Pineapple Express ***

Cast: Seth Rogan, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny R. McBride, Kevin Corrigan, Amber Heard
Director: David Gordon Green
Running Length: 1:51
MPAA Classification: R

Dale Denton (Rogan) is a process server and a stoner. He has a girlfriend in high school (Heard), and likes to hang out with his dealer, Saul (Franco). One evening, Dale witnesses a murder. The murderers, a drug lord (Cole) and a crooked cop (Perez) are soon on his tail. They trace a joint left behind at the scene, a variety called “Pineapple Express” back to Saul, and soon Dale and Saul are running for their lives.

“Pineapple Express” is yet another film from the Judd Apatow machine, and on par with “Superbad.” Rogen and Franco have good chemistry and comic timing. Franco is more at home in dramas, but is genuinely funny here. Despite being a “stoner movie”, it is a buddy movie at heart. Action is not what you would expect from Rogen, and although he handles it well, especially in the last 30 minutes, the action packed ending does run a bit long. Overall, “Pineapple Express” delivers what it promises: a funny stoner comedy.