Buen viaje: Aventuras psicodélicas

I have loved and used psychedelics for 30 years. I have never been a "major tripper", the title reserved for those people that do "heroic" doses of psychotropic substances. This was a fun first step that America and the UK needs to bring a mature, responsible attitude towards a subject that has had major effects on human consciousness for 10,000 years. Including psychedelics in the failed "war on drugs" has not benefitted anyone. Sting is incorrect that peyote, or any hallucinogen, contains strychnine. This is an old myth that has been kicked around for 50 years. It is refreshing in our celebrity worshipping culture to realize that "stars" are just as misinformed, fearful, fun, cowardly, silly, inspiring, incorrect, woo woo, and adventurous as any segment of the population. Rosie Perez was very candid and remembers the joy, intelligence, and wonder that psychonauts seek. Ben Stiller is a dud, and leaves a cynical taste for the audience and for commercial comedy. There are many gems here, and for virgins seeking the "experience", this flick can have a comforting and positive influence.

Wow! I so enjoyed this "trip" down memory lane with some really great storytellers! Told objectively and from first person accounts, it just flew by. So nice to see Sting, eloquent as always but loosened up as much as I've ever seen him, talk about some fun times on his farm. Rosie Perez was another surprise; she looks great and has some cute recollections to tell. A little science thrown in from a doctor studying using the drugs to treat depression and anxiety as well as from Timothy Leary's son who has continued in his father's pioneering footsteps. I had to give it a rare 10/10 because as documentaries go, this should be a template.

Netflix has had some real dross offered lately, but they hit it out of the park with this one! Highly recommended.

Fun, entertaining and mostly humorous, but no new information is presented here. The information also presented is limited and non descriptive. It's mostly a collection of fun acid stories from celebrities. I enjoyed the documentary Neurons to Nirvana much more.

The structure of this documentary reminded me a bit of the zany "Sack Lunch Bunch," but of course it was about a topic more adult. The people and stories involved, and also some of "The More You Know" and other educational (?) segments, made for entertaining content that is unlike something I've seen before about drugs. It felt to me like a drug-positivity talk, akin to something you might see about safe sex - "If you're gonna do it anyway, you might as well learn more about it," type of thing.

However, "Have a Good Trip" seemed focused more on a narrative about drugs being fun, rather than necessarily educating its audience. This is despite multiple personalities interviewed having publicly known histories of drug abuse, and two having not long passed away prematurely. It also felt off to me that a story describing how somebody apparently died during a drug trip, was played by comedians in a goofy flashback montage. And of course, there were some stories about people driving or working while high, and sure, they gained amusing stories from these trips that they got out of safely, but there was no commentary on how they could have affected the people around them.

Overall, I enjoyed "Have a Good Trip." You should expect (mostly comedic) stories from it, though, rather than anything objective. I probably enjoyed A$AP Rocky's commentary the most, just because he seemed so chill, accepting, and totally aware of the ridiculousness of his experience. I also believe I learned from the show what I might have expected before going in (perhaps reflecting the trips all of these celebrities describe?): I think if I had a psychedelic trip, I'd probably have an experience like Ben Stiller. So, really, I don't need to have one.

A parade of Hollywood A and B listers recounting their good and bad trips can be self-indulgent. This documentary saves itself with humor and accurate narrative. It strays too much into glorification though.

A warning must be posted- much of the true dangers are ignored in this doc. It is not all about joyfully exploring warped and interconnected realities. Side effects include painfully coming down, psychosis for some, and criminal behavior.

Not a single burn-out was interviewed. For every Sting, there are ten times as many homeless, dead, or institutionalized users who couldn't handle it. RIP, Anthony B.

If you have any suspicion that you have psychological conditions like depression, tend to get addicted to things like video games or crack, or are around people who are not close friends and family, don't do it!

Many veterans would also wholeheartedly disagree that a synthesized chemical like LSD is anywhere as safe or helpful as naturally occurring plant based hallucinogens.

The positives of psychedelics for therapeutics and education is well documented and it is high time science fully explored it. Just be fully aware of ALL pros and cons before you decide on your own journey.