ComicsOnline

– Celebrating 25 Years of Everything Geek Pop Culture!

Reviews

DVD Review: Pineapple Express

From the creators of Superbad and Knocked Up comes the new comedy Pineapple Express which is now available on DVD!

Story

The film tells the story of Stoner/Process Server Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) who delivers a subpoena to accused Drug Lord Ted Jones (Gary Cole). Denton catches Jones in the act of murdering someone and takes off from the scene, but in the process ditches a roach at the scene of the crime. Well, this was not any ordinary weed mind you, this was the incredibly rare strain called “Pineapple Express”. Jones is able to identify the roach and tracks down a man named Red (Danny McBride), who happens to be the only distributor of Express in town. Red gives in and reveals that he has only sold it to a burnt out named Saul Silver (James Franco). Dale has of course fled to Saul’s place to hide and is immediately found by Jones’ men (Craig Robinson and Kevin Corrigan) and hilarity ensues.

Highlights
James Franco and Seth Rogan are essentially playing the same roles that they started out their acting careers with. If you remember, way back when, the two co-starred in Judd Apatow’s first project: Freaks and Geeks. The two played High School Stoners who are just barely making it in life. This film places them back into a very similar setting, but this time they must face the evil Drug Lord played by Office Space Alumni Gary Cole. Putting these three together was a great choice. Franco, Rogen, and Cole just get more ridiculous as the movie passes. They exhibit the Stoner persona to the letter (I’m sure they had a lot of practice).

-Gary Cole as always steals whatever scene he is in and is extremely entertaining to watch. The man is can play a great bad guy.

-Bill Hader’s Appearance as Private Miller- Bill Hader really surprised everyone with his cameo in Superbad as a police officer with Seth Rogan. Hader makes another memorable appearance in the opening sequence of this film.

-The Police Car Chase Sequence- A getaway with a foot through the windshield…nuff said…

-Escape from the Green House- Red returns! I don’t want to spoil so I will just say this was a great action/comedy sequence and really came out of nowhere.

-The Diner Sequence- What do people do when they are stoned? Get crappy food. Quite possibly the best scene in the film.

Special Features
-Commentary with Filmmakers and Cast

-Extended and Alternate Scenes

-Gag Reel

-The Making of Pineapple Express

Overall
The film was unfortunately not as good as Superbad or Knocked Up but still has some great moments. Rogan and the gang provide comedic performances (which you should enjoy even if you are not under the influence of any substances). Judd Apatow has in a way come full circle with this movie as many of the characters feel like they have come right out of Freaks and Geeks, which is in no way a bad thing, just a little repetitive. If you are a hardcore Apatow fan then put this one on your list.

ComicsOnline gives Pineapple Express 3 out of 5 feet through the windshield.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(Managing Editor/Director of Media Relations) Matt interviewed MacGyver once (true story), and was invited on a submarine to the Arctic. It hasn't happened yet, but Matt hopes that some day he will get the call and he and Richard Dean Anderson will go off and have a wacky adventure.