Pineapple Express

Rating: ****

What kind of demented genius thought to put a couple of stoners in the middle of a police shoot ‘em up? Well, whatever the reason, or wherever the idea came from, it is inspired because the result is the pot-fuelled action comedy vehicle called Pineapple Express. Named for the wonder weed at the heart of the nearly two-hour trip of a trip, the film struck me as a kind of response to all those times you’ve watched an action movie, got high and told your buddy, “I know how we’d handle this situation…”

In the film, the situation is that process server Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) sees drug kingpin Toby Jones (Gary Cole) and a police woman accomplice (Rosie Perez) kill a rival dealer. In his haste to get away from the scene, Dale tosses his roach, which Toby quickly identifies as that dopest of dope: Pineapple Express. Only one guy in the city has it: Saul (James Franco), Dale’s dealer and would be best friend. The two go on the run and try to stay one step ahead of Toby’s bickering assassins (Kevin Corrigan and Craig Robinson), Saul’s double-crossing supplier (Danny McBride) and Dale’s clingy 18-year-old girlfriend (Amber Heard).

From this humble set-up, we get the remarkably hilarious story of male bonding and friendship in spite of the dangers in duplicitous drug dealers. What works is the central comradery of Rogen and Franco, their odd couple back and forth when sober and unedited stoner speak while high is what puts you in the comfort zone right away. You know these guys, you like them, you want to see them become the true best buds you know they can be. It’s a platonic, hetero romance in a way; Saul wants to hang out with Dale, whom he thinks is the coolest of his users, while Dale just wants his quarter drive-thru style: just in and out.

Now we know Rogen’s work and we know that he can play dumb stoner slacker in his sleep, but as God as my witness I’ll never get over the sight of Rogen leaping like Rocky the Flying Squirrel at pistol-packing Gary Cole. It’s worth the price of admission alone. But while this may be true, the real revelation is James Franco, who typically seems so bland, but something definitely comes alive in him as he plays Saul. Also surprising was Ed Begely, Jr. as Dale’s girlfriend’s dad, playing against type as an over-reacting, shotgun shooting, typical middle-class father. Meanwhile, Rosie Perez also defies type by not being nearly as annoying as she used to be.

Directed with an indie sensibility by David Gordon Green (Snow Angels), Pineapple Express works on numerous levels. It’s the perfect amalgam of action and comedy as laughs never fail to connect even in the midst of a gunfight or car chase. It leaves you in stitches (although not in the same way McBride’s Red is by the end) as your leaving the theatre replaying your favourite scenes in your head. Is it high art? No, it’s just high, but even that’s not the point. Poignant lessons about friendship and the awesomeness of three-piece, heart-shaped friendship necklaces – now that’s a pot comedy worth investing in.