Pineapple Express is the name of the pot that this movie derives its title from.
While many movie goers were looking forward to the next installment from Seth Rogen after he hit it big with the extremely likeable and funny Superbad in 2007, Pineapple Express misses the mark. I wish Pineapple Express was called Pineapple Local so I could have gotten off of this one at the next stop.
Seth Rogen plays Dale Denton, a process server hooked on smoking pot every chance he gets. He eventually finds himself witnessing a murder and the movie goes from there. Saul Silver, played by James Franco, is Dale’s pot dealer who gets his supply from Ted Jones, played by Gary Cole. The film is filled with silly happenings that occur due to Dale and Saul being high throughout. The plot is thin and borders on a Quentin Tarantino knock off what would be a good cops and drug dealer movie turned comedy. It reminded me of Brad Pitt in True Romance for almost 2 hours. 10 minutes funny 2 hours we’re all back in high school. I don’t know about you but I have yet to return to my reunion and there is a reason for that.
This one just doesn’t have the heartfelt gut wrenching laughter one wants when going to see a comedy that is expected to deliver. Some of the cast do their part to bring some glimmers of hope.
Ed Begley Jr. was that bright spot in the film playing Rogen’s girlfriend’s dad (Angie Anderson played by Amber Heard). Begley Jr. delivers with such passion it made me want to go solar and buy a Prius. He was the cool, spot in the film. He showed comedic brilliance while other has-been Rosie Perez reminds us how come we don’t see that much of her anymore, she’s annoying. Rosie please learn another accent so we don’t need to keep hearing that voice from White Man Can’t Jump, or that is your voice. Umm act, have different voices in films, maybe Christian Bale can make one up for you. He takes the time to create a new one for each character he plays.
For movie goers looking for laughs, look hard. For the pot smoker out there you may relate to this one much easier than those of us who don’t partake in Pineapple Express.
There are other bright spots to note, Franco was funny delivering in his comedic role. He delivers a character the audience can care for. Bill Hader who hit it out in Forgetting Sarah Marshall starts off the film with some laughs as Private Miller insulting General Brat played by James Remar during a study of marijuana in the late 1930’s. Too bad that was all we see of him.
Here is the good news for Pineapple Express, we only have two other films that are worth seeing Step Brothers and The Dark Knight. So if you have seen them both and have time to waste watching stoners act in a comedy this ones for you.
