Review by Comix
Who would you want to spend the Apocalypse with? I mean, really? The clouds are darkening, Old Man Scratch is rapping at your window, and all the righteous are being catapulted into Heaven like a bra slingshot launching water balloons and wouldn’t you know it, you got left behind. Would you choose your significant other, that beautiful individual who you can’t imagine spending eternity without, or perhaps your enemy, so you can spend what little time you have kicking them into pits of fire? Such is the premise of the hilarious new film, This is the End, where are a group of friends are stuck together during the Armageddon and are pushed to the limits as they try endure each other’s company. Throw in weed, boredom, dwindling supplies, and hefty dose of demons, and you got yourself a 90-minute romp of a good time.
The movie centers around Seth Rogan and Jay Baruchel after they meet up for the first time in a couple of years and proceed to get thoroughly stoned. Soon, Seth suggests that they go James Franco’s house party and after a series of complaints, Jay unwillingly tags along. As the party continues to rage, with plenty of star-studded cameos, Jay steps out to buy some candy when shit suddenly hits the fan. Earthquakes and fires break out all over LA causing chaos in the streets. Freaking out, they beat feet back to the party only to watch the guests run out of the house in a panic and pretty much die in a pit of hellfire, leaving only them, Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson to survive. Kick in another hour of jokes, one liners, and improv, and you got yourself a ridiculous buddy movie slapped together with awkward pauses and dick jokes. Translation: my kind of movie.
I guess the real way to start this review is: if you’re a fan of Pineapple Express and Superbad, you will love this movie. I am a huge fan of both and since I really dig stoner comedies heavy in conversational humor, (like a British comedy but with more facial expressions and drugs), I got completely behind this movie. There’s this one scene where they just fake masturbate at each other while threatening whose stuff they’re going to cum on had me rolling. The demons, while playing second fiddle to the humor, were really well thought out and the action was on the ball. The movie didn’t fall into that pit where just because it’s a comedy, everything had to be funny down to making rubber looking monsters taking hits off a bong, but instead opted for real life Armageddon action as they scrounge for food and fight for survival.
The cinematography was very well done as well. I mean, it’s no Korean cop horror or anything, but it’s very relieving that in making a horror spoof, they didn’t opt out for the found footage style that they could have done with half the budget. They did a full cinematic film with all the big booms and CGI intact for you more particular movie fans. The soundtrack pretty much reflected the movie, mixing rap and pop music dropped in at particularly hilarious scenes when the tension gets too much. (The Backstreet Boys are in it, I know how all of you love the Backstreet Boys.) All in all, it’s a good movie. Definitely a good choice if you feel like laughing without investing too much of your emotions and want something to quote at parties.
This is the End is out now theatrically in the US and Canada, opens in the UK on 28th June, and much of the rest of the world in the weeks ahead.