Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. With 4,252 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Seth Rogen sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Pineapple Express earns its spot. The jokes in Pineapple Express land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A stoner and his dealer are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder. The chemistry Seth Rogen and James Franco bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2008. The timing in Pineapple Express is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Pineapple Express is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Seth Rogen's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.