This is the End (2013)

“Dear God… It’s me… Jonah Hill… from Moneyball…”

It’s a shame I’m not one of those big-time critics that get quoted on DVD covers. I could have provided the cover of This is the End with worthy praise: this is the funniest movie in over a year and the most original comedy in years. I can’t say that it quite reaches the level of genius, because it noticeably runs out of steam towards the end, but the set-up was a genius inspiration. Buddies Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel are hanging out one weekend when they decide to go to James Franco’s housewarming party. It is at this celebrity-filled event that all hell breaks loose. There is a giant earthquake, buildings catch fire, blue light sucks up a bunch of folks and a huge sinkhole appears in front of Franco’s house, pulling in the likes of Rihanna and Aziz Ansari. Only a handful of actors survive, including Rogen, Baruchel, Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson. Trapped together in this house, they do their best to survive the apocalypse, though much bickering does ensue.

It isn’t really a spoiler to say that this movie is about the end times and those blue lights were the rapture, apparently only not sparing actors from the final judgment. This skewered view of Biblical prophecy leads to the film’s biggest flaw: it doesn’t know how to end. After what is arguably the funniest 70 minutes in a long while, the last 15 or 20 start panicking about how to tie everything up and it is done pretty sloppily. Lame ending aside, this is largely a production so clever and amusing that I can easily compare it to a mash-up of Mel Brooks and Kevin Smith. All of the numerous actors present are enthusiastic game for the lampooning of their own screen images and occasional distortion thereof. If you are the sort who will be alarmed and disgusted by the appearance of the still young Emma Watson saying foul words and fending off potential rapists with an axe, you should probably skip this one.

Vulgarity is a difficult medium to master. Few have done it, but Rogen and company have proven they are capable. I must warn all readers that this is a very R-rated comedy; strong language and obscene jokes abound, but are done with such a natural sincerity that they avoid being merely shocking.  For example, I generally do not consider phallus gags to be very amusing, but there are bodily function jokes here at which I couldn’t help but laugh. A good thing is that not all the jokes are crass. There are some great bits involving video confessionals made with the camcorder from 127 Hours. Jabs are poked at the Oscar nominees in the group who are obviously making the most of their careers and at one point, the group creates a low-budget sequel to Pineapple Express that is so goofy it’s almost believable.

I will not elaborate any further on these sequences or reveal any of the film’s other secrets. This is the End may not go down in history or anything, but when compared to other movies of its genre, it is a remarkable achievement. Its naysayers will dismiss it as silly and trivial, but what else should a comedy be but funny? If you are one of those people who cracked up at the food poisoning scene in Bridesmaids, This is the End will leave you in stitches. Trust me.

8/10