Action done by the everyman.

Rating: 8/10 (6 August 2008)

Pineapple Express is the name of the newest film produced by Judd Apatow, and once again, he delivers the goods.
Seth Rogen plays Dale, a 25-year-old process server who smokes in nearly every scene he's in. Dale weed dealer is Saul, another perpetually stoned character played perfectly by James Franco.
STORY: The story is like any other. Dale witnesses a murder, and he and Saul must go on the run from the cops and the mob. The story here, though, isn't meant to be brilliant. This story is just an excuse to squeeze in jokes, action, violence, and yes, lots and lots of weed.
CHARACTERS: The characters are, politely speaking, not very original, but they don't have to be. Rogen plays an everyman stoner. Franco plays a drug dealing stoner, who is high, even when he doesn't smoke. There are also some great supporting characters, especially the character of Red, from Danny McBride. I really think I laughed at every time he spoke, even if the line wasn't funny, his delivery is amazing. Craig Robinson also did a great job in his role, which to me, oddly, was somewhat relateable.
VISUALS: Now, going into this movie, you wouldn't be expecting some great special effects. I wasn't, but I was sure surprised. This film has some excellent action sequences, especially the car chase scene. There a fight sequences in this movie, that you might have imagined in a movie like Die Hard, yet, the characters here do not become super human (except for one). They really feel the pain in a punch. I also would like to give props to the Director of Photography Tim Orr, who has some very exciting camera work, as well as calm steady wide angle shots.
PACING: I will be honest, they could have cut a big chuck out around the middle. Around there, the story starts to drag a little. Yet, by the end, I am wishing that the story would go on forever. The editing was very good also, I never once noticed it.
CONS: With all these positive qualities, it would be hard to imagine why this film isn't a perfect. It is very good, but it isn't perfect. I was smiling throughout the entire thing, but I wasn't laughing all the time. I never laughed really hard, but enough laughs to garner positive attention. Seth Rogen's performance is decent, not perfect, but descent. I sometimes didn't really understand some of his facial expressions.
OVERALL: Is this as funny as Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. No, but this is still very good. It deserves a nice spot in your DVD collection. Though while H&K was a stoner-comedy, this is more of a stoner-action film. Sure, there are some scenes of pure comedy, but overall, the action if very well done, and I found myself being more excited, then laughing.
A-