andPOP » pineapple express

James Franco’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Him

Elisheva Baer — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:24:28 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

As if he hasn’t gotten enough heat recently, James Franco’s ghosts of geeks past come back to haunt him!

According to Perez Hilton, the cast of Freaks and Geeks got together last weekend at the Paley Centre for Media’s annual Paley Fest…all but Franco, that is. And there was definitely no love in the air for the missing actor.

When the series’ creator Paul Feig stated that “there were no drama queens on the show”, Judd Apatow responded, “…Except for Franco.” Ouch.

Fellow freak-and-geeker Busy Phillipps, who’s character Kim Kelly was Franco’s on-screen girlfriend, said Franco once “threw her to the ground, even though the script didn’t call for the action.”

“Apparently, Franco decided that his character had “maybe been abused by his father,” but he never announced this to Philipps, and then during one scene when she lightly slapped him across the face, he freaked out and shouted “Don’t you ever [expletive] touch me again!” and then he threw her to the ground, which caused her to run to her trailer in tears.” Watch out world, we might have another Chris Brown on our hands!

It’s saddening to see such a notable actor going so downhill. We loved you in Spider Man and Pineapple Express, and we even loved you in 127 Hours. But after the Oscars, we lost most of our respect for you, and now this? Way to disappoint!

James Franco Setting the Record Straight

Jacob Morris — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:33:55 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

James Franco recently spoke with Advocate magazine, as People.com reports, and made it clear that, although he plays a variety of roles on screen, that doesn’t mean they’re an extension of reality.

Franco has played a pot head (Pineapple Express) and several gay roles, including starring opposite Sean Penn in Milk, but says that those roles don’t really offer any resemblance to his own life.

“Everyone thinks I’m a stoner, and some people think I’m gay because I’ve played these gay roles,” he said. “That’s what people think, but it’s not true. I don’t smoke pot. I’m not gay. But on another level, there’s something in me that is able to play roles like that in a way that’s convincing.”

“In this history of cinema, there are so many heterosexual love stories,” said Franco. “It’s so hammered, so done. It’s just not that interesting to me. It’s more interesting to me to play roles and relationships that haven’t been portrayed as often.”

Good on him for playing characters that are challenging.

Seth Rogen Named Canadian Comedy Person of the Year

Vanessa Baker — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:54:58 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

Vancouver-born Seth Rogen, known for starring in films like Knocked Up, Superbad and Pineapple Express, won the Canadian Comedy Award for Canadian Comedy Person of the Year at a gala Friday held at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John, N.B., reports CBC.

Young People Fucking was awarded the awards for best writing, best directing and best performance by a male (Peter Oldring). The controversial film sparked much debate in the Senate last year about federal film sponsorship. The film was nominated for a total of eight awards.

Jon Dore won best performance by a male for The Jon Dore Television Show, which also won an award for directing.

Ottawa’s Jeremy Hotz and Debra DiGiovanni of Toronto won in the category of best stand-up.

‘Pineapple Express’ Star on Ecstasy Express

andPOP Staff — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:57:14 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

Craig Robinson has pleaded guilty for possession of ecstasy, reports TMZ.

The “Pineapple Express” star, who plays crooked cop Matheson in the film, was arrested at the end of June in Culver City, CA and charged with three felony drug counts.

Along with ecstasy, Robinson was charged with possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabinoids, but all of these charges have been dropped.

Robinson must enter a drug-counseling program within the next 18 months as part of an agreement with prosecutors. If successfully completed, the felony conviction will be dismissed and not appear on his criminal record.

When arrested, the actor was already on probation for the crime of driving under the influence in a separate incident in 2006.

Robinson is most known for his role as Darryl on “The Office” and will appear alongside Seth Rogen again in “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”

Movie Review: Pineapple Express

andPOP Staff — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:38:11 +0000

Posted on andPOP:

Here’s the bad news: “Pineapple Express” was bad.

The good news is that I went in with extremely high expectations, and was not under the influence of any of the green stuff that is talked about so much in the film. So maybe after reading this, and if you’re into that kind of lifestyle, it will be a better experience for you.

The first half hour of the film, which sets up the characters and their lives, is amusing enough. It’s very promising, actually. You’re led to believe that it’s building up to a very funny sequence of events. But suddenly, when that sequence begins, the laughs die off like a burned out stoner.

Seth Rogen’s Dale is stuck in a dead end job serving legal papers. To make his day more enjoyable, Dale smokes weed all day long, which he acquires from his dealer, Saul (James Franco). Saul is a typical burn out who also has a severe lack of friends, so he clings to Dale, making him uncomfortable. When Dale accidentally witnesses a murder and drives off, leaving the rare marijuana he bought from Saul at the scene, the two are forced to run for their lives from a drug lord and his lackeys.

Rogen and life-long friend Evan Goldberg co-wrote the script, and it was quite apparent that they were trying to re-create their “Superbad” success by writing essentially the same story with older characters. There’s the bromance, the annoying character who keeps showing up, the hot girl who can’t act to save her life (actually, scratch that – the “Superbad” girls are miles ahead of Amber Heard) – even the heroic shot where the chubby friend carries the skinny unconscious friend to safety. Not to mention all of the actors who played minor roles in “Superbad” who come back to play exactly the same characters.

If I were to try to sell this movie to an audience, I would sell it as an action movie. I must admit that the action sequences are very solid, especially the climactic battle. It was also pleasing to see the big screen “Freaks and Geeks” reunion of Rogen and Franco. But as a comedy, it’s really just a series of failed jokes. The dialogue is so void of intelligence that it wasn’t even funny in a random way. And Rogen’s character’s relationship with an 18-year-old who is still in high school doesn’t ever seem to have a point.

In the end, I think that where “Pineapple Express” really fails is that it never makes the audience care. In “Superbad,” their only quest was to get alcohol to a party so they could hook up with the girls they had crushes on, and I was completely involved in the story. I was nervous for them, I was on the edge of my seat, and I truly just wanted them to succeed. In “Pineapple Express,” the stakes are much higher – the boys are in real danger of being killed – but I could not care less.

The final scene of the movie is actually wonderfully written, but the film has lost so much momentum by that time that it’s beyond saving. If Rogen and Goldberg had just stuck to what they know – being schleppy, smart ass losers – instead of dreaming of some ridiculous murder plot, they would have had a great movie. Regardless, I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.