THC-filled goodness to close out the summer
Image Courtesy of IMPawards.com
Director: David Gordon Green
Notable Cast: Seth Rogen, Rosie Perez, James Franco, Danny McBride, Amber Heard, Gary Cole
Seth Rogen has seemingly carved out an unorthodox career in the last several years as perhaps the most unlikely of leading man in Hollywood. Not attractive by traditional standards, he’s parlayed fame as the wise-cracking chubby Jewish guy into heights that are hard to believe. 20 years ago, Rogen would’ve been stuck playing the sidekick to handsome actors with much less talent. Under the tutelage of Judd Apatow, Rogen has become an unlikely leading man if only because of his tremendous charisma. Its on display in Pineapple Express, an action comedy focusing on a pair of mismatched heroes on the run from drug dealers due in part to their love of dope.
Dale (Rogen) is a process server who enjoys Marijuana. That would be perhaps an understatement, as Dale is perpetually stoned throughout the day. Marijuana is the thing that seemingly gets him through the day, including around his barely legal girlfriend (Amber Heard). What passes as his other “normal” relationship is that he shares with his dealer Saul (James Franco). Dale thinks of it as more of the customer-client variety, whereas for Saul his favorite client represents the only person he really considers a friend. Problems arise when the special brand of pot Saul sells him, the title of the film, is the link establishing that Dale witnessed a murder by a drug dealer (Gary Cole) and a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez). With Saul being the one who sold it to him, and the man who supplies him (Danny McBride) selling both of them out, the two go on the run as they are chased by incompetent killers.
The film follows the buddy formula pretty solidly throughout the film, making it a hybrid of 48 Hours in terms of tempo and a generic Cheech and Chong film in substance, and Pineapple Express is an homage to action films of the 1980s in terms of its style. Rogen, who wrote the film with longtime writing partner Evan Goldberg, have obviously studied buddy action films from their youth in detail and have crafted Pineapple Express with the same sort of give and take that great combinations like Riggs and Murtaugh had; granted none of them were using bongs to maintain an elevated level of THC, but without the drugs the film is a solid addition to the action genre in how it takes two unlikely actors for the film and keeps the film interesting.
It doesn’t hurt that Rogen wrote the film, as he has a certain knack for developing buddy relationships as a writer, but he has a different kind of charisma that gives him a unique perch amongst the young actors in Hollywood. He has a charm that doesn’t come from excessive good looks or six-pack abs; he has a likeable personality and Dale maximizes that while not calling attention to his lack of traditional good looks. It’s an interesting part for Rogen and he carries the film admirably. James Franco, nearly unrecognizable with dirty hair and pajamas, works with him effectively in the sidekick role. It’s a quirky, offbeat role for Franco and his timing with Rogen is impeccable. They make a particularly funny combination.
For all of their chemistry, though, the film is a bit bloated. With a near two hour running time, the film has at least 20 minutes worth of dead spots and bits that don’t work. Cut off 20-30 minutes and it’s a slick action flick with an amazing amount of profanity and drug humor. With it, it’s another solid summer comedy that just misses brilliance.
