PINEAPPLE EXPRESS opens next Friday, August 6th


PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is the most brutal, gory and envelope pushing horror flick to be released by a major studio in 20 years.

Okay, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is not a horror film at all; it's a comedy. But as the editor of Fear Zone I can review whatever I want, and I consider anything that caters to fanboys appropriate. There's plenty in this film that will appeal to Fear Zone readers.

Judd Apatow's FREAKS AND GEEKS was one of the most brilliant and under appreciated TV shows ever, lasting only one season, and a truncated one at that. When the show ended, critics fell all over themselves predicting great things for the series leads Linda Cardellini (wasted as Thelma in the SCOOBY DOO films) and James Franco (who received a lot of attention playing James Dean in a TV movie, then made a bundle of cash as Harry Osbourne in the SPIDER-MAN films). No one mentioned Seth Rogan, who not only co-starred in Apatow's follow up series, UNDECLARED, which also only lasted one season, but he wrote several of the episodes. Then Apatow's 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN popularized Rogan and KNOCKED UP made him a bona fide movie star.

Apatow produced PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and co-created the story with Rogan and Evan Goldberg, who co-wrote the screenplay, which was directed by David Gordon Green. The film stars Rogan as an unrepentant version of his KMOCKED UP character and Franco as his pot dealer. When Rogan witnesses a drug (dealer) related murder committed by Gary Cole and Rosie Perez, he and Franco go on the run with Cole's assassins in hot pursuit. The film is a buddy movie; a road picture; a love story; an action film; and a gross out comedy all rolled into one. By the time it becomes a 42nd street grindhouse flick, it's also features the most gruesome ear mutilation since Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, albeit played for laughs.

Franco is the real revelation here. While audiences are now familiar with Rogan's routine, Franco plays his slacker/stoner/dealer character as a sweet natured guy who many people will feel they've known in real life. PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is going to be the biggest pothead flick since the inglorious days of CHEECH AND CHONG UP IN SMOKE, and combining this particular subgenre with Apatow's brand of smart comedy has resulted in a hilarious comedy that I believe will be the sleeper hit of the summer. The film reminded me of the original version of THE IN-LAWS more than anything, and Ed Begley, Jr., who had a small role in that film, appears here as well.

Great shit, man!