“Superbad” was not bad at all and “Pineapple Express” seems to be even better. Although it brings into play the same overused formula that made the Judd Apatow-produced comedies more than traditional – a couple of silly guys, a couple of mean guys and the trouble between the two groups – the picture due for release on Wednesday tries to blow some juicy get-up-and-go into the humorous field by converting it into a thought-provoking action movie. However, it may not entirely satisfy the action blockbusters fans, but it will surely please those who look for an unfussy, down-to-earth comedy.

Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) is a 26-year-old pothead who is dating a high-school hottie (Amber Heard) and whose main concern is to visit his drug dealer as much as he can, or in so far as he affords. After a custom stop-by at his weed dealer Saul (James Franco) in order to purchase Pineapple Express, a strain of marijuana that is “so rare, that smoking it is like killing a unicorn”, Dale witnesses a dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole) and a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) murdering someone. Dale loses his nerve and by mistake forgets a roach at the scene of the crime. Getting flustered and paranoid, Dale goes back to Saul to find out if the Pineapple Express is so uncommon that it can be traced back to them. What’s more, the duo swiftly ascertain that their fearful visions are no visions at all when a stopover to marijuana intermediary dealer Red (Danny R. McBride) changes direction and twists into violent behavior and a chase by hired crooks (Kevin Corrigan & Craig Robinson).

James Franco’s character, the jovial airhead Saul Silver represents a riotously different role for the actor, who is known for his pretty-face bad persona in the “Spider-Man” movies and for his television turn-figure as James Dean. Now he’s only playing silly and ludicrous, without lacking charm and becoming instantly adorable.

“Pineapple Express” is a one-dimensional, unsophisticated film that does not strive much to be seen as more than a harebrained comedy with wannabe action scenes.

Any views of arty uprightness are jettisoned in the middle of the gross shaggy dog stories. However, the movie manages to be exceedingly hilarious at some points, although it does not work hard at all to express anything weighty or substantial. It hunts for depicting a truthful image of pothead organization and going into the unpredictable impression of weed-stimulated paranoia becoming reality. Thus, the film achieves to meet its target and will probably be a great success among potheads themselves.

Moreover, the movie succeeds in making the generally sideways and out-of-the-way weed consumer comedy connect and be more accessible to a wider audience. While it will certainly be more welcomed by potheads, the wacky (un)common sense and frenzied incidents are pretty tackled by director David Gordon Green’s outspoken, straightforward technique. And you don’t really need to be high to enjoy, humorously speaking, every second of the film’s boorish and wicked wit.

“Pineapple Express,” a Columbia Pictures release, is rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence.

Running time: 108 minutes.