Movie Review - “Pineapple Express”
*** 1/2 STARS
Forget “Harold & Kumar” this summer belongs to Dale & Saul, the sweetest pot smoking duo since Cheech & Chong. This movie’s sweet charm was a complete surprise. I was expecting the pothead shenanigans to be funny at most, but not touching and witty. “Pineapple Express” is more than a stoner comedy; it is a classic buddy flick with one of the best and most realistic modern male relationships to ever be put on film.
Seth Rogan plays Dale, a stoner who witnesses a murder who is forced to go on the run with his dealer Saul, played by the always cute James Franco. The plot is familiar but it is also ripe for goofy chronic fused action, fast paced chase scenes and hilariously written banter. The biggest surprise in this movie is the character “Red” played by the brilliant Danny McBride. The comedy reaches its peak when all three actors are bouncing off each other with wicked abandon creating laughs at a feverish pitch.
The sentimental moments are balanced out with graphic violence, the ever classic “kicked in the nuts” gags and the terrific chemistry between the familiar supporting cast of comedic actors. The short running time and crisp screenplay give this movie a tone of realism which makes you think how much pot producer Judd Apatow and creator Seth Rogan have actually smoked in their collective careers, I’m guessing it’s a lot. Just watch the scene towards the end with Red, Saul and Dale in the diner and you will know what I mean.
Whatever they are doing Apatow and Rogan are on a creative streak with their fresh brand of current humor. “Pineapple Express” is so far the best comedy of 2008 along with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Be Kind, Rewind” (which are also two fabulously funny “must see” films). Pineapple Express isn’t a dumb stoner comedy; it is a smart always entertaining laugh-fest with some awesome red eyed performances by Franco and Rogan.
It’s a bit obvious to say that you will get tons of marijuana jokes and drug references in “Express”, but what you won’t expect is the finely directed action and charm that eventually wins you over. Saul and Dale are two of the sweetest stoners to ever grace the big screen and this is a pitch perfect buddy film. This movie will go down as one of the top 3 pot smoking films of all time and as one of my favorite films of 2008.
WATCH THE “PINEAPPLE EXPRESS” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:
August 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I loved this moive!! I think if i had one movie i could watch for the rest of my life pinapple express would be it. I would trade my left nut to see this movie again. It might be th best movie ever made im not just saying that. I loved the honest truth i love the action and i loved the weed!! i liked the movies with seth roger before this one but none of them were amazing i mean they were good but not like this.this one was his best and honestly ****ing honestly ive see a shit load of good movies and this one was the shit.. i think if u didn’t like this movie your and idiot because you dont think straight. Seth Rogan, James Franco, Bill Hader, just became my new favorite actors. and most of those guys like Bill Lumbergh from office space are all good and that chick that played the cop i love that chick not the black one. anyway #1 best movie ever thank you all the people who helped make this movie you deserve everthing and this movie better win an oscar or someone deserves to get shot.