Stoner comedy leaves audiences half- baked
John Renner
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: The Edge
The most recent addition to the newly-dubbed sub-genre bromance, "Pineapple Express" falls short of being heralded as a classic. Though the film is entertaining and full of gut-busting scenes that keep the audience intrigued until the very end with its vulgar humor and sometimes-outrageous escapes and action sequences, the film lacks more so with acting.
Many of those cast in the lead roles seem out of place to the audience and they almost force themselves into their roles, leaving a harshness and lack of refinement to their characters.
Seth Rogen, who plays Dale Denton, a process server, continues his career in filmdom as a brash and sometimes teddy-bear-like character, not venturing far from other roles he has been in. His energetic and eccentric actions are the same as in other movies and his ability at playing a character, so far, is still that of a character actor and has not moved much beyond that.
Though there are a few shining moments where his acting takes a turn into something other than his norm, he still has far to go before he can move out of the "bromance" genre.
As for James Franco - who plays Saul Silver, Denton's pot dealer - his abilities at playing a perpetually stoned dope dealer has left something to be desired. Though he hits several scenes in the movie spot on, his character seems fake and somewhat off-key most of the rest of the time. He attempted to add emotion to his character several times, but it seemed unbefitting of a burnt-out dope dealer.
Though he has moved out of his norm, once again, with this movie, he does not seem that comedy is his style of acting. During the many getaway scenes, a person wonders why he does not just pull out one of his exploding pumpkins or fly away on his jet glider.
Though "Pineapple Express" does have an up and down thrill ride that keeps the audience wondering just exactly what is going to happen to the characters next, the storyline, as outlandish as it may seem, could be possible, although it leaves many wondering at the end just exactly what happened to them.
All in all, the film has much to be desired, but as someone in the theater put it best, "That was the most entertaining waste of two hours ever!"
Many of those cast in the lead roles seem out of place to the audience and they almost force themselves into their roles, leaving a harshness and lack of refinement to their characters.
Seth Rogen, who plays Dale Denton, a process server, continues his career in filmdom as a brash and sometimes teddy-bear-like character, not venturing far from other roles he has been in. His energetic and eccentric actions are the same as in other movies and his ability at playing a character, so far, is still that of a character actor and has not moved much beyond that.
Though there are a few shining moments where his acting takes a turn into something other than his norm, he still has far to go before he can move out of the "bromance" genre.
As for James Franco - who plays Saul Silver, Denton's pot dealer - his abilities at playing a perpetually stoned dope dealer has left something to be desired. Though he hits several scenes in the movie spot on, his character seems fake and somewhat off-key most of the rest of the time. He attempted to add emotion to his character several times, but it seemed unbefitting of a burnt-out dope dealer.
Though he has moved out of his norm, once again, with this movie, he does not seem that comedy is his style of acting. During the many getaway scenes, a person wonders why he does not just pull out one of his exploding pumpkins or fly away on his jet glider.
Though "Pineapple Express" does have an up and down thrill ride that keeps the audience wondering just exactly what is going to happen to the characters next, the storyline, as outlandish as it may seem, could be possible, although it leaves many wondering at the end just exactly what happened to them.
All in all, the film has much to be desired, but as someone in the theater put it best, "That was the most entertaining waste of two hours ever!"
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