Movie Review: Pineapple Express

Ask any smart Hollywood insider (or filmgoer) what makes a good movie and at the top of any list comes writing. Movie-goers know that without a good story even the finest actor can’t make a classic out of a stinker, no matter how hard they try. Pineapple Express is a considerable improvement in the usual summer comic fare since its script is hilarious and the performances are more than up to the task.
Something for everyone seems the order of the day in this flick. For starters, the premise of two bungling Clark County residents involved in the dope trade seems non-earth shattering. But the zany chemistry shown by Rogen as Dale Denton and James Franco as Saul Silver is downright contagious. Silver is the out to lunch drug supplier to Denton, whose day job is a process server. When a murder is witnessed it has dire consequences for the pair as they wind up in the middle of a dangerous power play between two maniacal drug lords. Throw in a corrupt cop or two, zany stunts and two very likeable leads and you have the seeds for a monster hit and good time at the movies.
Jokes fly off the screen in this smart story that Rogen and Goldberg have primed for both young and hip older audiences. Some truly gut-splitting gags between the main characters will have onlookers rolling in the aisles. And action fans won’t be disappointed here as Seth seems primed to play the Green Hornet, one of his upcoming projects, if his prowess with weapons here is any indication.
Very strong support work from likeable Rosie Perez (White Men Can’t Jump), Bill Hader (Superbad) and Gary Cole further enhance the likeability of this David Gordon Green vehicle which clocks in at a perfectly running 111 minutes.