Movie Review: Pineapple Express

Every time I saw the trailer for Pineapple Express leading up to its release this weekend, I laughed. I couldn't help it, the movie looked hilarious. There were even a few times where the trailer was funnier the so-called comedy that it preceded (I'm looking at you The Love Guru). Now that the film is here, I was surprised to find that the movie was not quite as funny as the trailers led me to believe, I was also surprised by the level of action in the movie. Besides the laughs, the slapstick, and the pot jokes, there was also gun play, fisticuffs, and a car chase! We are all familiar with the action/comedy, so let us label this as a comedy/action. Comedy does come first, but the action is no slouch when it comes right down to it.

Being a Judd Apatow production, it will inevitably be compared to other Apatow branded productions. If I were to place this among the pantheon of Apatow films over the past few years, I would place this above the likes of Drillbit Taylor and Step Brothers, but below Knocked Up, Superbad, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. With that said, this film does have something of a different aesthetic to it. You see, a new voice has been brought into the fold with this movie. That someone is David Gordon Green, better known for indie dramas such as Snow Angels and Undertow. It would be fair to say that this is something of a departure for him.

So, with Pineapple Express, what do we have? We have a comedy about a couple of stoners who inadvertently trigger a violent drug war. Seem like a stretch? It isn't, not really. Once you factor in the steps that happen in order for this particular outcome to occur, you are likely to sit back and go "Yeah... I can see how that could happen." If you have any other reaction, this is likely not a movie for you. Then, when you factor in a conclusion that really isn't much of a conclusion, you will realize that this is a stoner movie through and through.

As the movie opens, we are shown an military experiment from the 1930's, which sets up the governments condemnation of marijuana. Fast forward to the present day and we meet Dale Denton (Seth Rogen), a process server who is very good at his job. He puts on a variety of costumes, smokes a few joints and proceeds to serve subpoenas to those who really don't want them. As the day closes, Dale pays a visit to his dealer, Saul (James Franco). A few tokes and a sale later (of Saul's exclusive Pineapple Express), Dale is off to serve papers to the head drug honcho, Ted (Gary Cole). This is where our story kicks into full gear.

While sitting outside, Dale is taking a few last hits before serving said papers. Before he gets to do his duty, a cop pulls up, a lady cop (Rosie Perez) gets out and enters the house. Dale, trying to hide from her sight ends up witnessing the murder of an Asian man by the lady cop and Ted. This triggers the fight or flight response in Dale, and being stoned, the obvious choice (well, even if he wasn't stoned) is flight. Knowing that Ted supplies Saul's marijuana and that Saul is the exclusive dealer of Pineapple Express, Dale heads back to Saul's to warn him and figure out what to do next.

Being in a nearly perpetually stoned state, Dale and Saul do the best they can to get out and get away before they can be caught. Ted, meanwhile, sends a couple of his goons out to find Saul and Dale before anything else goes wrong. This leads to the belief that Dale is working for the Asians, and a war is started.

The first half of the film has Dale and Saul dealing with their current situation the best they can, from a trip into the woods, to disposing of cell phones, to Dale trying to have dinner with his high school girlfriend's family. Another turn is taken when their journey takes them to Red (Danny R. McBride), Saul's middleman. The guy is looking out for his own skin, and the danger escalates leading to an all out gun battle in a barn (complete with underground, marijuana growing bunker) as we steam towards our climax.

I think the most surprising element of Pineapple Express was the level of violence, it had an almost Quentin Tarantino-like feel to it. It wasn't bad, just a little unexpected. That said, the comedy was the most important element, and the violence was over the top and always maintained a comedic tone.

What truly anchored the film were the performances of Seth Rogen and, more significantly, James Franco. Rogen is fast becoming a comedic force to be reckoned with, whether it be writing or acting, the guy is becoming quite dependable. Now, while Rogen is good, James Franco is that much better. Franco has spent much of his time in recent years on a trio of Spider-Man sets with a sidestep into WWI drama with Flyboys. Here, Franco is consistently funny throughout, delivering many of the biggest laughs and just being surprisingly effective.

I am not familiar with David Gordon Green's dramatic work, but I could detect a different approach than prior Apatow camp films. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but the look and tempo he brings is different for a comedy, and it works. It will be interesting to see if he does any more comedy work.

Bottomline. Again, not the best work from this camp but definitely a film worth seeing. This is comedy that works, even when a joke falls flat it still works. The comedy is high and low brow almost at the same time. So, if you need a laugh, this will definitely fit the bill. Yes, the film has a brief note about the negative affects of pot, but it is decidedly pro-pot. Take that as you will.

Recommended.