Process server Dale Denton has a grudging business relationship with the laconic Saul Silver, deigning to visit only to purchase Saulâs primo product--a rare new strain of pot called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the cityâs most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps the Pineapple Express at the scene. When itâs traced back to him, Dale and Saul run for their lives--and they quickly discover that theyâre not just suffering from weed-fueled paranoia. If they survive, these two just might become real friends. All aboard the Pineapple Express.
While it might sound outlandish to speak of THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS in the same sentence as CITIZEN KANE, in its own little neck of the cinematic woods the Judd Apatow/Seth Rogen comedy is perhaps just as groundbreaking. In fact, it's nearly impossible to think of another film that blends so seamlessly pitch-perfect stoner babble with high-octane action sequences. Dale Denton (Rogen), a process server with a weed fixation, witnesses a murder and turns to his dealer, Saul (James Franco), for support. The murderer is actually Saul's main drug supplier, and because of Saul's access to some extremely rare high-grade pot (called Pineapple Express) the two are quickly tracked down and put on the run. Like all Apatow/Rogen vehicles, the movie deals with the theme of men succumbing to adulthood and all the adjustments they are forced to make in the process. However, unlike KNOCKED UP and THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is just too wacky to offer any lessons. Still, there's more going on here than giggles and the munchies. Indie director David Gordon Green (SNOW ANGELS) brings a subtle auteur's touch to the proceedings, approaching the smoking scenes with his distinctively loose feel and giving the action sequences a wonderfully dated sheen that makes them look more like a fight from KNIGHT RIDER than the empty flash of 21st-century blow-‘em-ups. It is Franco, however, who truly steals this movie--he hasn't been this charming since his days on FREAKS AND GEEKS. There's only so many ways to play a stoner, but Franco puts his own endearing, lovable spin on the type, portraying Saul as a kind-hearted, well-intentioned yet hardcore dope smoker. Rogen and Apatow have proven themselves a nearly unstoppable juggernaut; here's hoping they bring Franco along on the ride a little more often.
Also Known As: The Pineapple Express Production Status: Released Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller and Crime/Gangster Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min. Release Date: August 6th, 2008 (wide) MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence. Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing Production Co.: Apatow Productions, Relativity Media Studios: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group U.S. Box Office: $73,780,191 Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA Produced in: United States
