Review: Pineapple Express (Part I): wincestuouslove

wincestuouslove

Review: Pineapple Express (Part I)

Feb 07, 2011 07:19

mady be shelby_face

Review: Pineapple Express (Part I)
Author: wincestuouslove
Summary: To review the movie in a homoerotic aspect.
Hence, to disprove the term "bromance" -- a common misconceived description on the nature of the relationship -- between the two main characters, Dale and Saul.

A/N: How many homophobics watch and even like this movie without realizing it is a love story between two men?
If you think the homoerotic undertone in Sherlock Holmes (2009) is strong, as much as I love Holmes/Watson, that in Pineapple Express (2008)has the same strength, if not doubled.

Sometimes I wonder why people keep saying the relationship between Dale Denton (played by Seth Rogen) and Saul Silver (played by James Franco) in action comedy Pineapple Express is "bromance".

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Dale: I gotta say, I've had, like, a lot of weed dealers in my day. You're the coolest I've ever had. They were all dicks.
Saul: Really? Thanks, man.
Dale: No problem.
Saul: I really appreciate it. That means a lot to me. It's, like, you're the first guy that I ever sold to that I became friends with. They say, like, "Don't dip the pen in company ink." I'm totally glad I dipped in your ink, bro.
Dale: Yeah... We should get out of town. That's probably our next move. Just get on a bus and leave, right? Get bus tickets. Go to the next town. Contact some police.
Saul: You know what I was saying? Like, I'm totally...
Dale: You're glad you dipped your pen in my ink. But We should get bus tickets and leave, right?
Saul: What?
Dale: Get on the bus? Leave? Buy bus tickets?
Saul: I only have, like, 50 bucks. I don't think that'll even buy one ticket.
Dale: What about your sack?
Saul: Oh, man, it's fucking killing me. I feel like I popped one.
Dale: No. That's unfortunate, but that's not what I'm talking about. I mean, like, the sack of weed. Couldn't we just,like, sell some weed... get some cash and buy bus tickets?
Saul: Of course, man. That's what I do.
Dale: That's what you do. Fucking A.

Saul looks totally in love with Dale to me.

The OFFICIAL description from the movie DVD website:

It could be that the homoerotic content of Pineapple Express is placed out in the open to divert attention from its celebration of marijuana use - or maybe it's the other way round. In any case, this is unambiguously a story about two men who fall in love, even if they express their feelings mainly by sticking joints in their mouths and shooting other men with guns.

James Franco said it a thousand times that it is a LOVE STORY between a man and his drug dealer:

James: I kind of... um... see Pineapple Express as... a love story...
Seth: Mm-hmm.
James: It's kind of... you know... underpinning a love story. So... did you feel more when you're work with Kevin Corrigan... or with me?
Seth: Probably YOU. [both giggle]

James: The term is "bromance" when people are talking about Pineapple Express. Um... Milk is not exactly bromance, there's a lot of flow out male-male romance. But it certainly... I'd... I would define Pineapple Express as a love story between a drug dealer and his cilent.

James: It's great to play a stoner, a dealer with the... with the heart and be in a movie basically about a guy... a love story between a guy and his dealer, so it's great. Thank you.

An interviewer told Seth Rogen and James Franco that he prepared for the interview by watching the classic stoner comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), which has Sean Penn played Jeff Spicoli, the night before.
When he asked Rogen and Franco if they prepared likewise before making this film, Franco said he prepared by making out with Spicoli.

In the beginning, the love is one-sided.

Dale: [phone-in] You ever dealt with a drug dealer? It's terrible, it's weird, it's awkward. They think they're your friend, but they're not.

When Dale visits his house to buy weed, Saul is so delighted to see Dale as he is chatty and touchy-feely to him. However, he does not show such affection to other cilents.

Saul: Have a seat. Yo, check this out. Satellite radio.
Dale: Got two TVs and radio. That's pretty rad.
Saul: That's home entertainment.
Dale: You're very entertained. Oh, wow. You got a cute picture too.
Saul: Oh, yeah. Me and my bubbe. Hey, let me ask you something.
Dale: Yeah?
Saul: Do you think you could pull the plug on someone if you needed to? Like, euthanasia?
Dale: Like, on her?
Saul: If I needed to.
Dale: I'm kind of in a hurry, man. I don't knowif we should start going down that road. I could talk all day about euthanasia. Don't get me started.
Saul: Maybe we should...
Dale: We'll save it.
Saul: Save it for next time.

Saul shares the "dopest dope", which called "Pineapple Express", ONLY with Dale.

Dale: I'm the only guy you sold it to? The other guys got snicklefritz?
Saul: Yeah. So we're, like the only guys.

Saul just applies body spray in the middle of their business trade. Oh why?

When Dale tries to leave, Saul would not let go.

Dale: Well, got the weed... in the bag. Beautiful. Okay. Be careful with that thing, man. Here's the cash, grab the stash. *leaving* Alrighty, man, thanks. Have a good one. Don't hurt yourself. Adios.
Saul: Well, hey, wait a minute, man. Let's smoke this fucking thing.
Dale: I really... I can't, man. I gotta...
Saul: I can't even light this thing on my own. Yeah, I need your help, man.
Dale: I'm in. Why not? Let's do it.
Saul: *happy* Come on! Come on down!

Dale: Anyway, I should really get going, man. I gotta go. Duty calls, but it's good to see you. Thanks.
Saul: You're gonna smoke and run? Come on, man. We can go look at some crazy things on the Internet together.
Dale: That sounds appealing, but I think I should probably just get going.
Saul: Oh, that sucks.
Dale: Yeah.
Saul: That's cool, man. What are you doing this weekend? Because, you know, my bubbe's got season tickets to the opera... and she can't make it, so wanna go see Phantom?
Dale: Of the Opera?
Saul: Yeah.
Dale: I can't this weekend, but you know what? Here. You know... I'll run out of weed in a couple days. I'll come by, hang out.
Saul: We'll watch 227 and shit.
Dale: Definitely.
Saul: Cool, man. Well, thanks. Good to see you. Peace, brother.
Dale: Okay.
Saul: One love.

Later the rareness of the Pineapple Express gets them into a life-theatening trouble, so they hide in the wood until next day noon to seek the help from Saul's friend, Red.

Saul: Fucking hand job, Dale. I mean, imagine if I gave you a hand job.
Dale: Why would I wanna do that?
Saul: I mean if I got you a hand job.

Saul: I'm cold.
Dale: You're cold? Oh, I'm not cold at all. Here. I run hot.
Saul: Really?
Dale: Yeah.
Saul: You got more...
Dale: Thick blood.
Saul: ... body mass.
Dale: Yeah, no, take it.
Saul: Thank you.
Dale: I don't appreciate that, but it's okay.

Saul thinks he heard something.