Review of The Guardian and The Telegraph

www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/12/comedy1

Only news of a Freebie and the Bean remake directed by Terrence Malick could have astonished me more. David Gordon Green, who secured my swooning admiration for his serenely beautiful first feature George Washington in 2000, and a basic level of fandom ever since for his high arthouse cine-Americana, has taken the directorial reins, or maybe just taken the cheque, for a stoner comedy thriller produced by Judd Apatow. Seth Rogen and James Franco play two dopeheads on the run from serious bad guys.

Really, it could have been directed by anyone, although one gentle mini-montage of Rogen and Franco clowning around in a forest at dawn does look a bit like what I must now think of as the Master's early work. Watching this without having got stoned first is like watching a 3D movie without the special glasses. There are a few moderate laughs (and a nice Jude Law gag) but the full-on gory violence is disconcerting and unfunny.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/sukhdevsandhu/3560321/Film-review-Pineapple-Express.html

"Pineapple Express, another thundering juggernaut of bad taste, post-teen humour and arrested development from the team responsible for Knocked Up, Superbad and Drillbit Taylor."

"The film is disjointed and out of whack. It never settles on a style or a rhythm."

"There's no way that someone like Angie would be going out with Dale, and no reason story-wise for even pretending that she might."

"Pineapple Express has its fair share of laughs, but it's a fundamentally heartless and unlovable minor work from Team Apatow."

Research

Review

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/pineapple_express/

"While it might sound outlandish to speak of THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS in the same sentence as CITIZEN KANE, in its own little neck of the cinematic woods the Judd Apatow/Seth Rogen comedy is perhaps just as groundbreaking."

"In fact, it's nearly impossible to think of another film that blends so seamlessly pitch-perfect stoner babble with high-octane action sequences."

"Indie director David Gordon Green (SNOW ANGELS) brings a subtle auteur's touch to the proceedings, approaching the smoking scenes with his distinctively loose feel and giving the action sequences a wonderfully dated sheen that makes them look more like a fight from KNIGHT RIDER than the empty flash of 21st-century blow-‘em-ups."

"There's only so many ways to play a stoner, but Franco puts his own endearing, lovable spin on the type, portraying Saul as a kind-hearted, well-intentioned yet hardcore dope smoker."
Tomatometer:68%

The review states how the film may be a hybrid genre. This is because it mentions how they've combined action and comedy. The review provides audiences who have not yet seen the film, what to expect and if it is worth watching. Also for audiences who have seen it, they may agree or disagree with the overall review. They will also be able to give their own review of the film and a rating.

Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2YlJX68sUw&feature=player_embedded

The interview is with producer Judd Apatow and the two main actors Seth Rogen and James Franco. It is important as it allows the people involved to give their own views about the film. Furthermore they're able to talk about the process of producing the film. They're also able to promote the film to audiences by talking highly about it.

Article/Review
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/sukhdevsandhu/3560321/Film-review-Pineapple-Express.html

"Pineapple Express, another thundering juggernaut of bad taste, post-teen humour and arrested development from the team responsible for Knocked Up, Superbad and Drillbit Taylor."

"The film is disjointed and out of whack. It never settles on a style or a rhythm."

"There's no way that someone like Angie would be going out with Dale, and no reason story-wise for even pretending that she might."

"Pineapple Express has its fair share of laughs, but it's a fundamentally heartless and unlovable minor work from Team Apatow."

The newspaper article is from the telegraph. This, in contrast to the review gives a more critical view of 'Pineapple Express'. The article also may suggest what kind of audience the film is suited to. This is because it is a 'quality' newspaper so it is targeted at A/B class people. Therefore by criticising the film it is suggesting the film won't appeal to the readers but to more C2/D class people.

Pineapple Express

Media Representations

All the main characters in the film are being represented in a stereotypical view. The main characters Dale ( Seth Rogen) and Saul ( James Franco) are represented as drug abusers which is shown by how their behavior changes frequently. This is done by representing them in different ways such as getting paranoid. This is typically associated with drug users. Also how one moment they're laid back then they panic over a little sound.

Saul, the drug dealer is also represented by the way he lives. He is introduces in a messy apartment and is sitting down smoking marijuana. This representation is fairly accurate as it gives the impression that the character doesn't do anything else. Dale, the process server is represented as having a working class mentality. This is because after work he drinks and takes drugs so attempts to seek escapism from his life.

Dale's girlfriend, Angie is a student. There is a big age gap between the two as Dale is a lot older. Angie is represented as a pretty face who is with an older man. She is portrayed as an airhead. Druglord Ted is represented as evil. He plays the role as the villain and is represented in this way by having henchmen. He works with a corrupt police officer named Carol. It provides us with a representation of the police system. Also as the corrupt police officer is a women, it could suggest a sexist view of women that they're unable to do a 'man's job'.

Media Languages and Forms

Forms such as the clothing of the characters link well with the role they play. Dale wears a ruff suit which shows how he is washed up and has an average job. Saul has long hair and gives the impression of a 'hippy'. This is also because of his laid back attitude.

The setting is in the city. This allows it to seem realistic as drugs are more frequent in the city. The lighting is mainly high key lighting. This may be a surprise as the film is to do with drugs and crime. However it connotes that the genre isn't horror and it also still gives that comedy edge to it. Also the make up used to show the bruises on them imply that they have been on a wild adventure. In addition conveys the message how drugs can take control of you.

The dominant images in the text are cigars and guns. These two images are clearly relevant to the main theme of the text as it provides a huge amount of action. However doesn't sum up the genre as it is a comedy.

Narrative

The protagonist Dale is created by introducing him to the audience immodestly so they can familiarize with his role. He is not seen as the ideal hero as he is clumsy and isn't tough. He is created as the hero as he is being chased by the villain. This again shows why he isn't a stereotypical protagonist as this would usually be the other way around. The villain, Ted is created when the audience see him commit murder. This creates shock and is immediately hated by the audience. This is seen by Dale and thus creating him as the hero.

Saul provides the function of a sidekick/ false hero. This is confirmed as he is second in command to Dale. This is a way of identifying with the audience by giving a familiar narrative where the hero has a back up. Another way of identifying with the audience is by having many different subordinates for the villain. This also provides different obstacles for Dale and Saul. Therefore the audience are also able to identify with the two characters better.

The values and ideologies the text provide is a negative view of drugs. This is because it shows how you're no longer in control of your actions and provides an involuntary effect on you. This is directed at the audience through the characters entertaining yet shocking action.

Genre

The genre of the text is action/ comedy. To more extent comedy as this is enforced throughout the film. The main hint that suggests the text is a comedy is the main actor Seth Rogen. The audience will identify it is a comedy as he has done many, many comedy films in the past. Such as Knocked Up, Superbad and Step Brothers. He has contributed one way or another. In this particular text he also helped write the script. However iconographic features such as guns wouldn't suggest its a comedy straight away. This is because guns are more associated with action.

Media Institutions

The text was distributed by Colombia Pictures. Which are well known for distributing the Spiderman movies. The producers Judd Apatow and Shauna Robertson were involved with Seth Rogen in films Superbad and Knocked Up. Therefore by being involved in similar films in the past they may have decided to use the same kind of humor that they have used in those two films in this text.

Media Values and Ideology

The values made by the text on society are very contemporary. Due to crime being committed by an upper class man connotes how they're challenging the stereotype of a criminal. However their representations of women aren't contemporary. With one being represented as an airhead and the other a corrupt police officer. Also they're no major roles played by women. Therefore the texts ideologies of women are negative.

Media Audiences

The target audience is mainly males aged 16-25. The two main characters follow this criteria therefore the audience are able to relate to them. Assumptions of audiences characteristics that is implicit in the text is the use of drugs and violence. This is associated with teenagers. Therefore this type of audience may be able to identify with the text.