The directorial debut from Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg is a hilariously dark comedy about the end of the world (if it would have happened in 2012). It features countless appearances from all the big names in raunchy comedy today, playing themselves. After arriving in Los Angeles, Jay Baruchel’s visit with Seth Rogen begins with video games and pot smoking and turns into something completely different. When talked into going to James Franco’s house party, Jay begins to feel left out in the seemingly fake L.A. lifestyle, only to have it crushed by the end of the world with people being sucked up into space and giant holes forming in the earth, etc.
The survivors being Franco, Rogen, Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, and Danny McBride gather all their resources (mainly drugs and alcohol) and board themselves up to attempt to wait out the ugliness. What follows is in its own way, a play set in Franco’s house full of dirty language and funny situations. Franco sets up a video camera recording as a confessional that brings in lots of laughs, plus it especially shows how most of them are selfish and awful people.
Fans of any of these actors’ comedies will not be disappointed with their newest work. Jokes are presented, then brought back again nicely to become even funnier than they were in the first place – celebrities have over the top death scenes, etc. It is to be expected that it is over the top in ever other way imaginable as well, but not as bad as some of their earlier stuff (like “Your Highness” in terms of sex jokes).
The performances are all fun and naturally awesome, with Craig Robinson especially being fantastic. They all have great things about them that shows them in their real lives with plenty of references to their films, etc. Michael Cera also delivers a noteworthy, drug loving, weirdo persona of himself early on in the film. Other appearances include mainly the usual suspects of this comedy troupe being Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, and Martin Starr – with Rihanna, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Emma Watson, and Channing Tatum.
The film is also a remake of a short film called “Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse,” which would be interesting to see. In the end, something fantastic happens through song – it will do the ’90s generation proud.
“This is the End” is now playing in theaters everywhere.
