Pineapple Express (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)
by David Gordon Green
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DVD details
Actor: Danny McBride, Gary Cole, James Franco, Kevin Corrigan, Seth RogenDirector: David Gordon Green
Brand: Sony
Producer: Seth Rogen
Writer: Seth Rogen
Producer: Dara Weintraub
Producer: Evan Goldberg
Writer: Evan Goldberg
Producer: Judd Apatow
Writer: Judd Apatow
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.40:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-01-06
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Pineapple Express (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)
DVD Review: Green and Rogen handed us the "Pineapple," but forgot to light the pipe
Summary: 2 Stars
That famous platitude of absolute power corrupting absolutely is near-universally known, if not necessarily agreed upon--perhaps with "Pineapple Express," director David Gordon Green ("Snow Angels") has revealed to us comedy's analogue to the same axiom. Is it possible that achieving stratospheric heights of mirth in past productions has temporarily sullied writer Seth Rogen's (writer, "Superbad") smile-making skills? On the other hand, could one argue that with any "stoner" movie, one needs first to have the required ingredient in play? If concentration holds, maybe this review will contain a relevant answer to that question before long.
Dale Denton (Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up") is a process server who enlivens his lackluster daily routine by smoking weed, haunting various talk-radio shows, avoiding his high-school sweetheart's parents, and, shall we say, mixing up his on-the-job uniform. The various problems with the above are, respectively: he fears becoming his dealer Saul's friend (James Franco, "Spiderman II"), his real aspiration is to be a talk-radio host, he is not a high-school student, and his guise-changing cements his enemies' suspicions later in the movie that he is, absolutely, a hired killer. In other words, it's a stoner movie. After a multiple-outcome encounter with his girlfriend in her high school, Dale wanders off to Saul's apartment to recharge his stores of wacky. Saul, attempting to forestall Dale's quick exit after his purchase, entices his friend to smoke a triple-tipped "trifecta" deliverer-of-memory-loss after his purchase of the Holy Grail of the week: Pineapple Express, a synthesis of various blends so profound as to make Dale wish he could live in the bag.
Finally free, Dale goes to serve his last summons to a Ted Jones, (Gary Cole, "Office Space") but pauses first to smoke a bit of chronic. This action both saves his life and dooms his ear, as the viewer will discover later on. A police car screeches to a stop behind his vehicle, and a harried-looking policewoman (Rosie Perez, "White Men Can't Jump") rushes into Jones' house. Temporarily amused that Jones was served by higher-ups before he had his chance, Dale is then horrified to witness a man in a bathrobe executing another man--all while the policewoman looks on. He ditches his smoke and makes his escape, alerting the two murderers upstairs that there was a witness to the killing. In a panic, he returns to Saul's apartment, and is even more appalled to realize that, according to Saul, the abandoned bit of Pineapple Express will lead Ted to middleman Red. Red sold this brand only to Saul as a sneak-peek; therefore, once Ted browbeats Red into revealing who he sold the product to, the crosshairs will shift to rest directly upon Dale and Saul's stoned heads. The pair, taking only the essentials--wacky, fruit roll-ups, and $78--in their haste, decide discretion in the better part of valor and flee the premises.
If you've seen "Superbad" and, to a lesser extent, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," you will find the type and pace of dialogue in this movie familiar--that of frequent asides, non sequiturs, and mumbled retorts that can reward the audience member who pays careful attention. Frequently, it seems as if the actors may actually be ad-libbing their lines, so random are the thoughts which course from their mouths. When done appropriately, such a technique can add layers to the comedy which ultimately results in viewer enjoyment, whether or not the plot is good. Sadly, Seth Rogen's comedic timing is so off-pace, his expressions of surprise so frequent and so over-acted, and his sheer unbelievability so noticeable that he almost single-handedly destroys this movie. His expertise is more in the area of dry and sarcastic humor and low-key roles, in general. It was like having to listen to that loud, semi-funny guy at a party who thinks that enhancing his vocal volume is the solution to rectifying his audience's boredom and frequent glances askance. Rogen was too manic, too forced, and did nothing to suspend my disbelief. Franco, on the other hand, was fantastic, displaying every characteristic one expects from a total waste of protoplasm. In addition, he displayed nuances of character besides stoned vacuity: a childlike wish for Dale to be his friend, an overtone of benevolence which suffused his character, and an unseemly display of nobility for a character supposed to be no more than a low-life drug dealer. Now, I'm not sure what chops it takes to act like someone three joints to the wind, or if Franco deserved a Golden Globes nomination for this role, but his performance was definitely the best this movie had to offer.
The plot was sufficiently random and, in this way, comparable to other films of this genre, but was diminished in that it varied from serious to silly far too often. A stoner movie needs its weight of material on the side of ridiculous to succeed, with only a few bits of sentiment strewn about. Too many solemn bits, and the movie will morph into a comedy-drama, which mixes very poorly with the ludicrous plotlines fans of--for example--"Dude, Where's My Car," and "Half-baked" will probably be expecting. There is also a fair amount of physical comedy, which is good, and an excess of violence, which is weird. Ted and Carol executing some guy with copious blood-spatter made me think I was watching "The Shield" for a moment, not a good feeling for a viewer of a presumed romp through the typical insanity inherent in stoner movies to have. In fairness, there were a smattering of truly funny moments which took the viewer by surprise--the shock present only because one had become deadened by all the prior unfunny attempts at comedy. In the end, Rogen's acting, too much gravity, a mediocre plot, and lackluster performances from all supporting cast members--save Franco--killed this movie. Franco and a few rare laughs are the only things keeping the movie above a one-star rating.
DISCLAIMER
This review covers the unrated version of the DVD--I did not see the theatrical version, nor, I should think, will I ever. Both version come included on the disc. The chemical required to enjoy this sub-par film was not provided with the digital media.
Description of Pineapple Express (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)
A PAIR OF DRUGGIE LOSERS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE HIT LIST WHENONE WITNESSES A MOB MURDER AND DRAGS HIS BUDDY INTO A CRAZY FLIGHT FROM MOBSTERS BENT ON SILENCING BOTH OF THEM PERMANENTLY.The latest bro-mance from team Apatow (the guys who brought us Superbad, Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Pineapple Express is the story of Dale Denton (Seth Rogan) and Saul Silver (James Franco), a pothead and his dealer who accidently get caught up in a drug war between two gangs with some corrupt cops, high-school girls and small-time henchmen thrown in for good measure. At its core, Pineapple Express is a stoner comedy--a tale of two semi-slow giggling and loveable idiots in way over their heads--this formula has made for some entertaining comedy over the years, Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke and Dave Chappell's Half Baked being two of the best examples. What sets Pineapple Express apart from these silly classics however, is the consistency of the humor, the perfect chemistry between Rogan and Franco and the giddily ridiculous action sequences (and the fact that even mild intoxication is not required to enjoy the humor). The movie retains the sweetness that is present in most of Apatow's films, making the characters? poor choices and ultra-violent actions somehow justifiable, or at least relatable. The site gags, pop-culture references and perfectly timed non-sequiturs only enhance the hilarity. Director David Gordon Green, known mostly for the understated and reflective films George Washington and All the Real Girls, seemed like an odd choice for such a raucous and over-the-top comedy, but it turns out Green's stamp is all over this film (as is his long-time cinematographer, Tim Orr) who together manage to turn Pineapple Express into much more than the sum of its parts. --Kira Canny
Stills from Pineapple Express (click for larger image)
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