Pineapple Express

Synopsis
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.

Distributor Notes
A new comedy from the creative genius of Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Talladega Nights) follows a pair of druggie losers as they reach the top of the hit-list when one witnesses a mob murder and drags his buddy into a crazy flight from mobsters bent on silencing both of them permanently. The film stars new sensation Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad, 40 Year Old Virgin) and James Franco (Spider-Man 1-3) and it co-stars Rosie Perez (Do The Right Thing) and Gary Cole (The Brady Bunch Movie). Movie is directed by David Gordon Green.

Reviews
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "The script by Rogen and his SUPERBAD writing partner, Evan Goldberg, is a trippy wonder....Loaded with turbocharged action and nonstop giggles..." (Rolling Stone)

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "Fans of SUPERBAD will enjoy PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. It's a similar sweet-silly buddy comedy where everything that can go wrong does....Rogen and Franco have great comic chemistry." (USA Today)

"PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is a fitfully amusing tale of drugs and crooks....[David Gordon Green] brings the movie his own loping, run-on style, which turns out to be a perfect expression of the stoner rhythm." (Entertainment Weekly)

"It's interesting to watch Rogen play the 'straight' foil to Franco's stoner clown....Rogen's unique comedy engine is oiled by the tension between the urge to veg and the need to act responsibly..." (Los Angeles Times)

"Green's first studio achievement shows he can melt into the material rather than dominate it. He enforces a flow to the dialogue that gives it an adorable silliness..." (Premiere)

4 stars out of 5 -- "PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is the perfect companion-piece to SUPERBAD....The chemistry between Rogen and Franco is effortless..." (Empire)

"PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is a raucous, ribald mission comedy....As a stoner movie, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is a success..." (Sight and Sound)

"Fanboy wish-fulfillment, half-baked Beckettian verbal play, and endearingly unguarded bromance are smoothly blended in this David Gordon Green joint..." (Film Comment)

"PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is a drug-fueled caper that doesn't stint on chronically loopy characters and ridiculously funny situations." (Hollywood Reporter)