As I already have a Netflix membership that is seriously underused, I have a hard time justifying the cost of going to see movies when they’re new to theaters. That said, there are some movies that are must-sees, and “Pineapple Express,” the latest from the Judd Apatow family of frat-pack, gross-out films, is one of them.
Let’s start with the actors–stars James Franco and Seth Rogen first crassed up the screen together in Apatow’s cult TV series “Freaks and Geeks,” and Rogen has been a prominent player in Apatow’s rotating company of stoner oafs from the get-go (think “40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up”).
Rogen also doubles as one of the movie’s screenwriters; here, as in “Superbad,” Rogen’s touch is unmistakable–a healthy mix of stoner humor, the outrageous, and heart.
While Rogen’s capable turn as out-of-it underdog Dale doesn’t disappoint, it’s Franco’s turn as Dale’s drug dealer, Saul, that’s the real gem. If you’ve only seen Franco in the “Spiderman” films, you are in for a treat–this is a character we haven’t seen Franco do before, and he goes for it with gusto. After years of playing brooders and antiheroes, Franco seems to revel in the sheer fun of the film’s absurdity and disappears into the role.
It’s that complete dedication to the ridiculous nature of the movie that really makes this movie a must-see. The plot leaves something to be desired in terms of plausibility, but dedication Rogen, Franco, Rosie Perez, Gary Cole and the rest of the cast to the absurd world of the movie elevate it to pure enjoyment and let you suspend your disbelief.
And yes, it’s funny, too.
In short: any faults the movie may have are made up for by the quality of the jokes. “Pineapple Express” is well worth seeing now, and again later, via Netflix.
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