It is my opinion that comedy man of the minute Judd Apatow is a bit overrated. I am a massive fan of film The 40 Year Old Virgin but subsequent films like Knocked Up and Superbad, particularly the latter, are severely overrated.
But it seems like his involvement in Pineapple Express on just the producing and story creation side of things is a better idea than full on writing and directing, as it gives some other writers and comedic talents a chance to throw in their two cents. I have been begging for months now for another film to come along and make me split my sides with laughter and I am very glad to say Pineapple Express is that film. A comedy about stoners it may be, but you don’t need to be inebriated in any way to get the jokes.
After a stoner witnesses a murder by a top drug dealer, he quickly rushes back to his own dealer’s apartment but they both soon realise that the killer is after them. After grabbing food, drink and of course their beloved weed, they go on the run with the bad guys hot on their trail.
One would think that a film about stoners would only be funny if you know first hand what it’s like to be one but peculiarly that’s not the case with Pineapple Express. Yes, it’s pretty much the equivalent of being in a room full of laughing stoners and you’re the only completely sober one but it’s almost like you’re in hysterics just because everyone around you is. It’s a weird achievement on the film’s part but one which I admire very much.
Most of the film’s laughs come from excellent comedic timing, not just from the one-liners but the weirdly appropriate over-the-top violence. It adds an extra layer of comedy that stoner flicks usually lack; usually it’s just two guys sitting talking (which Pineapple Express is fairly often too) but here whenever there’s a break in the chemistry and banter between a couple of the characters you have this eye-widening violence, but violence that’s so over-the-top and extreme that it’s just very funny instead of out of place.
Article comments
1 - Derek Fleek
Wow. You wrote exactly what I wrote in the last sentence. Almost WORD FOR WORD. Coincidence? Check out my review on Pineapple Express. My thoughts also state that this is "the funniest film I have seen in ages".