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| Left to right: Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, and Craig Robinson |
Having already created the epic of sex comedies (Superbad) and a stoner action film (Pineapple Express), it seems like writers and directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg would be prime to take on the most meta subject of the 21st century. How exactly could you screw up a film dissecting celebrity culture, notably among a clan who seems to have been together since Freaks and Geeks? In a sense, the film's very idea of setting it during an apocalypse is its downfall. However, despite all of the problems, it is still very, very, very funny.
The film succeeds on whether or not you care for the main cast. To a large extent, they are playing variations of themselves. While a cameo by Michael Cera involving blow and sex in the bathroom manages to be one of the more memorable parts of the film, it is when the characters are playing into their stereotypes that the film works. For those dedicated to these actors' careers, references to the Green Hornet, Moneyball, and even Your Highness are small gems of the actors realizing that their filmography may not always be perfect, but they at least can laugh at it. Even small, nerdy aspects like the main characters of Superbad talking together is a riot for those that can find the subtext.
For the first two parts of the film, it is pure bliss. With almost no plot, the actors fill up time by improvising gags that are often crude and somewhat satirical. Franco is exceptionally funny, playing the stuck-up actor who is ambiguous sexually and isn't afraid to have a large ceramic penis in his living room. His artistic nature plays nicely, especially as it seems like he is the one sacrificing the most in the story, especially as his experimental art pieces are use for both ridicule and protection.
The rest of the gang plays nicely off of each other. While Danny McBride is eventually labeled as the villain, his jerk behavior is in line with what we have come to expect, and that results in some great insult humor involving the other cast members. In an inspired installation into the film, McBride is seen often talking to a camera where he spills the truth. As he insults everyone, they appear from behind a doorway. Everyone else has their own problems, but McBride is the reason for most of them, and just like in most of him movies and his infamous Kenny Powers persona, he is the jerk you can't help but love, even if he's ruining survival chances.
The film succeeds in painting these comedians as the public personas that they have carried. Even with Jonah Hill's somewhat aggravating tendencies, there is plenty to latch onto. This is largely beneficial to the idea that they have been riffing off of each other for over a decade. In a sense, This is the End is a triumph just because these now seasoned comics can still come up with fresh jokes and make a cheap-looking but still enticing Pineapple Express 2 trailer that only hopes it takes on a life after this film.
No matter how risque the film gets, the film manages to be grounded in a sense by its ability to have these characters be sympathetic and friendly. Even with a string of crass insults, there is a sense that this group is friends to the end. They're not going to let some disagreements stop them from living life. That is what makes it endearing and while it continues to male-bonding genre that they are responsible for, it eventually leads to a convincing love story between Rogen and Baruchel. Not a gay one, but one of male bonding which the film plays to its advantage.
Yet when the film wants to move beyond being a satire of male bonding and the comedic celebrity, it begins to have problems. This is an apocalypse and while it would have just been fine to watch them kick back and get high for two hours, they had to advance the story. Be warned that if religious themes bother you, the ending will be upsetting. As dark as it was to open the film by having dozens of cameos be reduced to cheap deaths, the ending is even more blasphemous, as it manages to do nothing new with the apocalyptic approach.
Of course the biggest issue is that the CGI is just not that great. While the cinematography of making the house look hot helps to make this feel authentic, the first half isn't as reliant on special effects. The second half is, and it does not look that impressive. In a way, it detracts from the feature and as the actors are forced to point out how insane everything is, it seems ridiculous for the wrong reasons. The CGI demons with large penises are somewhat repellent and for all of the good graces that came from the film's crass jokes, including a now infamous rape joke involving Emma Watson, the visual gags and an extensive Exorcist parody just don't work. The higher concept this film gets, the further away from chemistry and overall likability it seems to get. We are expected to see these people as heroes, and that is not nearly as interesting as them just sitting around getting high.
The problem with this film is that it is great for the first 2/3 and then breaks into a finale that just makes me worry that Rogen and Goldberg should not be given rights to make CGI films ever again. The direction itself is competent, but it is mostly when it comes to shooting setups and gags for jokes. Even the reveal of the monsters and an entertaining hallucinogenic scene are all great because it reflects the joy that these actors have working together. It is when the film goes very dark and applies morals that it becomes preachy and suggests this as a parody of celebrity culture in the wrong way. Mostly in the sense that inflated egos will make you do bigger and more outlandish things.
I love those moments that worked and it in fact is a great meta comedy. It should help to get Baruchel more work, as he has always been an underrated side man in films like Goon and Tropic Thunder. Here, he is the heart of the movie and also packs the most laughs, if just because he takes nobody's side. Craig Robinson is also exceptionally funny as the eccentric wuss who wears a Take Yo Panties Off shirt the entire film and screams really high pitched. It may not be a great story, but with these funny people, it's a shame that they had to be redeemed with a finale.
Though it could be argued that it is disappointing in another way. Looking at Superbad and Pineapple Express, there was a sense of competence and ability to fluctuate between genre, comedy, and heart. Both of those films have become pop culture mainstays and reflect why Rogen and Goldberg are geniuses as writers. The stories may be mundane, but the complexity in the execution makes you wish for more from This is the End. That may be where the the third act came from, but there's no doubt that this wasn't quite as realized as their other writing gigs, save for the Green Hornet.
In the end, I would say that the sloppiness of the film is worth sitting through just for the moments that work. There is a reason that these comedians made a film about themselves. They have done a lot and have built personas worthy of mocking. It may seem like lazy film making, and on a $31 million budget, that's arguable, but the wonders of James Franco's house is enough to make this a recommendation. Also, the first five minutes when it is just Baruchel and Rogen is some of the movie magic you dream of. The two started this as a video called Jay and Seth Vs. the Apocalypse and here it is years later as a full length commentary on celebrity culture. Does it work? Most of the time, but in the end, This is the End is a grab bag comedy meant to make you laugh, and it does just that most of the time.
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