This is the End (2013) **

U.S. Release Date: June 12, 2013

Running Length: 1:47

Rated: R (Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence, Drugs, Nudity)

Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride

Director: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg

Screenplay: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg

 

While it is not entirely original for actors to be playing themselves i.e. Wes Craven's New Nightmare, it is still somewhat of an anomaly in film, especially when everybody in it is basically playing themselves. It is this conceit that is one of this films sole saving graces. It is dark, crude, and at times hilarious, but it is also overly long and meandering at times, presenting too many stops and starts to maintain the momentum needed to propel this film to its conclusion.

 

The basic story revolves around Seth Rogan and Jay Baruchel, childhood friends who have drifted apart as Rogan finds success in Hollywood. While Jay is visiting Seth in L. A. they attend a party hosted by James Franco who has also invited numerous other celebrities including Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride. While taking a brief break from the party the end of the world, or at least L. A. (That part isn't really fleshed out), bright lights come from the sky and whisk away lots of people and then fire and brimstone reigns down on the rest, killing most and setting the entire Hollywood hills area in flames. Most of the party goers are sucked into a sinkhole and the rest (Seth, Jay, James, Jonah, Craig and Danny) hole up in Franco's house afraid of what is going on outside. What comes afterwards is mostly a believable scenario of what would happen when these type of people are forced to survive without their luxuries and a fear for their lives. Eventually they'll have to venture outside for water and food but it is surprising how long it takes to get there and what happens when they do.

 

Being a Seth Rogan film, writing, directing and starring, this film is filled to overflowing with gross-out profanity and sex related humor. Some of this is hilarious but most of it is just there to satisfy Rogan fans. Some of it is hit over the head over and over again, losing its humor only to find itself suddenly funny again when it comes back for an encore at unusual moments. This film is loaded with callbacks, only some of them that really pay off.

 

The films biggest strength is its self aimed humor. There is a very brief moment early on when a paparazzi photographer corners Rogan and accuses him of always playing the same character. That goes for this film as well. Jonah Hill is perfect as the overly nice person who tries to be nice to everyone no matter what happens to him. What eventually happens to him hits things right on the head.

 

What ultimately makes this film ineffective is the references to religion and what is really going on outside Franco's house. It is heavy handed and telegraphed early on and is a bit disappointing how it is portrayed. It is also puctuated by some really shoddy CGI work that is so bad at times that I wondered if it was intentionally done that way. Intentional or not it took me out of the film and damaged my enjoyment of it.

 

Ultimately this film is overlong and more than a little self-indulgent, but what can be expected from a film written and directed and starred by Seth Rogan. It needs some better writing and a more polished direction. It also needs a clear direction to go instead of feeling like it was meandering all the time as everyone is bumbling around the house bickering and going nowhere.