Pinapple vs. Thunder

email this story
read comments (14)
post a comment

A friend who passed along PDF copies of the scripts for Pineapple Express, which I've read, and Tropic Thunder, which I haven't, shared a short opinion. "I think the Pineapple Express script is funny -- if a bit underwhelming -- but Tropic Thunder is surprisingly primitive," he said. "It's a really uninspired execution of a terrific premise. Here's hoping they improvised some better material on set. In an odd coincidence, the final acts of both scripts are very similar. Strange."

I don't want this to turn into a huge spoiler thread by those who've read both, but is there any kind of consensus among readers? Without divulging anything particular, I mean. Write me privately if you wish.

Nathan Lee Clipped<< previous | next >>Mood Lardo

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 24, 2008 at 8:05 PM

comment #1

D.Z. says ...

Why is that person so surprised an action movie spoof would be dumb?

Posted by D.Z. at March 24, 2008 8:36 PM

comment #2

actionman says ...

Every single test screening review for Tropic Thunder has been through the roof. Every single website said that the footage shown at Show West was fantastic. So...we'll have to see...

Wells -- did you like the Pineapple script?

Posted by actionman at March 24, 2008 8:52 PM

comment #3

sugar1 says ...

I was surprised by how good the trailer for Pineapple Express looked because the script was thoroughly lame. Everything about it felt watered down and diluted. Like a poor man's Half Baked.

Posted by sugar1 at March 24, 2008 9:35 PM

comment #4

MiraJeffAICN says ...

J-Dubya, I saw Pineapple Express last week. Whatchu wanna know, homey? It's the best thing Judd's produced that he didn't direct.

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at March 24, 2008 9:46 PM

comment #5

Rothchild says ...

Like MiraJeff's taste means anything.

But Pineapple Express is the best movie with Apatow's name on it. I've only seen a few funnier movies in my lifetime.

Posted by Rothchild at March 24, 2008 9:52 PM

comment #6

Mulder215 says ...

I have several friends who has seen both. The most recent said that Tropic was one of the funniest comedies he has seen in the past couple of years. The crowd ate it up and Tom Cruise is so good in his cameo people may actually start liking him again. Robert Downey off the charts.

Pineapple let him down given how great the trailer was. He said the crowd didn't go nuts for it like they did for Tropic.

I've heard a lot of "not as good as the trailer makes it seem" from people I know who have seen PE. Though everyone agrees that Franco is amazing.

Posted by Mulder215 at March 24, 2008 11:07 PM

comment #7

Nick Plowman says ...

I have read the screenplay for both, and think that Tropic Thunder is hilarious. Pineapple Express - not so much. I am not privileged enough to have seen either at test screenings, so all I have to go on is the screenplays. I know I could just say I have seen it {I am assuming a lot of people just say that to make themselves seem important or something - maybe they just like attention} but I won't. Seriously, some of these comments are hilarious.

Posted by Nick Plowman at March 25, 2008 12:49 AM

comment #8

scooterzz says ...

i hate this movie on the grounds that it was shot in my neighborhood and all concrned were a tremendous pain in the ass......no, really....you have no idea how serious i am..... it was cute at first. (all the changed street signs on laurel canyon)...then it was all about apatow......this movie made me root for more 'runaway production'......
hmmm....'nuff venting, i guess.....

Posted by scooterzz at March 25, 2008 1:03 AM

comment #9

ZayTonday says ...

I saw Pineapple Express at a test screening back in September 07.

I was VERY underwhelmed having just seen Superbad because it didn't have many parts that reached the level on zaniness in Superbad. I did enjoy the final action scene though, that was the best part of the movie. The action scenes are where Pineapple Express really shines, and also, James Franco OWNS this movie. It's probably the best performance of his career, not that it is saying much.

Posted by ZayTonday at March 25, 2008 2:51 AM

comment #10

MiraJeffAICN says ...

Rothchild, I know who you are and I know where you live. Watch your back, friend-o. Your taste means jack shit to me and everyone else here. Call me when I should give a crap what you think. Bite me or fight me.

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at March 25, 2008 3:02 AM

comment #11

York "Budd" Durden says ...

Doesn't such a retort merely underscore why everyone already thinks you're such a juvenile bonehead? Bite me or fight me. Nice. You just took me back to seventh grade.

Look--I made a new paragraph just by hitting the enter key! Nyuck nyuck nyuck.

Posted by York "Budd" Durden at March 25, 2008 3:51 AM

comment #12

romeoisbleeding says ...

I have not seen either movie but I can say this. I have been a fan of Downeys for a long time and read interviews with him and by people who have worked with him. He is known to adlib a great deal aind do a lot of improvisation. So I kind of doubt he went word for word by what ever script is floating around out there.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at March 25, 2008 5:26 AM

comment #13