THIS IS THE END

THIS IS THE END

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres from directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and Columbia Pictures comes the craziest comedy ever because THIS IS THE END.

This film tells the story of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel and Danny McBride. Actor friends who are spending the evening partying together. That is except for kind of grump Jay who doesn’t like the Hollywood crowd.

Taking a walk to get cigarettes with Rogen the unthinkable happens! A blue light comes from the sky and people are taken away leaving Seth and Jay standing in the store alone. Running back to Franco’s house they find everyone still inside as if nothing has happened.

Jay tries to explain but is interrupted by a violent earthquake and people are sucked in!

The six guys survive and taking stock of their supplies the waiting begins. Trying to figure out what is happening Jay looks in the bible for answer.

There is more happening here than a simple earth shake as the guys have to turn to one another for survival – or not.

FINAL WORD: Baruchel is the reasonable one of the bunch. Although all I could hear was Hiccup from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON at times it didn’t stop me from seeing his point about things. If there is an ‘adult’ in the group he’s it!

Rogen gets to be the semi-adult who’s totally hiding in a kid’s body. There is nothing he won’t or doesn’t do in this film. He never reaches the point of being totally disturbing but he plays with the fine line enough to make me laugh.

Franco is the narcissist. I mean seriously, when the props from MILK and 127 HOURS showed up – nuff said. It is all in fun and I loved it actually. Robinson gets to be the laid-back party guy until he can’t anymore. One thing would have made his role more hilarious – keep an eye on the matches and you’ll know what I mean.

Hill is the total wide-eyed ass kisser but lets face it, he really does it well. Getting a chance to pull a Linda Blair anytime I ever hear someone say “compels you” I’m in trouble. McBride is the total douchebag and I’m beginning to wonder if he is unfairly being typecast…..nahhhhh! If an actor is good at something then run with the money.

Other cast include – however briefly; Rhianna, Emma Watson, Mindy Kaling, David Krumholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Martin Starr, Paul Rudd, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Jason Segel and Michael Cera.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give THIS IS THE END four and a half tubs of popcorn out of five. Why you may ask? Because I frakken can! Just as these actors got together and planned this mayhem, brought it to a studio exec who probably said “why?” there reply probably was “because we frakken can!”

It has been quite some time since I went to a film where I had a good time I mean an honest-to-goodness-laugh-myself-silly-with-shocked-looks-from-time-to-time-almost-shot-smoothie-out-my-nose good time! Look folks, this isn’t splitting the atom, it’s a bunch of guys from Hollywood having a good time and people are going to give them money to see it.

Truly is that any worse than anyone else slapping down hard earned cash to see crap? At least with this film there isn’t anything to hide. These actors make fun of themselves and what they do in the middle of childish humor. This definitely isn’t a movie for the kiddie crowd.

There is crazy hilarity with some of films favorite actors doing things you’d never thought they’d do. I actually refuse to say anything more about it because there are some things that have to be seen and experiences all on its own. The entire audience was cheering and a new “super hero” is born…well sort of.

In the end – its what happens when five guys face the apocalypse!