Review: Pineapple Express

Rating: 7/10 (24 October 2008)

I'll have to admit, there are plenty "wtf" moments for me in the first 10-15 minutes. But then I realized that I really need to set my perception right. Because Pineapple Express is stoner comedy that made by people who stoned (it's not necessary whether you need to get high or not, but it would be amusing if you do haha+). And you must be able to accept a bunch of meaningless gestures and dialogs that spread around this flick. If you can do that, then you will find that what you've seen so far is pretty friggin' awesome.
Although it has Judd Apatow's watermark all over it (no doubt, since he is a producer), but if you seek out for meaningful lines or intrigue storytelling (movie like Knocked Up comes to mind), then you will likely to be disappointed. Because Pineapple Express is solely aim for laughs, since it's written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg. But I would say that their collaboration in this time is a bit letdown from previous effort like Superbad, which is amusing AND touching, whereas PE is totally lack of character's intimacy. Be that as it may, there's a lot one-liners that can guarantee to make you rolling on the floor laughing.
First thing when you heard the director's name, you will have a weird feeling about what the hell David Gordon Green is doing here. He is the man who responsible for thoughtful indie dramas like All the Real Girls, George Washington and recently Snow Angels, which starred by Kate Beckinsale (and which going to be my next reviewÂ… I guess haha+). But then my doubt was completely gone since he seems to "get" the flick. An awkward male bonding, incoherent action scenes and trippy dialogs, all these ingredients he put into can make this film an absolute stoner comedy.
Seth Rogen might be on the roll now (Knocked Up and soon to be classic Zack and Miri make a Porno), but sad to say that his character in Pineapple Express was pretty uninspired. Maybe it was caused by the fact that he's got "straight role" in this film. And sub-plot between him and his barely legal girlfriend feel pretty half-baked and yet it worsens by inconclusive ending.
On the other hand, James Franco's Saul is totally own this movie. His character maybe the funniest crack dealer ever put on screen. His child-like persona makes me totally forgive that he sells weed for living. For James, people might consider him to be a lovable hunk in movies like Spider-Man trilogy, Annapolis and Flyboys, but I think his true potential is comedy. It's a role that I find him felt comfy and belonged to, I guess fans of Freeks and Geeks (which I haven't seen it yet) tend to agree with me on this fact.
Pineapple Express maybe completely pointless, it also doesn't have any valuable lesson to teach us (don't do weed? Hell no, this film is totally up for it haha+). But one thing that it succeeds is an ability to give you good times. Do you remember simple yet brilliant buddy action-comedies in 80s? (ie. 48 hrs, Lethal Weapon) If you do, then Pineapple Express will give you just the same amount of hilarity.