Movie Review: Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express

Rating:  

Directed By: David Gordon Green

Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny R. McBride

Plot Synopsis:

A film about a rare new strain of pot called “Pineapple Express”. But when Dale (Seth Rogen) becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and the city’s most dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole), he panics and dumps some of his Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale becomes paranoid that this rare strain of weed can be traced back to him.

Review:

I’ve never been one to really go for the “Stoner Comedies”, granted there are a select few that have warmed me over (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle comes to mind). The only reasons I was interested in Pineapple Express was seeing James Franco in a comedy, the Seth Rogen/Judd Apatow comedy machine, and a fresh spin on the “Buddy Action Flick.”

For the most part this movie works. I felt I laughed in all the right places and once the movie ended, I knew I would be re-visiting the movie soon. James Franco is suprisingly hilarious and Seth Rogen is a little more reserved here, but still pretty hilarious. Other highlights include Danny McBride as a shady yet enduring drug dealer who can withstand multiple gun shots, the best action I’ve seen in a comedy (other than Hot Fuzz and Tropic Thunder), and a slight message of how smoking pot isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

I can highly recommend Pineapple Express as a solid Action/Stoner/Comedy. Along side Tropic Thunder, this is one of the best comedies of 2008.

Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence.