Pineapple Express: A Pleasant Surprise For This Cynic

I have to say that, when a friend suggested we go see “Pineapple Express,” I was a bit concerned I was about to waste $16.00 of my hard-earned money. I am happy to say that this is not what happened. I have not laughed this hard at a movie in years. My partner kept shushing me through his own laughter and the whole theater was obviously enjoying the film. Having never been into stoner movies or movies about drugs in general, and having never seen a film with the main actors, I was very pleasantly surprised as how well acted and written this movie was. Aside from some rather gory, violent scenes, it was a laugh a minute ride. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is into slap-stick as well, even though it is not ALL that type of comedy. Great film for the summer.

Heathcole

All Aboard The Pineapple Express

I have, until recently, refused to see anything that had to do with Judd Apatow or Seth Rogan. My opinion of the two up to this point has been very poor, despite “Knocked Up” getting surprisingly good reviews. Their brand of comedy just did not appeal to me, until I saw “Pineapple Express”.

At first I didn’t know what to expect. The trailer made the film look like an action flick and the title made it sound like a gay porno, but to my surprise the movie is actually a mix of summer action blockbuster and stoner comedy. The story centers on a pot-smoking loser who witnesses the murder of a drug lord. In his escape, he drops a joint of Pineapple Express, a type of weed only his dealer and a few people would know about. When his drug dealer finds out, they both flee in fear of being pursued by a man seeking a monopoly over the city’s drugs. The plot twists through several unlikely, yet utterly hilarious situations, ending in a fight against the evil drug lord’s crew. I’m still not a fan of Seth Rogan, but he does do an ok job. With that in mind, I find his voice to be obnoxious at times and his choices of characters to be a bit repetitive (doesn’t he play a washed-up stoner in every movie?). James Franco, on the other hand, is perfect for the role of the drug dealer. His performance is dead on, portraying a man that is amazingly stupid yet somehow very sweet and likable. The two actors make a very good pair as they battle through dangerous and ridiculous events.

Perhaps the funniest moments come from the total disfunctionality of the two characters who, of course, are constantly stoned. The two men cause themselves most of their own grief, from destroying their cell phones to selling pot to schoolchildren. Despite the heavy drug use, the movie actually has a very anti-drug message. The main character realizes that he would not be in trouble with the mobsters, if he had not smoked pot, prompting him to change his ways.

Overall, “Pineapple Express” is an entertaining comedy that will please both the pro- and anti-drug crowd. It truly raises the bar of what a stoner comedy should be (granted, that bar wasn’t very high to begin with). Although it’s not without its flaws, it is definitely worth checking out at your local cinema.

Macangel