An excellent stoner comedy/action film

"Pineapple Express"
Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez
***.5/****

Director David Gordon Greene has made a living doing indie art house films such as "All the Real Girls", and "Snow Angels." With Pineapple Express, Gordon Green delves into comedic territory for the first time. With the Apatow name branded on this film, Gordon Greene should finally breakout into the mainstream after this picture.

Seth Rogen plays Dale Denton, a process server who smokes all day between delivering notices to people from the courthouse. He dates a high school student, and isn't looking for much responsibility. His dealer is Saul Silver, played perfectly by James Franco. With his greasy hair, and pajama attire, Franco re-defines the role of a pothead.

From the start, Rogen and Franco mesh perfectly to create a duo the audience can like and care for during the 2 hour runtime, where most of the gags and laughs pay off. The film places them in a drug war between a big time dealer named Ted Jones, and some feisty Asians. Jones is played by Gary Cole from "Office Space," as his character feels like the bad guy straight out of any action film from the 80's.

In fact, this film plays a lot like a B-movie, as we watch these two friends trudge through car chases and shootouts, as they're clearly in over their heads. Rounding out the cast is a middleman between Saul and Jones named Red, played by the increasingly popular Danny McBride, who also went to film school with Gordon Greene. Also, look for him in the upcoming "Tropic Thunder." Rosie Perez, who hasn't been in a film in ages plays a crooked cop who has ties with Jones and his goons.

The key to the film is the charm and likable aspect brought to the table by Rogen and Franco, if that relationship feels forced or fake in any ways, the film fails in my opinion. While most of the action on display in the film is over the top or too much, that's because its supposed to be that way. Walking out of the theater, I was reminded of films like "The Big Lebowski", "True Romance", and "Pineapple Express", films that may make a few bucks on the big screen, but will have a lifetime worth of value on DVD.