At The Movies: Pineapple Express

Starring: Seth Rogan, James Franco, Rosie Perez, and Gary Cole Jr.

Directed by: David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Snow Angels)

The gap between hip hop and Seth Rogan really isn’t that large. If you have seen Knocked Up, you may remember the first song to be heard was “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” by none other than Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Superbad, another movie Rogan had a large part in, contained “Here I Come” by the Legendary Roots Crew and also the DangerDoom logo, which appeared in a character’s room. It didn’t stop there, as Pineapple Express contained a beautiful usage of M.I.A’s “Paper Planes” for the trailer and even had Dilated Peoples and Cypress Hill joints on screen. While I appreciate his taste in music, I more so appreciate his acting and his writing along with long time friend (and Canadian) Evan Goldberg. Together, it is safe to say that they have gone three for three (the two aforementioned movies) as Pineapple Express is an all around great movie with very few flaws.

Judd Apatow, who directed The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and has had hand in a fair share of credible (and really funny) comedies, lent a helping hand on this and it shows. Dale (Rogan) is a process server and while making a delivery, he witnesses a murder committed by drug lord, Ted Jones (Cole Jr.). The roach he leaves behind is the best blend of weed out on the streets, Pineapple Express, which only his dealer, Saul (Franco), has. He quickly heads to Saul’s residence and attempts to escape the grasps of Ted’s hitmen and corrupt cop buddy (Perez).

Throughout all of this are some great action scenes that contain some of the films biggest laughs. It is rare to find a movie that has so many laughs in the explosions and fights, but director David Gordon Green finds all the comedy possible in a risky car chase or weed house fist fight. The story is great because it is not simply a ‘stoner movie’, it extends heavily beyond that and really expands on the topics of forced friendships, drug use, and homosexuality.

Franco simply steals the show. He trades in his Green Goblin suit for all of the best green that he can find and plays the spaced out stoner role perfectly. While it is clear that Rogan is the star, Franco does provide most of the laughs in the simplest forms (facial expressions, one word responses). The movie relies on its natural flow and improvisation as opposed to huge set up gags. Viewers will also appreciate the character development and the variety of characters that Rogan and company provide the movie with- the character, Red (Danny McBride), who has an interesting story line.

All in all, it is a great film and it really is hard to find flaws in it. What might prove frustrating is that Rogan more or less plays the same character he has played in every movie he has been in thus far. At times, the viewer is limited to potty mouth stoner comedy, but only on the rarest of occasions. Regardless, it proves to be the funniest movie of the summer and a comedy that has substance rather than slapstick. The streak continues.

Overall score: 84/100

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