Movie Review: "This Is the End"

Stoner comedies like the ones Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and even Oscar nominated actor James Franco have taken part in are a decidedly polarizing subgenre. It's very easy for a film to go from funny to annoying, they are almost always built around a stupid premise, and they tend to hold up horribly on re-watches because the sheer randomness of the film is gone. But if  This Is the End is a stoner comedy, then it is The Cabin in the Woods of stoner films. Just like that meta-horror film from last year, This Is the End is massive in scope, wildly unpredictable and while certainly filled with low-brow humor it is intelligently written and always privy to what audiences want from these actors and how they feel about them.

As anybody who has seen the trailers can tell, the biggest joke in this post-apocalyptic buddy comedy is that the celebrities are all playing themselves. While a joke like this would usually wear thin after the opening moments, Rogen and his co-writer/director, Evan Goldberg, somehow make it work by not necessarily have the actors play themselves, or comedic versions of themselves, but full fledged characters who happen to share their names and a few characteristics. While the film is arguably an ensemble film, Jay Baruchel is very much its central character and his friendship with Seth Rogen is the movie's heart. That's what makes the film so unique- Barauchel and Rogen, somehow, manage to disappear into their performances as Jay and Seth. Each of the comedians at the center of the film do the same, with each character serving an important part to the overall plot.

But the fact that the celebrities are appearing as themselves certainly add to the experience, mainly because Rogen and Goldberg seem aware of the way the public views the many celebrities that walk on screen and take advantage of that. Michael Cera is the polar opposite of how he is depicted in the media- snorting coke, slapping Rihanna's ass, etc.- but James Franco is just as pretentious and self righteous as we'd expect. And while the fact that Emma Watson drops f-bombs and threatens people with an axe has been spoiled by virtually every trailer of TV spot, there are plenty of surprise cameos in the film.

But the biggest surprise for me was how much Goldberg and Rogen crammed into the film. It's hard to dwell into details without revealing some huge twists, but the film went places I didn't see coming. Comedies may not be known for their originality in terms of plot, but This Is the End is defined by it. Just as Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard surprised horror fans by playing with the clichés in last year's Cabin, This Is the End constantly surprises audiences by twisting their expectations. Avoid the marketing for this one at all cost, and make sure that any conversations you have with somebody who has seen the film are heavily moderated. The film is an absolute joyride thanks to its unpredictability. Knowledge of what's to come will only lessen the experience. Just know this: it is much, much more than just a group of comedians making crude jokes at the end of the world.

That being said, This Is the End has a very specific brand of comedy that will not appeal to all. Unlike previous Rogen films, namely Knocked Up, the comedy here is extremely crude, immature and offers very little crossover appeal. Essentially, those who don't enjoy hard-R jokes about dick sizes and masturbatory habits will likely be miserable. While there are a few humorous jabs at celebrities and two surprisingly funny tributes to classic horror films, a majority of the film involves middle school levels of immaturity. Personally, some of the jokes did fall flat. The sight of a penis really isn't all that funny, and the film contains not one but two visual gags involving the male reproductive organ, so that really didn't work for me. And I'm not exactly a fan of pot jokes. A few work fine in the film, but it can only go so far. And watching Pineapple Express was one of the most excrutciating experiences of my life as a filmgoer, so any and all references to the film just brought back bad memories. But these jokes will no doubt work for others, and the fact that This Is the End managed to make me laugh as much as it did- even with the moments that fell flat- is quite an accomplishment.

I'd be much more enthusiastic about the film had it not relied so much on the element of surprise. I have a slight suspicion that the film will not work nearly as well on a repeated viewing, and I can't say I'm itching to find out. But comedies are my least favorite genre by a mile. Maybe it's what Hollywood is putting out these days, or maybe it's just my apparent lack of a funny bone, but I find myself losing interest in the genre as a whole. When one makes me laugh as much as This Is the End, I'd consider it worthy of attention. It's filled with low-brow humor yet somehow manages to be intelligently written, and the film is more surprising and entertaining than any film this year so far. It won't work for everyone (few comedies do) but it's definitely worth checking out if you don't mind your humor dirty, immature and unpredictable.

OVERALL GRADE: B+