Tuesday, June 18, 2013

This Is the End

The most telling thing that happens in the new, sort of brilliant, totally meta take on celebrity culture, This Is the End, takes place in the film’s first scene. As Seth Rogen is leaving LAX airport, a TMZ-like paparazzo swings in to snap Rogen’s picture. As he’s getting the shot, he says something rude to Rogen, to the effect to: “Hey Seth Rogen, why do you act the same in all your movies?”

Exactly.

I knew from the start that a movie like This Is the End was going to go one of two ways. A movie in which really famous people play themselves as the world crumbles around them… that’s risky. If those involved pushed too hard, then the gag would have an adverse effect. But if played just right, the movie could be a self-effacing satire of pure gold.
Thankfully, This Is the End falls (mostly) in the latter category. The main reason is simple: everyone in the cast knows exactly what they’re doing here. They’re not playing themselves, they’re playing the public’s perception of themselves. Rogen is the aimless stoner, Jay Baruchel is the whiny realist, James Franco is the materialistic oddball, Danny McBride is the douchbag, Craig Robinson is the loud moralist, and so on. How closely these personifications mirror their real personalities is of no concern. The point is that the actors were ballsy enough to even toe the line.

To mix things up, a few of the actors play caricatures of themselves that are, by all accounts, in no way related to their real personalities, or how we as a public think of them. This includes Jonah Hill as an earring-wearing sweetheart, and (most hilariously) Michael Cera as a coke-snorting asshole. Throughout the film, not five minutes went by without at least one of these guys making me laugh. Hard. Out loud. Occasionally, I laughed so hard I cried, which never happens to me. The best bit is between Franco and McBride, who engage in an ongoing public verbal battle that is fucking hilarious. If nothing else, their unending feud makes the movie.
I haven’t really mentioned the plot, because that’s where This Is the End slightly lost steam. A bunch of elitist actors having to save themselves from the apocalypse is as thick as irony gets, and I dig it. But the plot-inspired gag wears thin quickly (and is all but dead in the final 15 minutes). Basically, the hell fire outside is merely a set piece for the real magic at hand here – the go-for-broke comedy that takes place between a bunch of friends in a room.

To be honest, I’m not usually I fan of the movies these actors appear in. While there are exceptions (McBride’s Eastbound & Down has been gold from the start) I think the majority of their comedy films are good for a few laughs and not much else. This Is the End sold me. Is it perfect? No, of course not. Few films are. But it sustains throughout, which is all I can really ask for. B+

26 comments:

  1. Kinda eager to see this, I'm a sucker for a good comedy flick and this one looked pretty solid. I dig the commentary on the cult of celebrity and people's perception of who these celebrities are. I'll have to give it a watch.

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    1. If you like comedy films (especially ones starring these guys) then I know you'll like this movie. It is simply hilarious.

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  2. Totally agree. Loved this movie, haven't laughed that hard in a theater in too long...

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    1. Same! Thank god I was the only one in the theater. I was laughing so damn hard, I think I would've ruined the movie for anyone else.

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  3. I went to see this yesterday with my dad and we thought it was great. Though I do agree about the last 15 or so minutes, I still thought that bit with Franco in the blue light and the final dance sequence were hilarious. But you are correct, the funniest bit was between Franco and McBride. Probably one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time!

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    1. Nice! The shot of Franco and and rest of them from the kitchen, with McBride sitting in the background, wearing Franco's tuxedo... I was dying. Haven't laughed that hard in a while.

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  4. I'm still not sure about seeing it though I do like a lot of the people in that film. I'm not in a rush to see this as I'm more focused on the artier stuff as I found out The Bling Ring is coming to Atlanta this weekend and that's the film I want to see right now.

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    1. Oh, if it's between The Bling Ring or this, then yeah, you're making the right choice. This Is the End is definitely good for some laughs though.

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  5. I think I dislike Danny McBride's screen persona so much (the only movie I can stand him in is All the Real Girls because he's just on the fringes) that I've convinced myself that really IS his screen persona. But God, I hope it's not. I mean, really, would there be a worse person to be stuck with during the Apocalypse?

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    1. It's funny, because it is that type of thinking that this movie is playing off of. I feel like all of these guys act exactly how they act in real life, so they just heightened it for the movie.

      I read an article in GQ last month in which Franco said he thought McBride got it the worst because he is nothing like how he behaves in movies and TV. Said he was a real sweetheart. Crazy thought.

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  6. This movie didn't disappoint me. I really love it when actors play themselves like this, and Rogen and crew did it perfectly. Great review.

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    1. Thanks man. I completely agree with you. I didn't think I'd dig, but damn did I ever.

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  7. I'm glad for the B+, I feel like this is the best comedies can do these days anyway so.. I think it will be my favorite this year. Can't wait to see it!

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    1. I hope you like it! I thought it was a superb comedy, knowing all too well exactly what it is doing.

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  8. I really can't wait to see it, while Franco annoys the hell out of me Rogen always makes me laugh and Robinson is so hilarious - he managed to be incredibly funny even in the last episodes of The Office.

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    1. I'll be interested to hear your take. Franco isn't always my favorite, but he seriously stole the show here. He hammed it up so exquisitely. After this and Spring Breakers, he can do no wrong in my eyes.

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    2. I've seen the movie and I must say LOVED IT. Hill was especially awesome, and McBride - Jesus, the guy was hilarious! I must say I'm no longer annoyed with Franco - he was just splendid here. Really very funny and so distanced from his usual persona. It was kinda like a crazy, stoned Ocean's 11 given how these guys are friends and they did this fun movie together.

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    3. So glad you like it! McBride and Franco really stole the show for me. They were just perfect.

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  9. Glad you liked it man. I liked Knocked Up, Superbad, and Pineapple Express, so I'm looking forward to this one.

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    1. Simply loved it. Did NOT think it would win me over like this.

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  10. Whenever I tell anyone of my love for Danny McBride they either A) Don't know who he is, or B) Have NO idea why I love him so much. And you hit it on the nail, Eastbound and Down is brilliant, so God damn brilliant. One of my favourite TV shows, no doubt, and the fact it is a recent TV show which is so good that I actually like is pretty shocking. Either way, I worship the ground Danny McBridge walks on and even put myself through the tripe that was Your Highness just so I could see McBride.

    I'm glad that you dug this film, though. Always gives me hope for some reason! (LOVED Spring Breakers more than I would be able to describe in words.)

    Can't wait to catch this one, and great review, as usual!

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    1. Thanks man! McBride is a comic genius. Truly. And his work in this film is some of the best stuff he's ever done. If you're a fan of his, you will LOVE this movie.

      Let me know what you think of it!

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  11. I've ducked this post as I've slogged through my own, but no surprise - you nailed it. The action outside can't hold a candle to what's going on inside. And by the end, no one really gives a shit.

    That said, the exchange between Franco and McBride was impossibly funny. I literally couldn't breathe during that bit. Franco's bewilderment at McBride can still make me crack a smile over a week later...

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    1. Thanks man.

      I saw it again a few days ago, and the Franco/McBride bit was even funnier. They both just keeping going, and it is utterly priceless.

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  12. I've been on the fence about seeing this one. The Hubby really wants to watch it, but I was unimpressed by the trailer I saw. It does sound like they did something unique and a bit brilliant here. Definitely worth the price of at least a DVD rental. :-)

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    1. Oh yeah, this is definitely worth a rental. It's their familiar brand of crude humor, but a great send-up of their various personalities. I loved it.

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