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| Cast and Credits |
| Cast: |
Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny R. McBride, Amber Heard, James Remar |
| Director: |
David Gordon Green |
| Writer: |
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg |
| Rating: |
Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence. |
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Reviewed By: Erin Cullin
Rating: 7.5/10
Since the dawn of the 20th century, human civilization has had a love-hate relationship with marijuana. After using mother nature’s mind-altering weed for almost 10,000 years for religious, ceremonial and medicinal purposes, civilized society decided that an altered state of consciousness was a bad thing. Marijuana and its ilk were banished from the kingdom.
In the 1960's, a wind of change blew across America. With it, came history-altering cultural changes, the effects of which still reverberate in American society today.
By all accounts, the winds of change were also aromatic. As they drifted across the American landscape, they carried with them the faint odor of...marijuana.
Since the 1960's, marijuana (although still illegal for recreational purposes) has once again managed to weave its way back into the fabric of American society. Its growing social acceptability has given rise to a whole new genre of filmmaking - the “counterculture” film.
Each generation can point to a notable cinematic “pothead”. In the 1960's, it was Wyatt and Billy in “Easy Rider”. In the 1970's, it was Cheech and Chong in films such as, “Up in Smoke”. In the 1980's, it was Jeff Spicoli in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”. In the 1990's, it was Jay and Silent Bob in films such as “Clerks”. For better or for worse, each of these films are cult classics in their own right, and their lead characters cult heroes to the generations who watched them.
This week sees the release of a film that will be the classic “counterculture” film for the new millenium. It is called “Pineapple Express”.
“Pineapple Express” features the misadventures of Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) a pot-smoking process server, and his dealer, Saul Silver (James Franco). After Dale witnesses a murder being committed by Ted Jones (Gary Cole), a drug kingpin, and Carol (Rosie Perez), a police officer, he places himself and Saul in danger by leaving a key piece of evidence at the crime scene - a burning cigarette containing Pineapple Express, the rarest, most potent marijuana on earth. Ted is able to trace the rare dope to Saul and Dale, forcing the pair into hiding. After a series of near escapes from Ted’s hitmen, Saul and Dale find themselves cornered at a remote grow operation, where they are forced to rely on their newfound friendship, and their wits, in order to stay alive.
I will say at the outset that “Pineapple Express” is not a film for everyone. If you would find it offensive to hear the smell of a bag of marijuana being compared to the heavenly aroma of “God’s vagina”, then you may wish to skip “Pineapple Express” and spend your money going to see “Mamma Mia” instead. This will not be the film for you.
If, on the other hand, you spent your high school years watching “Up in Smoke” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, then I would strongly recommend taking a trip on the “Pineapple Express”. It is this generation’s “pot” film. And, if I say so myself, a very amusing film as well.
Historically, what has distinguished the good “pot” films from the bad ones has been their writing and directing. “Easy Rider” was directed by Dennis Hooper and written by Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern (all of whom were nominated for Oscars for it). “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was written by Cameron Crowe (who won an Oscar for writing “Almost Famous” and was nominated for writing “Jerry Maguire”).
“Pineapple Express” is no exception. Written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Judd Apatow (who also penned last year’s sleeper hit “Superbad”) and directed by David Gordon Green (who has directed “All the Real Girls” and “Undertow” - a film that Roger Ebert once described to me as the best film at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival), “Pineapple Express” is not merely a “pot” film, but a good “pot” film. In the hands of any other filmmakers, I may have been rolling my eyes and itching to leave halfway through the film. Instead, I found “Pineapple Express” to be funny without being crass, touching without being sappy, and action-packed without being ridiculous. In some ways, it reminded me of a lighter version of a Quentin Tarantino film, but with a more linear plot.
This film also works because of the performances of its two lead actors, Seth Rogen and James Franco. Rogen, of course, has patented the role of the burnt slacker with a surprising level of insight (although I suspect that it is because he is not necessarily acting). Franco, on the other hand, continues to demonstrate his range as an actor with an unconventional performance as a secretly sensitive drug dealer who is selling so he can support his “Bubbe”. Their complementary performances are a key element of the film.
For those who appreciate “counterculture” cinema, “Pineapple Express” is well worth the trip to the theater. It is not a film that will win an Oscar but, much like the Pineapple Express at the core of its plot, it is an amusing diversion from the troubles of the world. And, better yet, you won’t get arrested for using it.
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