As long as James Franco gives us such pitch-perfect performances as his sensitive, secretly smart pot dealer in "Pineapple Express," he can put on that Marilyn Monroe dress and host the Oscars for the next 10 years, for all I care. David Gordon Green's send-up of action films mashed with Cheech and Chong stoner pictures of yore merged with the now-ubiquitous bromance romp is not only absurdly hilarious, it's also an intriguing brew of poignancy and, well, pot. You get the feeling that all of the film's eventual over-the-top violence is making a deeper statement about the ridiculousness regarding drug laws in this country. I mean, can you imagine sending Franco's sweetheart pothead to prison? Really? Though Franco was superb and wonderfully touching as Harvey Milk's boyfriend in Gus Van Sant's "Milk," I think "Pineapple Express" is his more superior depiction of love between two men. He really does love Seth Rogen in the movie. And he's genuinely hurt when their friendship is almost severed. And damn if we don't feel genuinely hurt with him. And in a movie where Danny McBride talks about his dead cat and his past days as a prostitute. This is talent.

Bing: The best stoner movies

(Columbia Pictures)