money collected from a root beer commercial, and she’s perfectly content to remain on the couch, dreaming of a magic food combination involving Tostitos and orange juice. “Smiley Face” finds movement when Jane devours the forbidden cupcakes, as she’s unable to control herself around such sweetness, only to recognize her mistake the moment she cleans the plate. A “plan” is created, giving Haggerty a chance to arrange an odyssey for the main character, which is a promising development, putting Jane in charge of making replacement treats, traveling to her audition, and paying the power bill.

Monetary issues arrive with a drug dealer (Adam Brody) who’s reluctant to give Jane more weed without payment, threatening to take her furniture if she doesn’t pay him back at a Venice Beach pot festival. This adds another layer of urgency to Jane’s quest, but once “Smiley Face” gets going, Araki doesn’t really know what to do with the broadly comedic tone of the endeavor. There’s time for sharper humor (Jane is an economics major, debating numbers with Steve), but most of the picture remains in doof mode, following the fantastically high character as she pinballs around Los Angeles, getting into trouble with strangers. The potential for classic shenanigans is there for the taking, but a few of Haggerty’s ideas are DOA, including Jane’s appearance at a sausage factory, where she’s suddenly clear-headed enough to play the part of a hostile union organizer as she tries to talk her way out of additional trouble. There’s also a subplot where Jane acquires an original copy of the Communist Manifesto, racing for her life as others seek to reclaim it.

More encounters fill “Smiley Face,” as Jane meets up with Brevin (John Krasinski), one of Steve’s friends who lusts after her. And there’s a mishap with a packet of government weed Jane plans to sell to make cash, only to have her own high trigger destructive paranoia. Jokes tend to die quickly in the picture, and Araki’s flat style doesn’t help the cause, unable to shed his usual spiky directorial interests and butter up the comedy, resulting in an offering that’s more aggressive than the average stoner film, killing off good-natured silliness. Araki does have Faris, who’s the best thing in “Smiley Face,” giving herself completely over to the part of a tuned-out, high-strung woman unable to function through various tasks, experiencing something of an existential crisis along the way. She does her part to sell slapstick and bongwater-splashed silliness.

Smiley Face Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Smiley Face" is sourced from an older scan of the movie, offering blown-out brightness throughout the viewing experience. Lots of frame events lose information, especially skies, and lighting is equally harsh at times. Color also suffers, delivering hot hues that lose their original appearance, muddying up a bit as Jane tours the city. Detail remains softer, with only a very mild appreciation of skin particulars occasionally found in the movie. Interiors also lose some searchability, and a few exteriors, as previously mentioned, are lost due to the age of the original scan. Skin tones run pinkish. Delineation is satisfactory, but seldom challenged during the well-illuminated picture. Grain is mostly chunkier. Source is in decent condition.

Smiley Face Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix deals with sharp dialogue exchanges, keeping performance choices secure, while audio effects, such as Jane's inner voice, are defined. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation, joined by a few soundtrack selections, which maintain sharp vocals. Surrounds are active with musical moods, and the mix offers a few separation effects that register as intended. Low-end isn't challenged during the viewing event, only perking up with heavier musical beats. Sound effects are active and appreciable.

Smiley Face Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) offers an essay by Mia Lee Vicino.

• Commentary features film historian Elizabeth Purchell.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:09, SD) is included.

Smiley Face Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Araki isn't the right helmer for "Smiley Face," and he visibly struggles to find the proper tone for the endeavor, caught between his provocateur ways and Haggerty's sense of humor, struggling to make Jane's mission through fogginess maintain stoner cinema authority with a premise that deserves a more defined take on absurdity and misadventure.