Review:
This Is the End is
hilarious, insane, and above all very entertaining. The film is about best
friends Seth Rogen
and Jay Baruchel who decide
to get together for a weekend of hanging out (playing video games and smoking
weed). Jay, being from Montreal, does not really like the celebrity-obsessed
atmosphere of LA but begrudgingly agrees to accompany Seth to a party at James
Franco’s house. Seth and Jay begin to feel at odds as Seth is very
comfortable in the surroundings and with his ‘new’ friends, while Jay just
wants to leave (and hates everyone there). However, suddenly, what seems like
The Apocalypse happens, with many of the party guests being killed. Now, Seth
and Jay are stuck in James Franco’s house with James, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson. Will they survive?
Writer-directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have
created something comically wonderful with This Is the End pairing Judd Apatow style (self-deprecating)
improvisational humor with what amounts to be a horror style action-thriller.
Much in the style of Ricky
Gervais’s Extras,
the actors all play somewhat exaggerated versions of themselves (for comedic
and dramatic effect), allowing them to basically make fun of each other and
themselves in sort of a meta way (as presumably the audience has seen most of
these actors’ films and TV shows and knows who they are). In a strange way,
even though the characters are still fictional depictions, the drama seems
heightened as well due to the audience connecting to these famous people (as
themselves). Thus, the audience enjoys the humor more because they are laughing
with and at the actors, fully aware of their past work and personas, and are
more dramatically engaged as well, which combined amplifies the overall
experience.
However, if the viewer is
oblivious to these actors and their past work, a lot of the jokes and elevated
sense of excitement will probably be lost, and the film will not play nearly as
well (and may not work at all). The story is very simple and not a lot of
character development occurs (because they filmmakers assume the viewer does
know going in). Additionally, the humor is almost completely dependent on the
viewer knowing (to some extent) the personas of these actors (like James Franco
being really into reading literature and studying art or Danny McBride
personifying his Eastbound &
Down character Kenny Powers). In this way, the film is like a sequel to the
actors’ careers up until this point in time. To appreciate the sequel, the
viewer must see what comes before it first.
But if the viewer is in the know,
the humor throughout is very funny thanks to a talented cast (these are
basically the best young comedians in Hollywood right now, for the most part).
All these actors have come up through the ranks of or have frequently worked with
Judd Apatow and the overall style of comedy in this film is very much in his mode.
It feels like these actors (who are all friends in real life) just got together
with a thinly outlined plot and just improvised jokes and scenarios (Evan
Goldberg even made it his mission to get the actors to do more and more outrageous
gags until they were too embarrassed or offended and said no – Rogen and Franco
both never said no). Many of the jokes are very crude in nature, and there is a
sense of each actor competing to come up with better, funnier stuff. The result
is a comedy that is hysterical all the way through (and easily the funniest
film so far this year) and there is a camaraderie among the actors that the
audience can feel.
This Is the End also works as an
action-thriller. First-time directors Rogen and Goldberg keep the film moving,
which is vital to the film’s thriller aspect. The narrative does not lose
momentum, and they also strike a good balance with the ‘empty space’ moments
that are needed for the improv-comedy and the action sequences. Rogen and
Goldberg also escalate the stakes and the danger as the film progresses – as things
get rather insane and the third act is brilliantly funny and exciting. While it
is certainly a comedy first, it is also a good action-thriller.
All in all, This Is the End is a marvelous
comedy that is engaging as an action-thriller and riotously funny. However,
again, liking and being aware of these actors and their past work is probably essential
to maximizing the enjoyment of this film.
Technical,
aesthetic & acting achievements: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen have
written some very funny stuff in the past (Superbad and Pineapple Express), but This Is
the End clearly shows that they have a talent for directing comedy as well. The
film has sort of a loose documentary style, fitting the premise, and Goldberg
and Rogen often just let the camera linger on the actors allowing them to
perform (and be funny). In addition to getting the pacing right (which is
probably the hardest part of feature narrative filmmaking), they also find the
right tone for the film – completely ridiculous, keeping things funny, while
still with a constant feeling of impending thrills. In this way, it works much
like a horror film. The audience is constantly expecting something frightening
to jump out or a character to suddenly and gruesomely be killed. The audience
is laughing, but on their toes – a great combination.
Henry Jackman’s score works
well, underlining the tone and emphasizing the apocalyptic aspects, but it is
the film’s brilliant soundtrack to steals the show. Goldberg and Rogen seem to
find the perfect song to fit each moment (they probably spent as much acquiring
the rights to use all the great and fitting songs as on the rest of the film
itself, and it pays off). Brandon
Trost’s cinematography also fits the tone well. His lighting creates a
heightened, darker reality – an atmosphere for the crumbling of society that
looks gritty and stylized. By the end of the film, LA basically looks like how
we might imagine Hell. Chris
Spellman’s production design is strong too. His set for James Franco’s
house is great, as it works both as a joke on Franco and as the perfect bunker
for a catastrophe. I also loved the juxtaposition of the neighbor’s house that
the characters enter later. It is so neat and polished in comparison.
While the story is fresh and original
and the soundtrack is great, the cast really makes the film. This Is the End
features small supporting work from tons of great comedians (all of whom have
worked on Apatow projects in the past – many from as far back as Freaks
and Geeks and/or Undeclared).
And, there are some fun cameos. Michael
Cera (who is rambunctiously silly) and Emma Watson (who seems to be
having a blast) are both good in their supporting roles. However, most of the
film is spent with its six stars. Danny McBride is so much fun, as he exudes
misguided swagger and mischievousness. Jonah Hill plays himself as someone who
just wants everyone to like him and think he is cool, coming off like a
complete tool. Craig Robinson is brilliant playing himself as being insecure
and lovable. James Franco is very funny, as he plays off his own lore. He is
also not afraid to make himself out to be ridiculous (much like McBride). Jay
Baruchel does a good job as well playing the outsider, which also works in
bringing the audience into the story. To some extent, he plays their perspective
in the film. And finally, Seth Rogen is good as well. He is the element that
brings all these characters together and is the peacemaker, but also secretly
selfish and not a hero.
Summary
& score: This Is the End is something fresh in a genre that has
become complacent and boring. It strives to be something different and bonkers
(much like The
Cabin in the Woods), and it achieves it in all the right ways. 8/10
