by Manny The Movie Guy

Created on: August 06, 2008   Last Updated: September 18, 2008

I'm a big fan of the stoner comedy films specially the Cheech and Chong movies. They're mostly silly and laugh-out-loud funny. The new entry into this wicked world of weed genre is "Pineapple Express" an action comedy buddy film that's high on laughs.

From the comedy machine by producer Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up," "Superbad"), "Pineapple Express" stars Seth Rogen as Dale Denton, a court process server who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnessing a murder by the crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and the city's most dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole), Dale panics and dumps a rare new strain of pot called Pineapple Express at the scene.

The weed is so potent (smoking it is like "killin' a unicorn") that it's easily traced back to Dale and his drug supplier, Saul Silver, played by the scene-stealing James Franco ("Spider-man" films). Like the great buddy movie "Midnight Run," the effectiveness of "Pineapple Express" relies heavily on the relationship between Dale and Saul. As the two run for their lives, their business relationship quickly turns into friendship.

Apatow may be the reigning King of Comedy but I'd rather call him the King of Bromance. The astute producer/director knows the inner workings of male bonding, and his films effectively showcase its intricacies.

Co-written by Rogen with his "Superbad" writing partner Evan Goldberg, the script is layered by funny scenes amidst violent situations. The film is like a Cheech and Chong movie directed with bloody gusto by Quentin Tarantino.

The main narrative is simple but the movie is punctuated by the colorful characters Dale and Saul meet along the way. The most memorable one is Red (the hilarious Danny R. McBride), Saul's traitorous buddy.

"Pineapple Express" is one of the better-looking productions to come from the Apatow factory. Credit goes to director David Gordon Green, an independent film veteran ("George Washington," "Snow Angels") with a keen visual eye. Working with his longtime collaborator, cinematographer Tim Orr, "Pineapple Express" has visual resonance.

"Pineapple Express" received an R rating from the MPAA and the film proudly displays it like a badge of merit. There are many gratuitous violent scenes, and one particular bloody moment harkens back to Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" involving severed ears.

Here's the bottomline, "Pineapple Express" is funny and ultimately touching but the greatest misstep that the filmmakers committed is their preachy stance on marijuana. How can a movie poke fun at the pot culture then tell viewers the bad effects of smoking weed? The message rings false and self-serving.

But if you can get past its sermonizing, "Pineapple Express" gets kudos for its honest attempt in making an action movie funny. Come aboard this "Pineapple Express." And for that, "Pineapple Express" gets 3 primo weed kisses

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