Sony Pictures
I can’t quite get my head around the reasons this film got such a poor response from the press, especially as it stays very much, along the same lines as previous Apatow productions.
Dale Denton is twenty-something process server who when not thinking of creative ways to serve people their court orders, spends his time getting stoned, or loitering around his 18 year old girlfriend. Dale is en route to FINALLY meet his girlfriends parents, when he witnesses a police officer and established drug lord murder a rival gang lord. So in his haste he runs to his drug dealer, Saul, until he figures that they will be able to trace them because of the uber-exclusive joint of ‘Pineapple Express‘ which Dale dropped at the crime scene.
In their tactless and pot-fogged desperation they make the decision to pay a visit to Saul’s dealer, Red (who, other than Saul was the only person to hold a stash of Pineapple Express). But instead of getting any help from Red, they actually end up dragging him into the situation too. Dale then works out that Angie (his girlfriend) might also be in danger, and so they schlep all the way to Angie’s house, and inadvertently meet her parents, who he then tries to explain the situation to. Dale and Saul are forced to go on the run, where they bond and fight and re-bond and fight and re-bond…etc, etc.
Dale and Saul make an awesomely hilarious duo and you can really tell that there is some genuine chemistry between them. Whilst the film maintains a solid pace, with moments of stomach achingly funny dialogue, and great comic timing, I still feel it’s not as strong or fresh as ‘Knocked Up‘ or ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin‘.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this feature so much was because of the 1980’s action approach they decided to work into it. The soundtrack was perfectly apt with dated but classic tunes from Huey Lewis And The News, Public Enemy and Spiritualized. The excessive violence and wardrobe design also scream eighties fun-times, which amalgamated seems to works brilliantly. All in all, ‘Pineapple Express’ is a laugh out loud, entertaining riot. And without trying to be too offbeat or stupid, comes across as a soon-to-be cult film, a la Cheech and Chong. Wey!
Emily Paget