ROTTEN TOMATOES: (Very) Early and (Very) Positive Reports on Apatow's New Stoner Action Comedy

(Very) Early and (Very) Positive Reports on Apatow's New Stoner Action Comedy

How can you not wanna see a movie called The Pineapple Express?

by Scott Weinberg | July 19, 2007

Are you a big fan of the Judd Apatow posse yet? The guys who gave you The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and the upcoming Superbad? Well, good news. Some early reports are out on The Pineapple Express, and they're pretty positive.

Produced by Apatow, written by Seth Rogen, and directed by David Gordon Green (!?!), the action comedy focuses on a stoner (Rogen) and a weed dealer (James Franco) who have to go on the run when they come across some crooked cops. (Also on board are Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Amber Heard, and James Remar.

Yes, David Gordon Green (the young man who gave you All the Real Girls and Undertow) is now directing a stoner action comedy. Awesome.

Apparently there were some early test screenings last night, and AICN has some of the reactions. I just did some quick-scanning, but here's a few snippets:

"What's important here is that Rogen and Goldberg’s conversational, geekish humor blends really well with the generally overloaded action pieces."

-and-

"Pineapple Express is a thousand times better then the recent crop of pot comedies like Harold & Kumar. I'd actually compare it something like Strange Brew, but I love that movie to an unhealthy degree."

And then Devin Faraci over at CHUD.com gives us a run-down on the screening itself. Regarding the movie he saw, it "would easily be a contender for my 2007 top ten list if it came out this year. This isn't just a good movie, this is a great movie." Very cool.

Also on tap for the Apatow gang is John C. Reilly as Dewey Cox in Walk Hard, a "musical biopic" comedy that I cannot wait to see.

Source: AICN, CHUD.com

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(1-20 of 23 posts) | Reply

mojodaddy writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:13 AM

Never has there been a more mismatched pair than Rogen and Franco. But yeah this sounds good. I read a lot of positive stuff for it on aicn.

(Reply to this)

Good cop gone bad writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#947965)
Unless I'm mistaken, they already did work together in Freaks and Geeks

(Reply to this)

Mobias writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:29 AM

they've been friends for a while so maybe they have really good chemistry. comically speaking of course.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Kong writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:36 AM

The only bad early review was that screening for The Invasion.

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:38 AM

Does Franco have to be in this?

He's really weak...

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:38 AM

At least someone in Hollywood still knows what happens when you combine talented actors, smart writing and a clever story. Comedy gold. I was beginning to think after Bill Murray went to more "serious" comedies, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy became family movie icons and all the funny fat guys died I'd never see it again on the big screen.

(Reply to this)

South_park300 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 10:40 AM

uh yeah, i don't think mojodaddy saw Freaks and Geeks

(Reply to this)

FILMCZY writes:
on Jul 19 2007 12:40 PM

Okay so when does the Judd Apatow backlash begin?

Hollywood is just WAITING for this guy to crash-and-burn....

(Reply to this)

rmobbs writes:
on Jul 19 2007 01:55 PM

Of course the reports are positive. Because people have deluded themselves into thinking the Apatow/Rogen type movie is funny. But they aren't. They're so unfunny, they can't even pull a single laugh-out-loud moment for trailers. Just a bunch of guys sitting around having boring conversations, then doing something for the 'gross out humor moment', then maybe making a moderately amusing pun or offering some disconnected social commentary, then more juvenile nonsense. Critics call it 'heartwarming' and 'real' because it's exactly like a conversation you'd have with a normal, boring person. I just call it normal and boring. With 'stars' like Apatow, Rogen, and Andy Samberg (whose movie looks HORRIBLE) we have a long drought of comedy ahead.

(Reply to this)

bobdebicker writes:
on Jul 19 2007 01:59 PM

you're angry...

(Reply to this)

jacketman writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:01 PM

In reply to this comment (#948764)
No.... Its pretty funny. I know people who disagree with you MUST be deluted though. I hate opinions too!!!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Jul 19 2007 02:25 PM

Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin were great. I'm not too excited about Superbad though. I don't think it looks that great. But I'm not really into high school comedies.

And Apatow has proven himself (other than producing Talladega Nights, which is NOT good). Please don't compare Andy Samberg with Apatow and Rogen. Samberg is not funny, and his movie does look terrible.

(Reply to this)

Scarborough Fair writes:
on Jul 19 2007 03:00 PM

These movies are funny. Superbad looks fantastic. Creating realistic awkward moments and likable characters that are just like the funny people you know is no easy feat. It's nice to see a character LAUGH when something funny is said by another character, instead of raising an eyebrow and replying with yet another joke.

(Reply to this)

sharpless writes:
on Jul 19 2007 03:18 PM

Franco and Rogen, together? Nice! Freaks and Geeks 2: The Final Reckoning.

(Reply to this)

South_park300 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 03:50 PM

i'm afraid to know what movies rmobbs thinks are funny

(Reply to this)

h-town24 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 04:41 PM

Points taken away with the useless H&K hate.

(Reply to this)

EmmG389 writes:
on Jul 19 2007 05:00 PM

Wait a minute so what is funny, rmobb? Chaucer? Shakespeare? Lemmon? Wilder? Murray? Belushi? Wes Anderson? Sandler(a sell out, corporate comic)? Bill Cosby, who is the best stand-up comedian of our time?

I think these guys are all great, except Sandler. But it is definitely Apatow and Company who are taking over now. You have no basis for your comment about them not having a good joke in their trailers. The best jokes are in the movie and are built up over time and that's as simple as that.

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Jul 20 2007 05:44 AM

I think Apatow & Rogan et al are by for the funniest thing in movies right now.
But hell, what do I know? I even think Hot Rod looks funny...

(Reply to this)

jeremyd4 writes:
on Jul 20 2007 11:24 AM

I like Apatow's movies... but it frustrates me how they all of a sudden become romantic comedies about 1/2 way through. They start off strong but lose their balls towards the end.

(Reply to this)

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