"Pineapple Express" isn't the first comedy to promote marijuana use, but it's most likely the funniest. I tend to wince a bit when films promote such a lifestyle (kids are influenced by these movies), but here the gags are so good, the performances so jubilant, it was hard not to be taken in (or should I say rolled up?).

After an admittedly lame and almost entirely unrelated opening, the film follows Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) and Saul Silver (James Franco) as they flee the hitmen sent to kill them for witnessing a murder.

Dale's a process server perpetually stuck in that summer between high school and college, smoking weed and making out with his teenage girlfriend in the halls of his alma matter. Saul is Dale's drug dealer, the sort of cheerful idiot so suited for the grass that he appears high even during the 10 or so minutes a day that he isn't.

The characters are a good reflection of the way stoners really act; flighty, goofy and engaged in repetitious discussions. But here they manage to be amusing instead of tiresome - no easy task.

Their smoking catches up with them, but not in the form of an unlucky traffic stop. Instead, Dale sees Ted Jones (Gary Cole), the area's head herb distributor, executing a rival. In his rush to get away, Dale drops his roach, which just happens to be a strain (Pineapple Express) so rare that Ted can instantly trace it. The pair bolt to Saul's friend Red (Danny McBride), a middleman whose apparent inability to die becomes a running joke.

"The Pineapple Express" is in its heart a buddy film, complete with an ending that sees both characters blasting away at gangsters with assault rifles. Dale would rather not spend a minute with Saul, who has mistaken Dale's politeness with friendliness. But it turns out there's nothing like bonding over some quality green and fights to the death, so the friendship Saul had envisioned in place begins to form for real.

Can I call Franco miscast even if he did a great job? His wasteoid mannerisms and voice are spot-on imitations of chronic users, but his pretty boy good looks and rock solid physique likely isn't found on too many small-time dope merchants. It came as no surprise to me when I read that Franco and Rogen were originally to cast to play opposite roles. Since Rogen's ability to stretch as an actor is as of yet unproven, this switch likely occurred for the better, as his verbose temperament contrasts well with Franco's loopy nitwit persona.

Despite the pic's gleeful stoner vibe, it doesn't aggressively hawk the drug. I did enjoy how the film looks like it'll arbitrarily admonish pot smoking, only to turn around and say "psyche!" Directed by art house filmmaker David Gordon Green, "Pineapple Express" feels written with everyone in mind, and by everyone I mean those looking for a bloody, hard comedy; rocking the gange or not.