Seth Rogen Knew Pineapple Express Would Work After This The 40 Year Old Virgin Scene

At this point in his career, Seth Rogen is about as major a presence in Hollywood as one can be, with the funnyman earning credits on film and television projects too numerous to count. But he'd probably be quick to tell you he isn't really doing anything all that different than when he was first gaining traction in Tinseltown. And he is, in fact, still working with many of the same collaborators from those early days.

This includes Judd Apatow, who gave Rogen his first acting gig on the cult-hit comedy series, "Freaks and Geeks," before casting him in blockbusters "The 40-Year Old Virgin," and "Knocked Up." Apatow also produced the Rogen co-scripted comedies "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express," the latter of which became a box office hit, and is widely regarded as a classic of the stoner cinema genre.

Neither of those feats was a given before the film was released, however. In fact, Rogen admitted to GQ that he only knew "Pineapple Express" would work after a screening of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." "There's a scene in 'Virgin' where [Steve] Carell, enjoying his first night of partying after four decades on earth, smokes pot out of an apple," Rogen said. "At the first test screening, the audience erupted in wild applause." 

The actor went on to claim he and Apatow knew they could finally make "Pineapple Express," because, "If pot smoking works in a romantic comedy, people will buy it."

Steve Carrell's apple-smoking scene pretty much pales in comparison to what Seth Rogen and his co-stars get up to in "Pineapple Express." And those who've experienced the kush-tastic delights of the film can attest that it gives stoner genre classics like "Up In Smoke" and "Half Baked" a run for their money. They'd also tell you the film works because Rogen and long-time creative partner Evan Goldberg imbue their gonzo, pot-centric opus with a surprising amount of heart and human tenderness.

Rogen has been a staunch advocate for marijuana throughout his career, so it's not surprising that love has often found its way into his work. But Judd Apatow has apparently never been a fan. And it seems he and Rogen have decidedly different opinions on the messaging in "Pineapple Express." "That's the debate that Seth and I have been having for the last six years." Apatow told GQ, adding, "He thinks we're making a pot movie, and I think we're making an antipot movie. In my head, [the film] is clearly a story of how pot leads to Asian gangs trying to murder you."

Hilarious disagreements aside, "Pineapple Express" is a modern classic of the stoner comedy genre. And it remains one of the strongest offerings in the Rogen-Apatow vaults to boot.