Review of Pineapple Express (2008) by Goodtaste — 12 Aug 2008

I saw this together with Step Brothers, and I am incredibly disappointed. I find it mind boggling that this is supposed to represent the best, hippest thing that Hollywood has to offer. While Pineapple Express is not as bad as Stepbrothers, it's also not good.

At all. These movies are self-indulgent- they offer goofiness in place of wit and substance, and even the goofiness is uninspired. They feel like they were written in a weekend, and the non-comedy is supposed to suffice because it's this specific group of people- wow, did Seth Rogen just make a cameo in Step Brothers???!! It's all my favorite comedy stars at the same time!! Too bad none of them have anything funny to say.

It's disrespectful to the audience. James Franco, the one legitimate actor in this movie, also illustrates what real actors do that some comedians- especially the comedians who have mysteriously found themselves in the Apatow pack- cannot: he imbues his character with actual feelings, and becomes the only person on screen worth caring about.

I go in wanting to laugh- I root for these movies to be good, and they never, never are.