This Is the End is one of the most anticipated films of the year. And for good reason. It is based on a short film whose hilarious trailer has teased me and my friend for around half a decade. And is being written and directed by the writers of Superbad and Pineapple Express, Seth Rogen (who also stars) and Evan Goldberg. This Is the End also stars members of the Apatow-troupe Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel and James Franco, all of whom have spent the last decade or so making films that range from comedic brilliance to horribly flawed, building a large group of fans as well as detractors. And for those looking forward to this movie I doubt it will disappoint.
You see, lead circus master Judd Apatow approaches film making in a way many people find offputting. He relies heavily on surrounding himself with very funny people and letting them loose to play off each other in between shooting scenes. This style can be hit or miss and can often lead to a funny but unbalanced film as well as creating tonal inconsistencies that have plagued many of the recent Apatow features. And even though This Is the End gets it all right, some will still not enjoy this movie. Even the best of the Apatow and Company movies aren't for everyone. My three favorites (Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Superbad) are each disliked by many and I can fully accept that. Comedies, perhaps more than any other genre, are prone to be polarizing. There are comedies that simply do not hit my funny bone and I can accept that, though it doesn't make me hate the movie any less.
This Is the End hits that funny bone right on the mark and the movie is a hell of a lot of fun. I was initially very concerned about how this film would turn out. Goldberg and Rogen being first time directors worried me as well as their often uneven writing, not to mention the lack of Apatow himself being involved with the project. However all of those fears turned out to be false and the movie was not only hysterical but also a downright good movie. The film features many celebrity guest stars playing themselves but it all comes down to the 6 main characters. Each of these characters seem to be exaggerated versions of the actors themselves and all six have strange relationships with the others.
The show-biz hating Jay Baruchel is visiting LA and staying with his old friend Seth Rogen. Rogen in this movie has been absorbed into the Hollywood lifestyle and they seem to be moving in separate directions. Rogen takes the reluctant Jay to his friend James Franco's party. Jay hates all of Seth's new Hollywood friends and goes solely to please him. At the party they meet a coke snorting Michael Cera, an angelic Jonah Hill, and an art obsessed James Franco who seems to be Seth's new best friend. Many other comedians come in playing broad versions of themselves but what really sells the movie is the personal relationships between Franco, Hill, Rogen, Baruchel, Robinson, and McBride. Especially the friendship-love-triangle between Rogen, Baruchel and Franco.
The script works in its big moments of epic destruction as well as the small moments of just 6 people sitting around waiting. The script is surprisingly full of heart and every actor seems to want to be there. In fact the actors in this movie seem like they are having a hell of a good time, which helps to propel the movie forward through the moments of comedy that don't particularly work (especially Emma Watson and The Back Street Boys thing). The parts that don't work are few and far between and none of the jokes really outstay their welcome.
Just by amount of laughs the movie is not quite at the level of my personal top three but it is pretty damn close, surpassing Pineapple Express, Anchorman, and Role Models, and landing just above Funny People and just below 40 Year Virgin, which is a pretty damn good place to sit considering how much I admire a lot of Apatow's work. This Is the End is not for everyone but it is an absolute blast and is by far the best comedy I've seen this year.
-SP McDonald
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