Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express


  • Released Internationally on 06/08/08
  • Released in Malta by KRS on 17/09/08


Preview (01/09/08)

In a nutshell

The title refers to an allegedly potent strain of marijuana, and that should probably tell you all you need to know about the type of film you’re in for.

Why we’re hyped

Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen are behind yet another male-oriented adult comedy. After 40 Year-old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, to name just a few, the writing/acting/directing/producing talents of these two individuals and their band of friends seem to be everywhere. Early feedback seems to indicate that this venture is up to their usual hilarious standards.

Who’s in it?

James Franco, who was all serious and annoying in the Spider-man trilogy, takes on a totally different role and hairstyle as the perpetually stoned Saul Silver, a weed dealer who gets involved in the aftermath of a nasty murder which was witnessed by his loyal friend and client, the equally stoned Dale Denton (Seth Rogen). David Gordon Green directs, Rogen co-wrote the script, and Apatow produces.


Review (16/09/08)

High as a kite

Whilst puffing on some of the titular greenery, Dale Denton witnesses a violent murder, involving a policewoman, and within hours him and his laid-back dope dealer are being chased by the murderer’s henchmen. Still, whilst grabbing essential items from the dealer’s house before dashing off, they grab enough foliage to keep them company throughout the demanding days to come, and manage to stride through death-defying stunts on the way.

Dynamic (but doped) duo

Rogen and Franco seem to be enjoying it here, and their characters are likeable enough to make their buddy-story heartfelt. Franco in particular is a joy to watch, since he plays the stress-free Saul with ease. Rogen more or less reprises the average-Joe role he had in Knocked Up, though this time the stress he’s facing is veered towards the end of life, not the beginning.

Identity crisis

It’s always an ambitious undertaking to attempt to make an ‘action-comedy’, and in this case the result ends up feeling a bit too short of laughs for a comedy, and a bit too funny for the action to be taken seriously. It was probably about thirty minutes into the film before I laughed-out-loud for the first time, although the humour does pile on more frequently in the second half.

Not for the faint of heart

Under the guise of a comedy, the filmmakers manage to literally get away with murder – this is quite probably the most graphically violent film you’ll see all year. But somehow the feet getting shot off, the stabbings, the blood spurts and all the rest seem diluted and toned down by the laughs in between.

Worth yelling about?

Fun film overall, with loads of action thrown in at the expense of the comedy, which isn’t up to Rogen’s and Apatow’s usual standards.


Mark6


Trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/pineappleexpress/ (High-res QuickTime)


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