For my first blog on analyzing screenplays I will do a movie that was just recently released on DVD, Pineapple Express. After reading the screenplay I found that Pineapple Express had pretty much all of the elements that make up a well written screenplay. A hero character is nicely evolved as he encounters numerous nemesis characters and friends along the way, obstacles that prevent him from reaching his goal, and makes some sort of life change and shows his new ambitions for the end of the story. The story also establishes a nice set up and provides effective Plot Points that keeps the flow of the screenplay readable and interesting.
Dale Denton, the main character, is quickly introduced as a slacker whose laid back job as a process server gives him plenty of time to be a stoner. He is dating a high school senior who bugs him to meet her parents despite his many attempts to decline. After a small argument with his girlfriend, Angie, he visits his bizarre pot dealer. Saul has just gained possession of the best weed in town, Pineapple Express. He continues to tell Dale that he is the only dealer around who has it. Dale buys it with excitement. Later that night Dale smokes a joint outside a guy’s house he is suppose to serve. While parked outside he witnesses the guy, Ted, and a woman cop murder an Asian assassin. In an act of frenzy he pitches the joint and crashes into two parked cars as he flees the scene. Ted notices someone is outside but gets to the front of the house too late. Ted sees the joint, smokes it, and declares that it is Pineapple Express; his weed. So now Dale is on the run and gets Saul involved. They spend most of their time running from Ted and his dirty cops. Along the way they run into many obstacles and eventually have to confront Ted rather than run from him.
The set-up of the screenplay was quite effective. A short scene at the beginning sets up the reason why marijuana is illegal. So instantly we know that the story will somehow be revolved around weed. Then we meet Dale the pot head. He dreams of being a talk show radio DJ and thinks that pot should be legal. The story begins to unfold when Dale buys the rarest weed in town. Only Saul and the head dealer, Ted, are in possession of Pineapple Express. The reader can easily identify with Dale for he is a laid back guy who gets his job done right and enjoys his free time. He has an interesting relationship with a 19 year old while being 24 years of age himself.
The inciting incident, the event that occurs to get the story in motion, occurs when Ted finds out that Dale witnessed the murder and finds the Pineapple Express weed. We know that Dale’s dramatic need is to run away… as far away as he can. This inciting incident is the first plot point that carries us into the second act of the screenplay. Dale involves Saul in the situation and they react to the inciting incident by going on the run.
Since Act 2 is the Confrontation Act, Dale must be presented with several obstacles that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need. Firstly, they have to see Red who is the middle man dealer between Saul and Ted. Red is not loyal to the two friends and sends Ted’s thugs after them. Dale and Saul continue to run. They must also visit Saul’s grandma before they leave. While doing this Dale realizes that Ted could find out who his girlfriend Angie is and go after her. This presents another obstacle for Dale must warn and save her. After this the two realize they need money to get a bus out of town. So they sell weed to high school kids only to get caught by the cops. This makes them now be on the run from the cops. Ultimately Ted captures Saul and this becomes the second plot point at the end of Act 2 that will bring us into the final act; The Resolution.
Act three contains elements of the screenplay where the main character makes his final push. Almost as if he is backed into a corner; it’s the last stand. Dale needs to rescue Saul which will also involve him confronting Ted for the last time.
During the final pages of the screenplay, changes and ambitions in the character are revealed. The resolution of a screenplay ends well when we see some sort of change or new look on life in the hero. Dale explains his ambitions for becoming a talk show radio DJ. It is his new goal in life and he means to achieve it.
Pineapple Express utilizes many of the elements that make up a good screenplay. The story is effectively set up, the main character introduced and developed, the story unfolded through the inciting incident, confrontations presented in Act 2, and a resolution and character change is presented at the end.
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