Don' bogart that joint: Pineapple Express Review

Ever since I saw the trailer to Pineapple Express, which is perfeclty edited to MIAs Paper Planes, I had wanted to see that film. But trailers can often fool you and when you see Pineapple Express you might get a lot more then you bargained for. And that is not necessirally a good thing. What I mean is, that Pineapple Express isn't just an ordinary stoner comedy, it is actually more of a stoner action flick.

Rogen plays once again the role he does so well: the likable underdog with flaws but is good at heart. Mostly stoned out of his mind, he goes about his everyday job. It all goes wrong though once he buys a special kind of weed called Pineapple Express from his dealer Saul (James Franco). As Dale (Rogen) smokes a joint in his car before he can call it a day, he becomes witness to a brutal murder and flees the scene. The only evidence left behind is the joint he threw out. In shock of what he just saw, Dale ends up at Sauls place. But as luck might have it, the people who Dale saw murder someone, happen to be supplying that weed to Saul. And since Saul is the only one selling Pineapple Express, they find out pretty quickly who to look for.

This film heavily relies on the two main characters. And they do have their funny moments. There are the typical stoner conversations that you will catch yourself chuckling at, though the acting at times can be quite amateurish. Franco plays the pothead a bit too over the top to be really believable. Overall, the relationship between Saul and Dale doesn't feel natural though. Their friendship seems too forced and therefore moments that show emotions are not really touching.
As I said in the beginning, Pineapple Express is also packed with action. Some of it is so gruesome that you can't help but laugh. The two killers played by Kevin Corrigan and Craig Robinson share some great onscreen time and even have more chemistry than Franco and Rogen. And then there also is Red played by Danny McBride - who certainly is the secret star of the movie - the middleman between Saul and the headhoncho Ted (Gary Cole from Office Space). A lot of the stuff that McBride delivers is just hilarious.

Besides some of the acting I felt that the editing of the movie wasn't that good. At times, the film feels chopped together without a right sense of direction. But that could also be attributed to the script of the film.

In the end Pineapple Express isn't the supergrow of stonerflicks it would like to be or could have been. It is more of a constant mellow trip. Too bad the trailer already shows some of the best parts. But besides the flaws I did feel entertained. Not laughing-my-balls-off entertained but entertained nonetheless. But if you are going to see only one movie this summer with Judd Apatow's name attached to it, I would make it Step Brothers.