They did it with “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” They did it with “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” as well.

Now, the studio behind “Pineapple Express” is so convinced that they have the next great Judd Apatow comedy on their hands, that they’ve been breaking typical Hollywood sneak-preview rules and showing it to critics several months before its release. So when MTV asked to include the film in its Sneak Peek Week festivities, stars Seth Rogen and James Franco were all too eager to unveil the stoner flick to a few hundred lucky new buds.