Barnes at the Movies: Pineapple Express

I've been meaning to do this review for a while, but I was delayed due to a trip to Ohio, Tropical Storm Fay coverage here in Orlando, moving to a new apartment, and dealing with bullshit regarding my car and computers among other frustrations. But enough about me.

Pineapple Express is the latest comedy from the Apatow clan and is this summer's stoner comedy. Seth Rogen plays Dale Denton, a court-process clerk with a girlfriend still in high school and a strong affection for weed. Dale visits his dealer, Saul (James Franco), and purchases this new, exclusive bud called Pineapple Express. After the purchase and a little taste of it, Dale witnesses a cop killing by a drug lord and drops his roach en route to an escape. The drug lord (Bill Lumbergh himself, Gary Cole)picks up the joint and recognizes the weed being his exclusive Pineapple Express and goes on a hunt to get anyone with contact with the weed to kill off any potential witnesses.

Pineapple Express as a comedy is definitely not one of the best. A good stoner comedy is one that mainstream audiences can enjoy but potheads will appreciate more since they identify with the culture (I give you Half Baked as an example). This film is one that potheads would like, but those who don't pray to the Gods of Ganja will leave the theater with a slight "meh." The jokes are either not over-the-top enough to work or non-existent. The funniest part of the film is a long fight scene inside a California home and even I don't recall a distinctive part of it.

The mood of the film is confusing. It is a comedy, but there are so many scenes with gunfights and serious action that an average film goer might think they are watching outtakes from Bad Boys II. There is blood and serious drama so the movie has a hard time deciding what it's goal is. I assume that the serious, straight delivery was used in order to achieve comedic effect (think Airplane), but it goes too serious and thus no laughs achieved.

Seth Rogen is essentially playing the same character he was in Knocked Up, except without the audience rooting for him to grow up and be a man. This sucks because I think Rogen has the ability to do other characters but just chooses not to.

James Franco does a great job as Saul. While a dirty, dingy, dumb drug dealer (say that three times fast), the audience can enjoy his good-natured attitude and the love of his grandmother. Franco also does a good job of making the most of the mediocre material he was given. Since he is a pretty boy in most of the films he's been in, it's refreshing to see him cast against his type.

Gary Cole's character of Ted Jones, drug lord, was so underutilized that it's a crime. His screen time was minimal as was his love connection to a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez). I spent most of the movie wanting to know what they were doing while watching Rogen and Franco run around.

Technically the film looks good, but when watching a comedy everyone pays attention to the jokes and the story rather than the cinematography. As long as you don't make a scene too dark or overblown with light than you have done your job. They did their job here.

I guess with Pineapple Express, the verdict would be this: Seth Rogen has done better movies worth renting in the past and there are better pothead comedies worth renting as well. May I suggest Half Baked, Dazed and Confused, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and anything with Cheech and Chong in it. Pineapple Express is just like a night full of marijuana: an experience that no one will remember.