Wednesday, June 12, 2013

This Is the End Movie Review

Jonah Hill stars in This Is the End

From our friends at DC Film Review...

Sinkhole de Mayo

Raunchy, Sophomoric, Vulgar. Take your pick, when it comes to Columbia Pictures' new comedy This Is the End. Personally, I prefer hysterical. The end of the world (through the eyes of Hollywood A & B-listers playing themselves) finds a few bumps along the way, but paves the road with originality and unrepentant (at least until the end of the movie) hijinks.

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

What’s Best: There's no shortage of star power in This Is the End, and almost everyone has one golden moment or another. Michael Cera shines early on, breaking away from his usually cuddly persona to slap asses and blow cocaine in people's faces. Jonah Hill takes on Woody Harrelson and a zombie with equal aplomb; while co-director/writer Seth Rogen fends off a bromance with James Franco that opens up a million jokes... My favorite being a rundown of supplies that ends with 'the video camera used in 27 Hours' which Franco immediately corrects as 'One hundred and twenty-seven.'

There are tons of great moments... An impromptu soccer match with a decapitated head, a camcorder sequel to Pineapple Express and a failed exorcism. Towards the end, the guys turn desperate (and the jokes become really naughty.) It's over-the-top, but riotously funny.

What’s Not: I know it was probably intentional, but the use of full names, when referring to each star gets old after the fifth or sixth instance. Note: If you're not into weed in one way or another, you're probably in for a long night; and Jay Baruchel annoys throughout with his quirky style and poor Christian Slater impersonation. What can I say, Baruchel just rubs me the wrong way (My apologies, if you're a fan.)

Best Line: Rogen and co-writer Evan Goldberg deserve a stream of accolades for literally dozens of funny lines worth repeating. I've narrowed it down to three (my apologies for the other 50 or so I had to leave out.) Danny McBride yells, 'Hermione just stole all our shit,' after Emma Watson robs the boys by axe point... after overhearing a "rapey vibe." Priceless. McBride scores again with, 'When I came in your magazine, it was a come for help.' Lastly, Franco gets even when he observes, 'The fu*ker's gained weight since he got here!' Franco's war of words with Kenny Powers throughout the story is a source of great joy (not to mention big laughs.)

Overall: Outside of some brief cameos by Watson, Mindy Kaling and Rihanna, This Is the End skews to an adolescent male audience. Sadly, even at age 44, this seems to include me. To their credit, Rogen and his pals make fun of each other, the "L.A. scene" and even the Apocalypse with little regard to Hollywood's highest commodity... their own egos. The jokes get funnier and dirtier as the end comes nearer. All I can say is thanks.

GradeB+