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Pineapple Express
(2008)
 
Pineapple Express is a sort of strange creature, pieced together from two sides of the cinema spectrum. Directed by indie-influence David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, George Washington) and the more commercial, but brilliant, screenwriting team Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad), the film is a Frankenstein of styles. At first it seems a strange combination, especially for those who have seen the dark and devastating Snow Angels, but the combination proves to be a non-issue. In fact I think David Gordon Green seemed rather tame in his direction, and pulled off a slick, high quality film complete with explosions, laughs, and the epic “cross joint”.
The film follows the adventures of Dale Denton, a druggie process server, played by Seth Rogen. He witnesses a murder when he attempts to deliver a summons, and immediately (and perhaps reluctantly) takes refuge at his goofy dealer’s house, Saul Silver, played by pajama-clad James Franco. The remainder of the film shows Dale and Saul on the run, and their “buddy comedy” adventures together, making poor, half-baked choices throughout (including a sequence of the two playing in the woods like two little boys, which adds to the overall charm of the film).
What really stands out about this film is its balance between the action and the comedy, and the developing relationship between the two characters (a forming “bromance” if you will). The slapstick and drug humor combined with Tarantino-like violence make for interesting bedfellows. In one scene, Rogen gets part of his ear shot off (can we say Reservoir Dogs?), and attempts to put it back on. Later he asks his companion, Franco, if it “looks gross or kinda cool”. Dale and Saul do not seem like the typical heroes and the film plays on that well, and of course, the clever and quotable screenplay written by Rogen and Goldberg goes the distance.
This movie is a must see for James Franco fans. It really shows his talent. He pulls off a perfect dazed and confused stoner, complete with reggae obsession. His lovable dopiness is very funny, and he has some great one-liners throughout the picture. You can tell Franco is having fun, but still takes his role seriously. He managed to convince me. His childlike antics and wounded puppy reactions really do make the film enjoyable, and garnered him a Golden Globe nomination.
Seth Rogen plays a good everyman. His story guides the audience through the story. He seems to be the brains of the outfit, and he is the character we expect to grow and learn something from the whole experience, much like his character Ben, in Knocked-Up. He definitely has a theme going when he is in the lead, and that theme is “man child must grow up”. He is even dating a high school girl, showcasing his immaturity at the start of the film. Rogen is funny as usual, and it’s really just fun listening to his iconic scruffy voice throughout the movie. If you’re a Rogen fan, you won’t be disappointed.
The supporting cast really shines in Pineapple Express as well. Danny R. McBride is fantastic as the untrustworthy friend, Red, who rats them out on more then one occasion. When we first meet him, he’s making a cake for his cat’s birthday, a ritual he takes very seriously. Craig Robinson (who you might recognize from The Office and Knocked-Up) really gets laughs as one of the hitmen hired by the crooked cops who is after Dale and Saul.
There are really excellent things about this film that make it work for audiences. The most important thing is the fact that no one in the film takes themselves too seriously. It is all just silly in the end, making the bloody shootouts and high body count seem less awful (or surprising). The bad guys are just as clueless and ridiculous as our two heroes, and the cast seems to be having fun with the script. All in all, it makes for a memorable stoner comedy, and you’re guaranteed a contact high.
-Conor Aylsworth
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Director:
David Gordon Green
Writer: Seth Rogen & Evan Golderg, Judd Apatow
Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny R. McBride, Kevin Corrigan, Craig Robinson, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Ed Begley Jr.
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Runtime: 117
min
Rating: R
Release Date: August 6, 2008
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