This was previously published in Vertigo Magazine and edited by the wonderful Vertigo editors. Check out the website for more writing goodness.
This Is The End may look like every movie coming out in 2013 – it’s got big name celebrities acting in a movie set in the apocalypse – but celebrities playing themselves in a stoner movie set in the apocalypse? That makes it a little more interesting.
Seth Rogan’s old friend Jay Baruchel is visiting LA from Canada. While attending a party at James Franco’s house, the best friends witness people ascending to heaven by white lights. Sinkholes kill off A-list partygoers and madness descends.
The pair seek refuge in James Franco’s mansion alongside James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson. To pass the time they take ecstasy, talk about cumming over each other, and make a homemade version of Pineapple Express 2 until supplies start to dwindle.
If you’re looking for a night out with your friends, this movie will not disappoint. It’s like a reunion of the Freaks and Geeks, Pineapple Express and Superbad casts. Celebrity appearances are speckled throughout, with cameos by Rhianna, Emma Watson, and many, many more. Performances by Channing Tatum and Micheal Cera are highlights.
The narrative is fun and it’s refreshing to see well-known actors play themselves and make self-deprecating jokes. However, the movie can at times feel self-indulgent and there are several stagnant moments. The subplot of Baruchel and Rogen’s strained relationship could have been fleshed out, the orientation was long and the ending only half thought out.
Nevertheless, despite lacking some narrative cohesion, the premise is strong and if you’re a fan of any of the lead stars, chances are you’re going to like this film. There are plenty of dick/cum gags, but they’re held together with a surprising moral that subliminally criticises the hedonism of Hollywood.
The Unreliable Narrator 