Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Anytime you see a movie that begins with the words MTV Productions, you can kind of predict what will follow—something trendy, with a prominent soundtrack that practically overpowers the story with its pointed “coolness.”

This was the case with Risa Bramon Garcia’s 200 Cigarettes. The background music was also done by the Brothers Mothersbaugh of Devo fame, so you know that music is going to be the main driving force behind this trendy opus.

It is New Year’s Eve, 1981. All around New York, various trendies are trying to get to a party (you don’t really realize it’s the SAME party until near the end. But it’s kind of telegraphed way ahead of time.)

Monica (Martha Plimpton) is the anxious hostess, and she’s frantic that her crab dip will never be sampled by anyone other than her friend Hillary (Catherine Kellner).

Kevin (Paul Rudd) and Lucy (Courtney Love) are in a cab going to the party, and Kevin is lamenting the recent breakup of his relationship with Ellie (Janeane Garofalo). They exchange words of trendy wisdom with Dave Chappelle, who seems to be one of the few cab drivers working New York on New Year’s Eve (shah right!) They decide to hit a bar first. Then, a café, then decide to have “dare sex” in the café bathroom. Unfortunately, they are caught by the worst person imaginable: Ellie. Personally, I cannot look at Paul Rudd the same way after this movie. From the squeaky clean cutie in “Clueless” to this? I couldn’t ever think about getting romantic with this guy, seeing a sign on him that says “Courtney Love was Here.” Yuck!

Val (Christina Ricci) and Steffie (Gaby Hoffmann) have a problem because Val wrote the address of the party down wrong, and they can’t find it. They’re in from Ronkonkoma for the night, and just missed the last train back. Plus, there are some cute punk rockers Tom (Casey Affleck) and Dave (Guillermo Diaz) who want to hang out with them.

Cindy (Kate Hudson) is on a second date with Jack (Jay Mohr), and makes the mistake of telling him that he was her “first” the previous evening. Jack bombards her with questions about why she picked HIM. Oh, did I mention she’s really a klutz?

Eric (Brian McCardie) is an artist, and has a great Scots accent, but can’t seem to figure out why women keep breaking up with him. He and his newest girlfriend Bridget (Nicole Parker) and her friend Caitlin (Angela Featherstone) are supposed to go to Monica’s party too. Until Bridget realizes that Monica is Eric’s ex-girlfriend, and they haven’t been broken up for very long. She breaks up with him, telling him her ex (who was believed killed while hiking) has mysteriously reappeared. Eric shows up at Monica’s alone, and forces Monica to tell him the news- he’s an awful lover.

Meanwhile, the bartender (Ben Affleck) is scoring high on the hunk lists of Lucy, Caitlin AND Bridget. He is never named, but gets a couple of the best lines in the film. The funniest when he tries to make time with Bridget and Caitlin and says “So how do you like your eggs? Scrambled or fertilized?”

So everyone eventually ends up at Monica’s party, but a total switcheroo occurs, and no one ends up with who they were originally intending to. The last scene opens the next morning with Monica’s place a mess, and she laments the fact that she can remember nothing of the previous night! Including an appearance by the coolest of the cool- alias Declan McManus!

This is lightweight fun, but isn’t really that good. It doesn’t sustain interest all the way through, and Val and Steffie’s accents really get annoying after awhile. Especially because Steffie gripes about something all through the movie.

There are a couple of funny cameos (Elvis Costello? What was he thinking!) and Caleb Carr (the author of The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness) as a bar patron.

The soundtrack includes great 80s tunes:
GoGo’s- “We Got the Beat,” BowWowWow- “I Want Candy,” Elvis Costello- “Oliver’s Army,” “Pump It Up,” and “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding,”
Soft Cell - “Tainted Love,” Kim Carnes- “Bette Davis Eyes,” Specials – “Message to You Rudy,” Joe Jackson – “It’s Different for Girls,” Dire Straits- “Romeo and Juliet,” Nick Lowe- “Cruel to be Kind,” Blondie – “Rapture,” Cars – “Just What I Needed,”

And some not so great tunes:
Barry Manilow- “Ready to Take a Chance Again,” Ray Goodman and Brown- “Special Lady,” Kool and the Gang – “Ladies Night, and “Get Down On It,” Melissa Macnehster “Theme from Ice Castles,” and Captain and Tennille- “Do That To Me One More Time.”

Plus, one misplaced Roxy Music song: “More Than This” was on Avalon, which was not released until 1982. Anachronism in movie music choice drives me crazy. Considering how MUCH music was in here though, they did a pretty good job matching the year with the tunes.

Also starring:
1 mysterious brown paper wrapped package, 1 dog poop stain on coat, 1 REALLY hot Indian pepper, 1 bowl of peanuts, some really good crab dip, 1 come-on matchbook cover, 1 stray black dog, several paintings of flowers that look like women’s...never mind, 1 pair cracked Elvis specs.



Recommended: No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age