A hit of PINAPPLE EXPRESS


It appears Seth Rogen can do no wrong in great truthful comedies. He and Judd Apatow have created a franchise of comedies that would rival any other in history. Take a look at this impressive list when they collaborate: 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, KNOCKED UP, SUPERBAD, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, and ANCHORMAN (yes, Seth was in that in a small role…look it up!). PINEAPPLE EXPRESS follows this tradition like a great bong hit.

PINAPPLE EXPRESS at its juicy core is a drug adventure comedy in the same light as HALF BAKED, HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, and CHEECH AND CHONG’S UP IN SMOKE. Hilarious to a fault and with added car chase scenes, gun play, and explosions. It has everything a guy movie should have with the obvious exception of bikini girls. And this movie IS geared towards guys, or gals who like guy movies. And anyone who likes to light up once and awhile.

PINAPPLE EXPRESS is a story of Dale Denton (Rogen), a court processing server, and his drug-dealing buddy, Saul (John Franco), as they go on the run after Dale witnesses a murder. The conversations are as high and absurd as the characters and they stumble their way to escape the murderers (Rosie Perez as a crooked cop, and Gary Cole as a drug lord) who are trying to hunt them down. They befriend Saul’s dealer, Red(Danny R. McBride), who becomes seemingly invincible as he survives bullet wounds, bathroom sinks, and fires…which is perfect (and plausible) for this movie.

John Franco shines in a role I never thought he could pull off convincingly. Before this stoner persona, he was probably most recognizable as Spiderman’s best friend-turned-nemesis, Harry Osborn/Goblin in the newest SPIDERMAN series. Franco’s Saul is one I’d love to see again.

And Seth Rogen is great as always. His shelf life as a producer, actor, and writer can be as fruitful as Kevin Smith’s career if he hasn’t already surpassed it. Seth Rogen is someone every guy can relate to…heck, probably has had a friend just like him somewhere. What guy hasn’t dreamed about blowing up stuff, driving a car real fast, and bringing down the bad guy? Seth Rogen has dreamed it and has created it.

With PINAPPLE EXPRESS, we can experience all this as well through a Purple Haze.

8.5 Dr. Greenthumbs out of 4:20 (if in altered states of being)
7.8 flying Slurpees out of 10 (if not)

TROPIC THUNDER: A Storm of Downey


I witnessed a few interesting previews when I saw Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller’s spoof on Hollywood war movies. One looks promising, another a cry for help in a dying franchise, and a third should never have been created. I want to briefly comment on each before I get into my review of Tropic Thunder.


First, let’s start with Tugg Speedman’s Scorcher IV: Global Meltdown. I’ve been a fan of the Scorcher movies since I was a kid, and Speedman delivers on each one (a little less effectively each time). How many cheesy catch phrases can one actor produce before he becomes irrelevant? Apparently, Tugg has reached his quota…and his “serious” turn in the mental disability bomb SIMPLE JACK did nothing to help his career. This reviewer will probably wait until this hits video. Sorry, Tugg, but one of us has to let go of the past.

The second movie is a Jeff Portnoy fart comedy…the sequel to the undeserved hit THE FATTIES (2006)…THE FATTIES: FART 2. I can’t express how horrible this movie looks. It’s an insult to witty fart-knockers in history like Lord Flatulette (who could perform Beethoven’s 5th Symphony without a soiled undie), and Seymore Farts (the famous 1970s fart impression comic). I pass judgment on the movie on the mere trailer. So long Mr. Portnoy…and good riddance.

Lastly, I saw a great preview of the new Kirk Lazarus/Tobey McGuire religious love drama called SATAN’S ALLEY. If you haven’t seen this preview, go out and watch it. The trailer alone will bring you to tears.

Now on to the review.

TROPIC THUNDER stars Tugg Speedman (Stiller), Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), and the exceptional Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr). For those who haven’t heard, Lazarus underwent skin pigmentation surgery to play the movie’s African-American general. And the transformation from the blond haired blue-eyed bombshell is astounding and a testament to method acting. He alone is what makes this movie worthwhile.

No war movie is safe as they poke fun at anything and everything Hollywood. From the over-budget gore fests of some movies to the angry life of a producer (Tom Cruise in one of his funniest roles ever!), Tropic Thunder spares no prisoners.

This movie may take a few tours of duty to fully appreciate like any Ben Stiller movie (i.e. ZOOLANDER). The jokes come fast, subtle, and timeless enough to last the long run.

Those who’ve written articles about this movie being offensive to the mentally disabled are…well, mentally disabled. One of Tugg Speedman’s characters (SIMPLE JACK) is an over-the-top caricature of Hollywood’s portrayal of the mentally disabled (or as the movie says “retarded”). If there’s any people who should be offended, it’s Hollywood for subjecting us to actors reaching beyond their grasps to reinvent their careers (see Jim Carrey in any serious role).

TROPIC THUNDER elevates the bar on smart spoof movies. Having said that, without Robert Downey Jr or Tom Cruise nailing their respective characters to the point of ridiculous believability, this movie wouldn’t have been a blip on the radar. Also, keep the kiddies away. It’s a funny movie but gory in that Spielberg war-action movie kind of way.

8.2 cans of Booty Sweat Energy Drink out of 10

The original STEP BROTHERS


Will Farrell is an original funnyman. No one has enjoyed a career essentially playing themselves for so long since Jim Carrey in his Ace Venture/Dumb & Dumber phase. I don’t deny his talents, his utter fearlessness, and astounding absurdities. Farrell is the real deal.

John C. Reilly is a truly original actor. He’s a sensitive Everyman who isn’t given enough opportunities to shine. Every role he takes is of an unsung hero just like his life. He commits fully to his craft life few other actors of this generation, and when given the right co-stars, he feeds off that energy and morphs into the role he’s given.

STEP BROTHERS is not an original movie. The concept of two 40 year olds acting as adolescents is original. When the concept broken down and stripped to a nut sack on a snare drum, this is a “Buddy Movie” in the style of Steve Martin and John Candy in PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES, Abbott and Costello, or (the aforementioned) Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in DUMB AND DUMBER…only not as good.

Comedy can be dumb and silly. Comedy can be thoughtful. But comedy demands heart for it to be palatable. Without heart, it becomes difficult to care about the character’s careless antics. As such, it is difficult to care about Brennan (Farrell) and Dale (Reilly).

This isn’t a slight on Farrell’s or Reilly’s comedic ability. They made as much as they could from what they were given. The fault lies on their writing abilities to produce an adequate script (also written by the two stars). It almost felt like they were relying on old jokes and just “phoning it in” instead of pushing the envelope.

I found myself caring more for their father (step-father), Robert (Richard Jenkins of SIX FEET UNDER), who displays the most depth in this movie. His dreams of traveling around the world on a boat are shattered as quickly as the brothers shattered his boat on some rocks. Only when they realize Robert’s pain do they try to make amends and grow up. But even here, this seems forced and out of character for them.

Still, STEP BROTHERS does offer a few laughs (most of which are given away in the trailer), and a good fill of Will Farrell. Not one of his best movies (ANCHORMAN), not his worst (NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY), and better than the dated SEMI-PRO. This is a movie in search of a heart.

6.9 “Boats and Hos” out of 10