Now surprisingly, this is not about the weather phenomenon that is defined as being a warm, moisture front from Hawaii and extending up and down the Pacific coast. So for my meteorologist readers will need to go somewhere else to read about weather fronts. I am talking about the old, go to sub-genre of film called the “bud”dy action comedy. I emphasized bud since this is a stoner comedy brought to you by the Apatow crew and their penchant for bringing back the coveted R rated comedy genre. It’s kind of refreshing to watch R comedies, especially when they dabble in the absurd and over the top reverence they have for the medium. I realize that I am dressing up a film in which the protagonists smoke copious amounts of weed and get into gun fights, but it is really a loving ode to comedy films and the action genre by taking them just one step beyond ridiculous, while maintaining self awareness.
Also stoner comedies are just fucking hilarious.
Lazy court-process clerk and stoner Dale Denton has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver: to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the city’s most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him–and it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they’re not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia: incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express. (source)
I have a general affinity for the stoner comedy genre. It’s not because of my dabbling with he particular recreational use of their chosen plant, but rather there is a really carefree approach to a lot of the movies. You basically have characters that are friends in real life, just play out natural sounding conversations and bounce one-liners off of one another that brings a bit of levity to the movie. You don’t have to think a lot and the comedic elements are situational and topical. It’s random conversations that you might have with your friends, sober or not, but it’s also fun to watch generally lazy characters being placed in the role of the hero. Dale and Saul are lazy in the best sort of way, skirting by life and enjoying the bud, but are then thrown together in dire times that force them to wise up and get serious.
David Gordon Green did a great job in taking the buddy action genre, infusing it with comedy and throwing as much chaotic shit on the screen and seeing what sticks. Now that might sound like a lazy way to write and direct, but you have to realize that this is a movie about a stoner who witnesses a murder and is then caught up in a major crime ring in which they have to kill or be killed. I don’t know too many stoners that do that regularly, let alone ever. So it is funny to see where their adventure takes them throughout the movie and what sort of put-induced antics they get into.
The film is filled with a lot of comedic moments, which are enhanced by the comedic talent that is in the film. Seth Rogen and James Franco are naturally hilarious, which their real life friendship seems to help push the natural affection (not in a man love way) but they have been through some shit that makes them appreciate their companionship. You got Kevin Corrigan and Craig Robinson as the two henchmen that are after them, riffing along the way and actually having their own little buddy adventure. Danny McBride is probably the highlight of the movie as the heel Red, who flip flops between being for and against Dale and Saul. It’s also really funny to see so much violence done to him and he seemingly just bounces back from getting shot, stabbed, beaten and blown up. That is the sort of over the top violence and action that is almost toeing the line of parody, but really is a loving send up of the genre they are in.
Listen, it’s a stoner comedy with great comedic actors and a funny premise. You can’t go wrong with a solid laugh and stoner humor. See it, enjoy it, smoke up or not, whatever.
*images via