 |
| Left to right: James Franco and Randall Park |
It doesn't take long for the film to reveal just how ridiculous the real life terrorist threats surrounding it actually are. Let's not forget, this is a Seth Rogen film. The man's previous co-directorial debut with Evan Goldberg featured a devil raping Jonah Hill. Anyone who takes his attempts to discuss politics seriously has missed the point. At best, he is a satirist known for skewering pop culture in order to find some deeper truths about society. From his Emmy-winning days on Da Ali G Show, he has been there to push buttons. For those expecting the greatest damnation of Kim Jong-Un, look someplace else. For those wanting a comedy that is rich with crude humor and makes the notorious dictator somewhat sympathetic, step right up. This is The Interview and it is finally upon us to show just how silly our paranoia actually was.
People have compared this film to the likes of The Great Dictator and Team America: World Police. The more appropriate response would be Tropic Thunder (to an extent also Network): a satire on Hollywood culture's relationship with international audiences. From the opening scene that makes the Sony Hacks feel even more like a meta marketing scheme, the film is out to disarm you. Jong-Un (Randall Park) doesn't show up for a good hour of the film. Up to this point, it is just two buffoonish entertainment journalists getting stuck in the Frost/Nixon of their generation. Along with various celebrity cameos, the film quickly dispels its intentions by showing how the media alters our perception of people.
The film, which has a strong well of rectal humor, is a hilarious look with a haunting proposition: America is just as manipulative as North Korea. In fact, it is blatantly discussed in the film's third act in which the titular interview happens. In both cases, the countries are putting up a front to the other in order to give off the best image. The catch is that both are particularly corrupt. Of course as an American film, we're the lesser of two evils. In fact, Jong-Un is hardly violent until the third act. Up until then, he is a basketball playing, tank driving, Katy Perry loving man with a conflicting opinions towards margaritas. There's a strong sense that he has a strained relationship with his father as well.
If you aren't familiar with Rogen's humor by now, this isn't the time to change that. If anything, the film is almost more juvenile than Neighbors, which came out earlier this year. However, this may be his most realized film to date. With better production values than his co-directorial debut This is the End, this feels like an actual movie with actual stakes. It is essentially a spy spoof akin to 80's comedies such as Spies Like Us. The only catch is that Rogen has some smarts to mix some wisdom in between some really dumb James Franco jokes. As usual, if you like their chemistry, you'll love this. If not, don't expect to get much out of it.
The film is likely to suffer a backlash from those wanting an amazingly patriotic film. All it is in the end is a really good spy comedy with a rather powerful message about media perception. It also helps that Rogen is dedicated to a sense of authenticity that gives even the most vitriolic of moments some fresh air. The film may be about the assassination, but the relationship building beforehand makes it a little too tragic to cheer for. Randall Park does an excellent job in making the dictator into a funny, human being with father issues. Without him, the film doesn't work and for all of Rogen and Franco's juvenile humor, it would feel unnecessary.
In the end, Rogen continues to prove why that there is still merit in the R-rated comedy with probably one of his strongest films of his career. Yes, the Sony Hacks are unfortunate and feel ironic when considering the film's first 10 minutes. There's a lot of exterior things that will distract and make it feel like this film shouldn't work. Guess what. It's just a comedy with a lot of drug use and some talk of Matthew McConaughey having sex with a goat. If you go to war over that, you're an idiot. Lighten up and realize that this isn't about patriotism. It is just about making a great comedy out of dangerous territory. As a result, it feels rather masterful.
The Interview will live in notoriety because of its real world circumstances. However, it will also serve as an excellent example of when a performer (Rogen) wants to take on the media. Earlier this year saw Nightcrawler attempt to do the same thing with less satirical success. This is a film that is smart underneath the dumbness. It isn't pretentious and if rectal jokes bother you, steer clear. The comedy/satire is edgier than the assassination, which is a revelation that is usually saved for more highbrow fare like In the Loop. I didn't want this film to exist because it seemed like a really dumb premise. Now I realize that we should be grateful, even if the lack of veiled caricature was unfortunate.
Comments
Post a Comment