A dude, a lady, and a cop? That like a massacre, man! (Pineapple Express (DVD))

Member Name: pacinofan79

Product:	Pineapple Express (DVD)
Date:	21/01/09 (295 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great comedy with 2 of the funniest actors around

Disadvantages: Last scene goes on a bit too long.

Pineapple Express - 2008- film only review

Directed by - David Gordon Green

Cast -

Seth Rogan as Dale Denton
James Franco as Saul Silver
Danny R McBride as Red
Gary Cole as Ted Jones
Rosie Perez as Carol - Female cop
Kevin Corrigan as Budlofsky
Craig Robinson as Matheson

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I have to admit that I am a big fan of Judd Apatow comedies, his crass toilet humor and sex and drug themes that ooze out of his movies is something I just find really funny. I know a lot of people who don't like this type of film and humor as they find it immature and tacky and some of my friends do not feel comfortable with the drug theme. I think these people including my friends take this kind of film far too seriously; it is what it is, a movie, 90 minutes of fun. I think these people think that if they find it funny that they are condoning drug use in some way which really is just farcical, after all I am sure these people watch horror movies where people get slaughtered and killed for fun and find them entertaining, anyway on with the review.

The basic plot
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Dale Denton (Rogan) works as a process server and is a devoted pothead, while delivering a subpoena to drug tycoon Ted Jones (Cole) Dale witnesses him murdering someone with the help of corrupt female cop Carol (Perez), Dale freaks out and flees the scene leaving a roach on the ground, Ted sees him driving off and realizes that Dale saw everything and runs outside to find the roach on the ground, Ted smells the roach and recognizes it instantly as a rare marijuana called 'pineapple express', he recognizes it as he is the only one who sells it and he has only sold it to one dealer, a man named Red (McBride) and thinks he can track down Dale through Red.

Ted sends his henchmen to Red's house and he reveals that he has only sold the rare drug to one person; this person is Saul (Franco) who is Dale's dealer a slightly dopey, long haired stereotypical pot head. In a panic Dale goes to Saul's apartment and tells him what has happened, together they figure out that the pineapple express will be traced back to Saul and the pair quickly leave the apartment. They drive to the woods, get stoned and sleep for 18 hours. Saul then phones Red to set up a meeting and to see if Red can help them out, when they arrive at Red's place they suspect he is trying to get hold of Ted and the 3 of them have a brilliant comical fight. What ensues is an extremely funny action comedy that really ticks all the boxes in my opinion.

The Acting
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Seth Rogan and James Franco
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I have been a fan of Seth Rogan since I saw him in '40 year old virgin', I enjoyed him in Knocked up and Superbad and he fails to disappoint in Pineapple Express. I suppose some people will say that this is the same old thing from Rogan but it is what he is good at and he really is on top form in this film, he just has that ability to make you laugh even when he say's nothing. I can understand that he is not everybody's cup of tea but he really is one funny guy and also a very talented comedy writer. It was himself along with childhood friend and now writing partner Evan Goldberg that penned Pineapple Express, and a fine job they did too.

While Seth Rogan was very good in his role it is James Franco that steals the show. I have only seen Franco before in the very over-rated Spiderman franchise and found myself puzzled with the casting of him in this film, but I have to say he was superb in his role and it's obvious he really has a talent for the comedy genre and will probably become the most loved pot head of all time. He played his part spot on as a drug dealer who sits around his apartment all day getting high and suffers from extreme paranoia. Playing Saul he exudes an irresistible childlike quality and is a very generous and loyal friend and comes out with some extremely funny lines. The chemistry between himself and Rogan was there for all to see and I really hope that they team up again as they really bounce off each other superbly and some of the banter between the two of them was brilliant (see below).

DALE- "In case you haven't noticed, which you haven't, cus from what I can tell, you don't notice anything ever - we are not very functional when we are high"
SAUL - "Well I don't know man; I think I'm functioning right now. I was like stoned when I saved you with those slushies, what do you gotta say to that"
DALE - "Well that would be true if you did save me. But you didn't save me. She was gonna help us, but you made things worse and now we are wanted for all sorts of crazy shit"
SAUL - "Don't f***ing get on my case, all right? Look, only reason I started selling pot is so I could put my bubbeh in a nice retirement home.
DALE - "Oh yeah, she must really be proud of you for that"
SAUL - " She is really proud of me, and I'm gonna become something, man. As soon as she dies I'm gonna become a civil engineer. I'm gonna design septic tanks for kids playgrounds, Little kids can take shits, you idiot, what the hell are you going to do"

Supporting roles
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I haven't come across Danny R McBride before but he was very good and hysterically funny in his role as Red. Gary Cole seemed a strange choice as a drug lord to me though he just about carries it off, but it certainly wasn't a memorable role. The casting of Rosie Perez seemed a bit pointless really, she doesn't really have a much of a part and when she is on screen she over acts and is extremely irritating.

Kevin Corrigan and Craig Robinson were very good as the henchmen. Corrigan plays the cool, calm and collected villain while Robinson is more of a strange, eccentric character, and both had their funny moments and they worked well as a duo.

Directing and script
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David Gordon Green did a fine job as director and shows he can turn his hand to anything. For this type of film I think his direction was superb, he kept the film flowing at a steady pace despite the fact there is so much going on and considering the film is quite frantic. This is very different from the films he usually directs and he rose to the challenge superbly well and I think he will be one of the finest young directors in the industry.

The script in my opinion was brilliant for this type of movie; serious dramatic moments are few and far between but when there is one it is quickly counteracted with a joke and while the main focus of the film is marijuana, this isn't the reason the film is funny as the there is a wide range of humor and it is just brilliantly written in a comedic sense and despite the fact that a lot of the humor is crass it still very intelligently written. The humor is kept short and funny and the one liner's are brilliant.

The Soundtrack
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The soundtrack has been very well chosen for the film and suits it well. I also like the fact the soundtrack isn't over used like it can be in some films. This isn't a film that relies on the soundtrack, and sits well with the flow and overall feel of the film. Some of the tracks include: Pineapple Express by Huey Lewis and the news, the crossroads by Bone, Thugs- N- harmony, lost at birth by Public Enemy and I didn't mean to hurt you by spiritualized

The Negatives
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The only negative point about this film is that it is probably too long at nearly 2 hours, the end scene does go on for too long and the plot is a bit silly although I don't this ruin's the watching experience at all. Oh and Jonah Hill wasn't in it.

My Opinion
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I love this film for the very reason that some may not like it, the crass humor and pot jokes for me are brilliantly funny and superbly delivered by Rogan and Franco. The chemistry and friendship between the two of them keeps you interested throughout and there is plenty of action in there as well.

This is a brilliant comedy/Buddy movie that doesn't take itself too seriously and the viewer must be prepared for 2 hours of outright comedy and not something in the style of 'Knocked up'. This for me is Apatow's best work to date and along with the crass humor you also get Apatow's sharp and snappy wit. I just love the whole tone of the film, it's like watching a Kevin Smith style film mixed with a bit of Cheech and Chong and while I don't really agree with the subgenre of 'stoner film' I suppose that's what it is, though I think this is a comedy that will appeal to anyone with a good and open sense of humor. I have never, nor will I ever take drugs of any kind but I still found this hysterically funny because it is not just a film about drugs it is a great modern day comedy which has a wide range of humor and I could watch over and over again.

I know it may not be to some peoples taste but this is definitely a film I would recommend as I found it a very enjoyable 2 hours and it is certainly a film I will buy to watch again and for anyone who liked superbad, 40 year old virgin or anything by Kevin Smith you will love this film.

The 2 disc dvd is available to buy from Amazon for £11.99 with free delivery.

Summary: A great comedy that will have you stitches