Watch Before Viewing The Pineapple Express

The Superbad team reunite for the stoner action pic

Bromance, stoners, and middle-aged-adolescents- we can only be talking about the Apatow school of film as Seth Rogen and James Franco reunite for the pot-comedy-thriller ‘The Pineapple Express’. In their latest excursion, stoner wage hound Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) and his drug dealer Saul Silver (James Franco) are forced to go on the run when Dale witnesses a corrupt cop’s murder. The film’s title refers to Saul’s newly acquired strain of weed that Dale accidentally leaves behind when fleeing the cime scene. With Pineapple Express, the team behind Superbad are looking to mix n’ match genres offering a blend of pot comedy, action and adventure. But what are those essential pics to check out before seeing this flick? Movies.ie recommends:

 



FREAKS AND GEEKS:

 

 

Ok we admit, this isn’t a film but its always good to know your history and with Franco, Rogen and Apatow owning much of their success to their original project, ‘Freaks and Geeks’ is essential stuff. This 18 episode show was set in 1980, following two groups of high school kids (the “freaks” and the “geeks”) as they attempt to navigate the pitfalls of adolescence. Among the colourful characters are the Geeks: Bill, Sam, and Neil, three awkward pre-teen friends undergoing some excruciating, but funny, growing pains. The Freaks (Rogen and Franco) are a group who revolve around Sam’s older army-jacket-clad sister, Lindsay, a talented mathematician undergoing various crises of confidence involving life, college, and her on-again, off-again stoner boyfriend. It all adds up to a potent mixture that is moving, funny, and grounded in a reality, which accurately captures the often-painful experience of being a teenager.

 

 

SUPERBAD:

 

 

Produced by Judd Apatow and co-written by Seth Rogen, Superbad is the story of two horny teenage geeks looking to lose their virginity before college. Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are hoping to end high school on a high note, and when one of their crushes (Emma Hill) invites them to a graduation party, the boys are ecstatic. That is, until they become responsible for supplying the party with alcohol. They hurriedly concoct a scheme to use their friend Fogell’s (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) horrendously fake ID, but trouble soon arises when Fogell becomes the victim of a liquor store robbery…

 

 

MIDNIGHT RUN

 

 

Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin star in this hilarious action-packed blockbuster with De Niro starring as Jack Walsh – a cynical ex-cop turned bounty hunter who is offered $100,000 to bring Jonathan “the Duke” Mardukas (Grodin) to justice. Jonathan is a sensitive accountant who embezzled from the mob, gave the money to charity, and jumped bail. Jack begins what he believes will be a relatively standard trip with his prisoner from New York to Los Angeles until he learns that Jonathan owes 15 million dollars to mobster Jimmy Serrano (Dennis Farina), who has put a hit out on the neurotic and wimpy accountant and will stop at nothing to capture the wanted man. To complicate matters, the FBI is also after the accountant to testify against the mob. The two unlikely partners suffer a hysterical trip via plane, train, and car as they attempt to outrun Jonathan’s enemies, forced to endure many outrageous twists and turns as a bickering team.


THE BIG LEBOWSKI

 

 

 

Mixing in Leninist philosophy, mistaken identity, crazy characters, a kidnapping plot, and a deep love of bowling, the Cohen Brothers unleashed upon an unsuspecting world the many glories of The Big Lebowski. Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski, known as the Dude, a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife owes a lot of dangerous people a whole bunch of money–resulting in the Dude having his rug soiled, sending him spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld. As usual in Coen brothers films, the dialogue is hysterically warped; the plot is confusing, complicated and the soundtrack is virtually another character!

 


UP IN SMOKE!

 

 

Cheech and Chong’s first “hit” movie is a popular comedy for the red-eyed generation. The outrageous pair begin their search for green pastures and good grass. After several wacky adventures and close shaves ensue, the comedic duo end up at L.A.’s Roxy Theatre to perform a hilarious final scene. Without giving away too many clues, it can be said that a pink tutu and a red quaalude are involved…

 

 

The Pineapple Express hits Irish cinemas, Friday September 12th.