Hot Rod

I wasn't expecting too much when I tossed in this film, but it sort of surprised me.

I always felt that Hot Rod would have a few laugh out loud moments from the pure stupidity - which it did, actually a little more than I expected - but the true heart of the movie was actually pretty sweet when you get down to it.

Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg) longs to be a stuntman. He believes that his father worked for Evel Knievel and set up the stunts before Knievel would try them. After his father died, his mother remarried Frank (Ian McShane) and they had a child, Kevin (Jorma Taccone). Throughout the first part of the film, Rod constantly fights with his father, literally. Frank believes that once Rod can beat him in a fight then he is a man - Rod actually loves Frank and longs for his respect.

Despite constantly trying to perform stunts, and with a crew of his brother Kevin, and friends Dave (Bill Hader) and Rico (Danny McBride), Rod was never a very succesful stuntman.

One afternoon Rod learns that Frank has a weak heart and doesn't have much time to live - despite obviously caring for Frank, Rod vows to raise $50,000 for the surgery so that he can once again fight Frank to gain his respect.

He sets out to perform one huge stunt that would be able to raise the money to save his step-father's life. Joining the crew is an old friend, and current crush of Rod's Denise (Isla Fisher) who motivates Rod - especially during the time that he gives up on himself.

Will Arnett plays Denise's prickish boyfriend Jonathan, which to me was basically a throwaway role for him.

Like I said, the movie had its moments for comedy - including, quite possibly, the longest fall down a hillside in movie history - which kept the film funny, but it was also the heartfelt moments that made the movie even better. Even though Rod masks his love for his stepfather - he risked his own life to save his, even if it was just to kick his ass.

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Pineapple Express

Have you ever witness a murder? Have you ever witness a murder on weed, man?

Pineapple Express is a pretty hilarious journey of a pair of stoners, one of which happens to witness a murder which sends the pair on this journey.

Seth Rogen stars as Dale Denton, a process server who likes to smoke a little weed and is also dating an 18-year old high school student, Angie (Amber Heard).

Denton has started buying his weed from Saul Silver (James Franco), a guy who lives alone and appears to be just a bit lonely. Anyway, Silver sells Denton a new crop of weed called Pineapple Express, which is very rare - so rare in fact that he is literally the only dealer selling it.

As Denton is staking out his next person to serve, Ted Jones (Gary Cole), he witnesses Jones and a female cop (Rosie Perez) murder someone. He immediately freaks out, tosses his joint out the window, and high tails it to Silver's apartment.

Bad news is, Jones is the supplier that Silver gets his weed from - so he recognizes the Pinepple Express and know immediately who to go after.

The remainder of the film is Silver and Denton trying horribly to escape from a pair of Jones' hitman, Budlofsky (Kevin Corrigan) and Matheson (Craig Robinson).

This all finishes with an all-out war between Jones' crew, the Asians and Silver, Denton and Red (Danny McBride).

This film is another Apatow produced movie, which was written by Rogen himself. Rogen actually wrote the part of Saul Silver for himself, but felt that Franco would do a much better job - and it was a great call because Franco nailed this part.

I wouldn't rank this film too high on the Apatow movie scale - it is most likely behind 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. But, this was a pretty enjoyable film as well.

I felt that Franco literally made the movie - as well as the small parts played by Corrigan and Robinson. The movie had some great laugh out loud moments - and also a pretty cool battle scene at the conclusion.

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