It took more than five months, but we now have a legitimate contender for "Funniest movie of 2013." This is the End contains numerous sequences of laugh-aloud hilarity, the kind of stuff where the laughter in a packed theater drowns out the dialogue. It's every bit as edgy and raunchy as the Hangover movies, and the main "hook" here, that every actor is playing and lampooning himself, holds up every bit as well. Yes, there are dead spots here and there where certain moments aren't quite as funny as the filmmakers seem to think they are, but unlike The Hangover Part III, the lag never reaches irritating degrees. Directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg employ the "kitchen sink" blend of comedy reminiscent of spoof films. Keep the gags and quotable lines coming and coming and coming (no pun intended, although there's a joke about that, too).
As the film opens, Jay Burachel has come to Los Angeles intending to spend some quality time with his good buddy, Seth Rogen, playing video games and smoking every manner of weed imaginable. But Rogen wants to hit up a giant party hosted by James Franco at his brand new Hollywood mansion. Burachel reluctantly agrees, and it's not long before he has some memorable exchanges with Franco, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson. But unbeknownst to the party animals (which also include Kevin Hart, Rihanna, Michael Cera, and Emma Watson, among others), the apocalypse has arrived. Blue beams of light suck up anyone who is deemed "worthy" into Heaven and leaves the rest of our fellow heathens behind to fend for themselves. For Franco, Rogen, Baruchel, Robinson, Hill, and Danny McBride, that means staying holed up inside the house awaiting rescue. And settling important tasks like divvying up the food and water, "sharing" the lone porn magazine, making a sequel to Pineapple Express, and figuring out just what the fuck is going on out there.
With every actor in the entire movie playing him/herself, opportunities galore for each of them to rip into each other's movies and off-camera personalities. Weed is constantly on Rogen's mind, Burachel has some serious party-pooper issues, Hill desperately wants everyone to like him, and McBride might be one of the most selfish assholes to ever wake up from a hangover. All six shine brightly and create memorable personalities, some based loosely on real life, and some undoubtedly fueled by certain substances. Michael Cera, playing a coked-out, ass-grabbing version of himself, and Emma Watson, in full psycho-bitch mode after mishearing a conversation, milk every second of their limited screen time.
As with any R-rated comedy, the raunch factor is through the roof. Jokes involving sex, bodily fluids, and a "rape-y vibe" are commonplace, and many hit the funny bone. This is the End also boasts an inspired exorcism scene and answers any and all questions we might have about whether a male demonic creature can be "anatomically correct." And there's a hilarious bit of surprise casting late in the film that I dare not ruin here. All of this may seem like standard fare for a mainstream off-color comedy, but the construction of it all is certainly unique.
It goes without saying that groups of male friends should unquestionably seek this movie out together. The camaraderie between the six principals here is certainly enough to remind us all of our own circle of friends, as quick as we are to point out which movie character resembles each of us the most. For Rogen and Goldberg, expanding their short film "Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse" into feature length has proven a wise choice indeed. Anyone who enjoys this brand of off-the-wall comedy will agree This is the End is not to be missed. All others need not apply.
Rating: *** (out of ****)
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