This is the End

This movie should've sucked.  The idea of making a film wherein some of cinema's biggest, contemporary, big-screen comedians play caricatures of themselves against the backdrop of the biblical Apocalypse sounds completely masturbatory (and it very much is, in every meaning of the word).  But this exercise in Hollywood navel gazing is anchored by an incredibly touching emotional core: friendship. 

Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen are best friends who are working through a rough patch in their relationship.  James Franco is the new friend who is jealous of the Rogen/Baruchel bond.  Jonah Hill is a friend of Rogen who tries to maintain civility despite the fact that he and Baruchel hate each other.  Danny McBride is the hanger-on, and Craig Robinson is the guy whose torn apart by being everyone's friend.

All these actors are funny and charismatic on their own, but throw them all together and they're incredible.  Their real life friendship makes their performances very natural.  Even the emotional moments seem like they are culled from the experiences these guys have had in Hollywood.

Padding out the first act of the movie are tons of comedian cameos.  It's fun enough to see all these comedians riffing and hanging out, but the real fun comes in watching them all meet hilarious and gruesome deaths when the Apocalypse begins.

This movie could've been about these guys coping with any kind of disaster, so them choosing the Apocalypse is important.  The discuss many times how the simple fact that they did not ascend during the Rapture means they are bad people.  So, not only does the film already have a strong emotional core but the characters are now given a goal, a chance at redemption, and a reason for introspection.  Basically, "This is the End" is a film with a greater understanding of drama and story than 90% of movies you'll see this year.

But don't think this is some sappy, dude-love movie.  In true male fashion, every moment of heartfelt openness is deflected with a quip or aggression or (usually) both.  "This is the End" is a film that really earns its R-rating.  The MPAA gave it that rating for "crude and sexual content throughout, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence."  What's funny about that is that there's a ton of intense, gory violence not just "some."  Also, there's only about 10 seconds of human nudity.  That "brief graphic nudity" refers to a couple of scenes involving cartoonishly large demon penises.  Basically, this is not for kids.

I was really impressed with "This is the End."  It's a movie to watch sooner rather than later as it will be horribly dated within a couple years and completely incomprehensible to new viewers in a decade.  The entire premise is built around the current public perception of actors who are big right now.  Even the nostalgic references are based on what is popular in nostalgia right now.  But if you seize the day and watch this movie while it's still relevant, you will not regret it.  The ending alone is totally worth the rental price.

7 out of 10