David Gordon Green

Despite its rusty mechanics and hodgepodge of tones, Pineapple Express convincingly imitates the mode of Midnight Run: on-the-run odd-couple comedy with gunplay and car chases.

Ultimately, the magic-and-monsters milieu isn’t enough when the jokes are half-baked.

Catches one off guard with the characters’ open-hearted gestures under duress...feels as if it single-handedly restores humanity to the movies.

Because Green loves the material enough to have some good, old-fashioned fun in this playground, he’s able to bring the audience along with him.