'Pineapple Express' balances constant laughs with action

I finally understand the equation for distinguishing the good Judd Apatow comedies from the bad. If Judd Apatow writes/directs (“Knocked Up”) or gives the story to the writers of this film – Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg (“Superbad“) – it’s a hilarious, genre re-defining hit. If he simply produces the film (“Step Brothers”) or gives his story to someone else (“You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”), it’s a disappointment. Luckily, “Pineapple Express” falls in the former category, as the writing team of Rogan and Goldberg score another humorous hit, this time about two pot smokers on the run.

Rogan plays Dale Denton, a process server who spends most of his days on the road listening to talk radio. He has a girlfriend – she’s a senior in high school – and is supposed to bite the bullet and meet her parents for dinner. On his way, he visits his friendly, neighborhood pot dealer Saul (James Franco, “Spiderman 3”) for some weed and a little hit. Before he makes it to his girlfriend’s house, he stops for one last service of the night – and becomes a witness to a more serious crime than dealing pot. His none-too-subtle getaway puts his own life in jeopardy, and soon he and Saul are on the run from professional hit men. Can these two stoners stay sober long enough to find help and keep themselves and their friends alive?

While Rogan continues to prove a rock-solid funnyman, able to carry a film on his own, in “Pineapple Express” he has several co-stars to share the spotlight with. Surprisingly, Franco establishes himself as a comedic presence in his own right, giving the character of Saul a quirky personality with emotional depth. Both main characters are quite likeable despite their predilections for the illegal and make compelling “in over their head” protagonists. Saul’s fellow drug dealer, the shady and slightly effeminate Red (Danny McBride, “Hot Rod”), is another scene-stealing character, who is a continually enjoyable on-screen presence.

The villains put forth wonderful performances as well, from the too-cool, family man killer (Kevin Corrigan, “Superbad”) and his gay, black partner to the ineffective, paranoid crime boss (Gary Cole, “Office Space”). Despite the frequent and consistently funny moments, the film doesn’t squander the opportunity for action. There are car chases, gun battles and great escapes. “Pineapple Express” comes across as a lighter version of “Pulp Fiction,” without the Oscar-worthy performances. Due to the frequent drug usage, this isn’t a movie to share with your kids, but it is a guilty pleasure in its own right. In a summer of under-performing comedies, “Pineapple Express” delivers the comic goods and is the newly-crowned king of the stoner comedy.

Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence.