Pineapple Express has been a highly anticipated release, for those familiar with the work of indie director David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, All the Real Girls) and writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad), two students of the Judd Apatow School of Comedy (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, etc.). Inquiring minds want to know: What sort of off-spring will be produced from this union? The artsiest blockbuster comedy ever made, or a hilarious slice-of-life drama?

The result is less a stoner comedy, as it is being marketed, than an action movie with lots of laughs for those willing to indulge in some dark humor. Pineapple Express is about a pothead (Seth Rogen) who witnesses a murder and drags his dealer (James Franco) along on his run from the murderers. Reconciling the comedy with so much violence and bloodshed was challenging at times, perhaps because the violent bits are sometimes cartoonish, other times disgusting. At these points, only those with a taste for the macabre will be laughing. And while Pineapple Express classifies as a “buddy comedy” – this point is certainly driven home in the final scene – the friendship between our heroes is not as plausible or heartfelt as the one between the two boys in Superbad. Meanwhile, P.E.’s romantic subplot is unceremoniously dropped by the start of the third act, although Amber Heard is convincing as Rogen’s sweet, long-suffering girlfriend.

Despite its problems, in a summer of more conventional comic book action movies – The Dark Knight, Iron Man…did anyone even see Speed Racer? – Pineapple Express is a nice change of pace. With Apatow involved, you are guaranteed a certain level of quality. P.E. is worth the trip just for Green’s skillful direction, particularly in the film’s opening scenes. His uses of the split-screen and of the static shot are innovative as far as Hollywood movies go, and Green is certain to bring his original directorial vision to his upcoming adaptation of John Grisham’s “true-crime novel,” The Innocent Man.

Two performances in particular stand out: those of James Franco and Gary Cole. Anyone who watched the 2000 TV series Freaks and Geeks (also, in part, from Apatow) remembers Franco as Daniel Desario, a charismatic bad boy in the vein of My So-Called Life’s Jordan Catalano. Though he is probably best known as Peter Parker’s best friend in the Spider-Man franchise, he has not had nearly enough opportunities to show off his considerable talent. His flawless interpretation of James Dean in the television biopic James Dean (2001) will likely convert you to Franco fandom, but P.E. should garner this actor the attention he deserves. As Saul Silver, a good-natured dealer with dreams of becoming an engineer and making his Bubbe proud, Franco proves what an effortless comedian he really is. But no surprise to me – instead, I was taken aback by how Franco makes you forget how handsome he is when he’s not playing a greasy-haired deadbeat. (Perhaps some of the credit in that department goes to hair and make-up.)

Gary Cole, in the role of an unapologetically evil drug lord, steals every scene he is in. To those of you who have seen the cult classic Office Space a hundred times – I know you’re out there - Cole will make you forget his performance as abrasive supervisor Mr. Lumbergh, at least temporarily. He is slick, stylish, and completely wicked.

Pineapple Express is no Harold and Kumar – it is an acquired taste, perhaps, but considering its subject matter, it’s a pretty smart action movie with some killer lines that you’ll be quoting as you leave the theater.

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