I know when most of you think “summer/vacation movie” you think of family classics like National Lampoon’s Vacation or Meatballs. I’m happy for you. You make up the foundation of our society. Feel free to enjoy living your lives safely and securely in your house/apartment, curling up with your cat and/or small pet rodent, while remembering your lost innocence.

Me, I’m the jaded, cynical type. I went to camp once a long time ago. I’ve seen things since that would make my former counselors cringe. That’s why there’s only one summer vacation movie for me: Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Take your cars full of beach chairs, coolers and picnic baskets. I’d rather have “two bags of grass, 75 pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers… and also a quart of tequila a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls” instead.

The fact is, this movie/book takes place in one of the most popular vacation destinations on the planet. That this destination lies smack dab in the middle of the desert only adds to the perpetual summer feeling of the movie and I would invite you all to sit down and watch it through different eyes. Vacation eyes.

As it stands, this movie is a snapshot of a period in American history where we as a country were confused and wandering. However it is also a travelogue on par with anything Fodor’s or Rick Steves has ever done.

Fear and Loathing starts right out showing you how to get on the road. Terry Gilliam’s film opens with our heroes, Thompson (Johnny Depp) and his attorney Oscar Acosta (an overweight Benecio Del Toro), on the road to Las Vegas. They are driving through the desert in a red convertible, listening to music and getting their buzz on. Suddenly, via flashback, Depp’s character recounts how this trip came about and how they collected their supplies in one afternoon. Theirs is an example of overcoming impossible odds. Despite traffic delays, uncooperative salesmen and tip-seeking dwarfs, they plow ahead at all costs to gather what they need.

You, gentle reader, will need to do the same. As Depp yells to Del Toro while making arrangements for the car, “Don’t take any guff from these swine!”

Remember, others will be jealous of you. They will want to deter you from your quest. You cannot let this happen. “No” is not an acceptable answer. “Can’t” is not an option. If you even think about letting these people harsh your mellow then you are not cut from the right cloth to undertake this journey. Go to Disneyland, ride “It’s a Small World” and rock in your pathetic little corner.

Many of you will not be able to just jump in the car and drive to Las Vegas. You may consider taking a plane or some other form of transportation. This will seriously cut down on the amount of “materials” you can bring with you, which is why I highly suggest that no matter what your geographic location, you make a road trip out of this. After all, much like Thompson himself, you are headed on a savage journey to the heart of the American Dream. Gilliam didn’t even bother showing you any other option than driving. That’s because really, there isn’t one. Sack up and get on the road.

Once in Sin City, you will need to check in at your hotel. Take particular care to avoid the pitfalls that Depp’s character points out to you while checking in himself. You must remain functional enough not to attract too much attention. Remember, you have but one mission at this point: to get the supplies up to the room. If you have already dipped into the psychedelics by this time, prepare to see giant lizards, pooling blood and moving carpet patterns just as Depp does.

This brings up an important point for the uninitiated. A lot has changed in Las Vegas since the book this movie was based on was written. One thing that hasn’t changed is every casino’s predilection for gaudy fucking carpet. Prepare to feel like you’re tripping even when you’re sober (which actually… you should never be while there, so just get ready to be fucked with).

Once in your room, you will need to fortify it properly and order room service. Now, there are two schools of thought on this. One, you can put your credit card down and hope that when you come to after a few days, you haven’t ruined your credit beyond repair. That would be really fucking stupid.

Thompson and Acosta show you something very important in this regard. The best way to live it up in Las Vegas is to do so on someone else’s tab. In their case it was Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone, respectively. I know that after having published this, the august moderators at DVD In My Pants will never allow me access to anything remotely related to their money. However, I have other sources. On the other hand, you, dear reader, are still anonymous and I would suggest you try to rape them for everything they have.

Fortifications in place, room service ordered, it is now time to hit the town. Don’t forget your “materials”. In Gilliam’s film, Las Vegas is portrayed in much the same way you will remember seeing it when you “come down”. It will be a blur of bright lights, gaudy dress and people yelling at you to get out of traffic and/or pull up your pants. I have to sing his praises as a director for the way he filmed this. My wife has even commented that he is the only director who has ever captured that feeling accurately.

Kudos, Mr. Gilliam.

Our heroes stumble through the town trying to hit discount buffets and high class shows. You will no longer be able to find either in this day and age. The buffets all cost more and Debbie Reynolds is no longer singing at the Flamingo. You can, however, still find Wayne Newton (don’t pay for it… bluff your way in per the example in the film). If you are a bad bluffer, check out any number of the small in-casino lounges that feature bands playing covers. When you’re this ripped it all sounds the same anyway. I once spent four hours sitting at a nickel machine listening to “the Legends of Rock and Roll”. They’re a cover band that changes costumes as they change eras. This is why, when drunk, I will swear to you that I had a heart to heart with Jim Morrison even though I was born in 1968.

Now pay attention! You must remember two things about Las Vegas. First, the police in this city (and state) are extremely tolerant of weirdness, however they will only put up with so much. If you maintain your control while in public, you will not be in danger of ending your trip with unnecessary violence and a single phone call. Witness Gary Busey’s cameo and know that it’s not far off the mark.

Second, hotel security is even MORE tolerant than the Las Vegas police. The worst thing they can have at their hotel is a commotion. It’s embarrassing and distracts people from spending more money. I once heard a story from an extremely credible source concerning a couple openly fornicating in the tenth floor hallway at Mandalay Bay. This source confirmed that eventually security came up, tapped the couple on the shoulder and asked them to move it inside their room. 

I’m not making that up.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas provides many examples of how to enjoy yourself while visiting this jewel of the desert, however more importantly, it serves to warn future travelers of potential problems. For instance, Depp and Del Toro will repeatedly show you some of the pitfalls of doing so many harsh combinations of “materials”. There is an incredibly hilarious and tense scene where Del Toro sits in a scum filled bathtub, completely out of his mind on acid, begging Depp to throw the cassette player into the water when “White Rabbit” peaks.

Attention! Do not take too many psychedelics in Las Vegas. Sure it seems like a good idea. There are a plethora of stimuli just waiting to fuck with your mind, but this will cause severe overload in all but the most experienced among you. Moderation is the key here. Also, remember that it’s always best to keep at least one person with you who is less inebriated than you are. If you watch this film carefully, you will see that at least one of these two are in a mild state of control at all times, ready to pull the other to safety if needed.

Finally, take heed of the final third of the film.There is no need to lash out at innocents like Del Toro does to the waitress in the diner. This is what happens when you come down from a two-week “materials” binge. Be aware of it and try not to be an asshole to the others around you. 

Now, for the purposes of writing for this site, I should tell you this is a great film. I’ve seen it multiple times and it’s simply the best transfer from written word to screen that I could ever hope to expect from one of my favorite books. I highly recommend you seek it out. Be warned though that it is a movie that captures a period in time and really doesn’t have any true plot.

To quote a friend who recently watched it, “That’s the best movie about nothing that I’ve seen in a while.”

Materials” aside, how does it look?
It looks incredible. Gilliam outdoes himself capturing the vibe of 1970s Las Vegas through mind-altered eyes. The colors pop (which is important) and I highly suggest you see it on a large screen… the bigger, the better.

If you decide to cheap out and think for a minute that watching this while in an altered mental state will be a good substitute, be warned. About 40 percent of this film contains scenes which will cause you bad, horrendous, dare I say nightmarish hallucinations. Grow some ‘nads and do the real thing.

Any “trippy” audio?
The sound is top-notch also.  It’s Dolby Digital 5.1 and if you have a subwoofer, get ready for mass vibration during the Mint 400 scenes.

Extras?
God yes! The Criterion Collection edition is absolutely PACKED with goodies. First up on disc one, there are three commentary tracks, one with Gilliam, one with Depp and Del Toro and finally one with Thompson himself and producer Laila Nabulsi. Also on this disc are deleted scenes with Gilliam’s commentary.

On disc two, the two major things are a BBC Documentary: Fear and Loathing on the Road to Hollywood and Hunter Goes to Hollywood. The first was filmed in 1978 and gives you a glimpse of the man himself right around his prime. Of particular interest is the scene where he and Ralph Steadman sketch out the plans for the cannon that Thompson wants to shoot his ashes out of when he dies. Johnny Depp made these plans a reality after Thompson’s suicide.  The latter is a short documentary about Thompson bringing this film into being.

Additionally on this disc are storyboards, a still gallery, some narrated pieces with Depp reading Thompson’s correspondence, trailers and TV spots, a gallery of original artwork by Ralph Steadman and even materials on Oscar Acosta.

Finally, there is a full booklet with two pieces by Thompson and a piece by critic J. Hoberman.

This movie got the full treatment it deserved. 

Bottom Line
It’s one of my favorites and I recommend it whether you just watch it for fun or take it as a moral code. I highly recommend you seek this one out.