Monday, June 17, 2013

This is The End

Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride
Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
Rating: R

If you’re a fan of the recent stoner comedies – "Pineapple Express," "Superbad" and the like - first of all, you’re in good company (I’m a sucker for them), and secondly, “This is The End” is money. For a girl who is more of a silent laugher than a laugh out louder, there were moments I was hooting and hollering. It was a lively bunch in the theatre, though quite a few were rather young – a Ruff Ryder reference went totally over their heads. Cameos by several favorites (Mindy Kaling, Jason Segel, Michael Cera and Aziz Ansari to name a few) prove that everyone wants to work with the popular boys in the “comedy school.” These guys know how to make a smart, funny movie.

Some of today’s best comedic talent play exaggerated versions of themselves, making fun of how people view them – is James Franco gay? Is Seth Rogen that big of a pothead? Is Craig Robinson really just a teddy bear? The obvious standout with the most hilarious insults is Danny McBride (UNCSA alum), but I’m becoming more and more partial to Jonah Hill, despite the Rolling Stone interview I read that portrayed him as a self-righteous prick.

Jay Baruchel, the actor with the least amount of “celebrity,” is the focal point of the film. Against his will, he goes to a party at Franco’s house, only to wind up getting stuck there with the aforementioned jokers when what appears to be the end of the world occurs. Is it really the apocalypse? Or is it zombies? Seemingly the last few people on Earth, the men divide up the food and drink, and begin waiting for the unknown.

I especially appreciated the hilarious filming of “Pineapple Express 2,” which featured a car crash sequence: alternating shots of Hot Wheels cars crashing down the stairs with close-ups of Franco and Rogen pretending to drive. Clever. Jonah Hill being possessed was something I didn’t find too funny, until I uncovered my eyes and noticed his typical humor amid the possession.

Smart quips, improv that could last for days – including a rather R-rated conversation about ejaculate – this is exactly what we want from these guys, and it's obvious they had a blast doing it. Underneath all the weed, pee and zombie jokes, the underlying message is clear: if you want to be “saved,” don’t be an asshole. A little bit of self-sacrificing here and there for the benefit of others is just the ticket.


2 comments:

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