PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (15) Comedy/Thriller/Action/Romance. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Amber Heard, Evan Goldberg. Director: David Gor Comedy/Thriller/Action/Romance. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Amber Heard, Evan Goldberg. Director: David Gordon Green.

Screenwriting duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s follow-up to Superbad is another celebration of the underdog.

Like its predecessor, Pineapple Express is a deranged buddy comedy that casts a heroic glow on socially-awkward misfits, who would be consigned to the sidelines in any other film. Here, they are elevated to the status of demigods, rescuing fallen comrades from a burning building in their underwear or defeating a gun-toting bad guy using a humble family hatchback.

The script splices together action, comedy and human drama. On a couple of occasions, David Gordon Green’s film threatens to career out of control entirely, but there’s a strangely appealing method in Rogen and Goldberg’s madness, anchored by a touching camaraderie between the two leads.

Twenty-something slacker Dale Denton (Rogen) pays a visit to his laidback dealer, Saul (Franco). The dopehead offers Dale an extremely rare and potent strain of marijuana called Pineapple Express.

“It’s almost a shame to smoke it,” burbles Saul. “It’s like killing a unicorn ... with a bomb!”

Under the influence of the heady narcotic, Dale witnesses ruthless drug lord Ted Jones (Cole) murdering a rival, abetted by crooked cop Carol (Perez).

Ted and Carol see Dale flee the scene and they give chase. Dale flees to Saul’s apartment but realises that a roach full of Pineapple Express, left behind, will lead Ted and Carol straight to them. So the unlikely pals hit the road.

Pineapple Express appears an odd choice for indie director Green but he brings his quirky style to bear amid all the explosions, including a cute game of leapfrog through shards of sunlight.

A frenetic car chase, during which the dealer attempts to kick out his shattered windscreen only to get his foot stuck, is a particularly loopy highlight.

Overall, Green’s film leaves you on an natural high.