(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?

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

Comments

mojodaddy

joe fish

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.

Jul 19 - 10:13 AM

Abe Fromer

D P

Unless I'm mistaken, they already did work together in Freaks and Geeks

Jul 19 - 10:27 AM

Mobias

Mo El-Leo

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

Jul 19 - 10:29 AM

Mr. Kong

Sam jacobs

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

Jul 19 - 10:36 AM

arendr

Arend Anton

Does Franco have to be in this?

He's really weak...

Jul 19 - 10:38 AM

Bigbrother

Big Brother

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.

Jul 19 - 10:38 AM

South_park300

First Last

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

Jul 19 - 10:40 AM

FILMCZY

First Last

Okay so when does the Judd Apatow backlash begin?

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

Jul 19 - 12:40 PM

FILMCZY

First Last

Okay so when does the Judd Apatow backlash begin?

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

Jul 19 - 12:40 PM

rmobbs

First Last

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.

Jul 19 - 01:55 PM

jacketman

Brian Thatcher

No.... Its pretty funny. I know people who disagree with you MUST be deluted though. I hate opinions too!!!!!!!!!

Jul 19 - 02:01 PM

GoldbergsVariations

Z Gold

This should be good...

Aug 6 - 10:27 PM

bobdebicker

Ben DeVictor

you're angry...

Jul 19 - 01:59 PM

arendr

Arend Anton

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.

Jul 19 - 02:25 PM

Scarborough Fair

Kyle Beaudette

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.

Jul 19 - 03:00 PM

sharpless

Matthew Sanderson

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

Jul 19 - 03:18 PM

South_park300

First Last

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

Jul 19 - 03:50 PM

h-town24

frank ford

Points taken away with the useless H&K hate.

Jul 19 - 04:41 PM

EmmG389

First Last

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.

Jul 19 - 05:00 PM

Bear45

Eli Thomas

1. How is Sandler a sell out? No really, answer it. Maybe you're just tired of him.
2. Talladega nights DID suck.
3. Apatow IS bringing the goods, but I think he gets too much credit. Apparently a) he steals material (he's been called out on it many times, which makes me wonder). and b) most of the scenes and lines are all improvised by his FANTASTIC crew of comedians.

I've liked "his" work, but maybe he should find a way to give more credit where credit is due instead of hogging all the glory. Then I'd be comfortable with saying, "Yeah! Apatow's great!"

Jul 20 - 04:46 PM

frogleg

Josh Quarles

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...

Jul 20 - 05:44 AM

jeremyd4

jeremy d

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.

Jul 20 - 11:24 AM

GoldbergsVariations

Z Gold

I would say that Rogen / Apatow posse is close in significance to the John Cassavettes crew (Cassavettes, Falk, Cassell, Gena Rowlands).

Aug 6 - 10:29 PM

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