Pineapple Express

Rating: out of
Released: 2008
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride


The thing I love most about Judd Apatow’s films are the dialogue scenes. Scenes that may have nothing to do with the storyline, but just the characters sitting around talking. It isn’t the riffy pop-culture laden Quentin Tarantino / Kevin Smith type dialogue, but a more natural, even funnier style of speaking. It always feels real, that is if you are hanging around funny people.

In PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, there are a few scenes like that. Without giving anything away, the final scene is an extended sequence of characters talking. And it’s great. It is why these films are some of my favorites.

That said, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS may be my least favorite of the recent series of Apatow produced films.

Seth Rogen is a process server who witnesses a murder. For reasons I won’t get into, he ends up on the run with his drug dealer (James Franco).

I was one of those who worshiped FREAKS AND GEEKS, never missed an episode, mourned it when it was canceled. So, it is great to see Rogen and Franco together again. Franco gives one of the summer’s funniest performances.

The film is filled with scene stealing supporting performances. Craig Robinson (Darryl from the warehouse in THE OFFICE) and Danny McBride are both hysterical. Every line they have is great.

All that said, the film is very slow going at times. Maybe it was because I was watching this sober, I really wasn’t laughing much. At one point I got thinking “Hey, when is FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL coming out on DVD? I want to see that again."

The finale is this big over the top action sequence, SCARFACE as directed by John Woo, but it doesn’t work. It goes on too long. I didn’t care anymore. Maybe I could blame director David Gordon Green for this, as this is pretty far removed from GEORGE WASHINGTON. Or maybe it is the fact that the comedy it began as doesn’t quite mesh with this finale.

There are moments that I did enjoy. It may be worth catching up with on DVD. It is a mixed bag. It is no FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL or KNOCKED UP or 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, but it is better than DRILL BIT TAYLOR.

Reviewed by: Jim Magovern

Oct 03,2008