Are you ready for yet another Judd Apatow production? After the minor set back that was Drillbit Taylor, the producer is back in full swing with Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the righteous stoner comedy Pineapple Express.

In Pineapple Express, Seth Rogen is Dale Denton, a slacker with an affinity for the herb. One day, after scoring some particularly good product from sweet natured dealer Saul Silver (Played by James Franco), Dale witnesses a mob hit. Soon, Dale and Saul find themselves on the run from bad guy Gary Cole and his colorful henchman.

Pineapple Express is a lot of fun. It isn't quite up the same standard as Apatow and crew's biggest and brightest (i.e. 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, etc.). It's much broader, and far sillier, but it's still a laugh out loud riot. The thumb hitchhiking and foot through the windshield bits, are amongst the funniest moments you'll see in a film all year. Furthermore, Pineapple Express does prove to be a departure of sorts. What starts off as a zany pot head road movie, switches gears and becomes an in your face action extravaganza, complete with huge explosions, gun fights, and spontaneous bursts of violence. In some ways, the shifting tones of Pineapple Express reminded me a bit of Edgar Wright's outstanding ode to action films opus Hot Fuzz.

Ironically, Pineapple Express was directed by David Gordon Green, a film maker known for haunting, independent pictures like Snow Angels. Believe it or not, he proves to be a perfect fit for the material. Not only are the action scenes over the top delicious but the entire movie has a goofy charm about it. Yes, Pineapple Express is uneven, but who cares. It's a stoner comedy.

Seth Rogen is fun here as is up and coming Danny McBride, but it's James Franco who really owns this movie. Known for his more brooding characters, Franco lightens up here as the pot head with the heart of gold. There were times where I wasn't entirely sure if Franco's glassy eyed appearance had to do with his excessive habit or if he was simply yearning for a friend.

Like Superbad, Pineapple Express has a tale of friendship at it's center, and while this bond certainly isn't as developed as the friendships in past Apatow productions, this picture gets away with it because quite frankly, it has an entirely different agenda. Pineapple Express is the definitive pot head/action fest/road movie of the year.