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Pineapple Express (2008)

Director: David Gordon Green

Time Out rating

Average user rating

38 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Hollywood’s relationship with the demon weed has undergone a number of switchbacks over the past century, from the demonic giggling maniacs of ‘Reefer Madness’ to the heroic giggling maniacs of ‘Up in Smoke’. But it’s largely been depicted as a fringe activity for peacenik hippy throwbacks, not average working Joes.

‘Pineapple Express’ has its fair share of burn-outs, not least James Franco’s dealer Saul. But our hero is legal process server Dale (Seth Rogen, above), whose daily grind is sweetened by judicious application of the kind leaf. This routine is cruelly shattered, however, when Dale witnesses a murder and is forced to go on the run with only the babbling, perma-stoned Saul for company.

Written by the ‘Superbad’ team of Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Judd Apatow, ‘Pineapple Express’ is a knowing throwback to ’70s stoners-on-the-run comedies, replete with dirty cops, gangsters and manic slapstick violence. But, as directed by indie guru David Gordon Green, the film also displays considerable sweetness, a lightness of touch and a depth of character that set it far above its forebears.

At its heart the film stands as an impassioned love letter to the jazz baccy. A brief midway moment of hazy regret– ‘We’re useless when we’re high!’– is quickly brushed aside, followed by an upbeat scene in which our heroes sell drugs to minors. It climaxes with a marathon shoot-out in a weed warehouse. But there’s still time for a gloriously unexpected coda, a moment of quiet reflection and narrative ingenuity that confirms ‘Pineapple Express’ as the finest comedy of the year.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 1986, 11-17 Sept

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User reviews of this film

Tom said...

Posted on Feb 27 2010 15:10 An amusing stoner comedy that offers more entertainment and laughs than Cheech and Chong. It's heavy-handed attempts at being "touching" just seem out of place. Hopefully David Gordon Green will use the profits to make another dark, southern drama, the sort of thing that gave him a rep in the first place.

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Marty said...

Posted on Jan 22 2010 10:39 The lamest film I have seen for quite some time. Appallingly bad. What the hell was Seth thinking?

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wt anderson said...

Posted on Jul 15 2009 23:01 unbelievably funny movie. but also touching, heartfelt, just so real in the emotions. breath of fresh air. it is of course adult material with the whole weed plot. but it's more real than most everything out there. super well acted, scripted, and directed. so refreshing.

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JC said...

Posted on May 22 2009 19:56 It's amazing how accurately I can judge whether I will like someone based on whether they liked this movie or not. I find that people who didn't find it funny, aren't funny. It's also an extremely well put together movie - great performances, extremely funny, cinematically referential, empathetic and great looking.

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panthro said...

Posted on Mar 03 2009 23:03 Dumb. I used to want to meet Seth Rogen but having seen his last three movies I fear I know him already.

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Andrew said...

Posted on Jan 24 2009 02:55 It was pretty crap. Didn't work as a thriller or a comedy. The only joke seemed to be guys talking to each other like boyfriend and girlfriend, and Seth Rogan was annoying. it's hard to take Seth Rogan seriously when he's trying to be serious, 'cause his fat face sort of jiggles, And the school girl girlfriend thing? What was that about?

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Hernandez said...

Posted on Jan 13 2009 09:18 watching this. I laughed.... Alot.
Unfortunatly, I was also dying for a joint ;)

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criticsschmitics said...

Posted on Jan 13 2009 02:33 This film has all the elements of a great comedy and more. Funny from start to finish, even my mother loved it and it seemed the entire cinema did too. Laugh a little, Laugh a lot.

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Nicola said...

Posted on Nov 29 2008 21:40 an interesting twist on 'stoner comedy', still have to be stoned to think its funny tho. pretty average

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Sean Ellis said...

Posted on Nov 08 2008 01:20 This makes the BIG LEBOWSKI look like Citizen Kane. Whereas SUPERBAD was a very funny film about teenagers growing up in spite of their best efforts, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS seems to be all about adults regressing back into adolescence. That would be fine, except that you get the impression that the whole cast and crew got stoned up, forgot to bring in the script and ended up improvising the whole thing. And they thought that it was hilarious. I didn't.

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david said...

Posted on Oct 05 2008 14:56 Absolutely hysterical. Nearly had to leave the cinema I was laughing so much. "Give me that fire extinguisher."

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Babs said...

Posted on Sep 29 2008 21:21 Loved it, really funny movie *****

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Faye said...

Posted on Sep 27 2008 18:14 I love this film so much, I'm seeing it again and will buy it on DVD. Very funny, good character relationships, I was all laughed-out!

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giacomo perfetti said...

Posted on Sep 26 2008 00:01 non capisco bene l inglese ma vorrei lavorare nella danza nel cinemme...help my

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Baghdadi said...

Posted on Sep 25 2008 11:09 It is a great movie really! I can't believe people actually walked out. I am watching it again

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