This Is The End ~ The Trinity is like Neapolitan Ice Cream

When I think of apocalyptic movies, I think of Roland Emmerich.  I think of films like "The Day After Tomorrow," or "2012.”  We haven't had a good end of the world movie.  When I say the end of the world, I mean Apocalypse of Biblical proportions.  In "This Is The End'" Hollywood takes serious look at the book of Revelations and a not so serious look at themselves.  Good fun for those can handle a satirical look at actors, Hollywood and what we find funny.  “This Is The End” stars Seth Rogen ("Pineapple Express," "The Green Hornet") and Jay Baruchel ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "She's Out of My League") as essentially, themselves.  Two Hollywood actors, both from Canada, find themselves at a party at James Franco's ("Oz the Great and Powerful," "127 Hours") house on the eve of the rapture.  Don't laugh; it could happen.

This is a hard film to describe.  The premise is simple, the story is complex, the gags are hilarious, and self-deprecation is outrageous.  Seth Rogen and Jason Stone got together one day and made a short film called "Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse.”  I don't know what that film is about, however, getting all their Hollywood actor friends together was just plain magical.  Rogen and Goldberg, two nice Jewish boys from Canada decided that they wanted to tackle a very Gentile subject, The Book of Revelations.  All actors play themselves (for the most part) and after being dragged to a party, Jay (Baruchel) by Seth (Rogen) over to James Franco's house.  Jay, not the Hollywood type, doesn’t want to go.  There we meet just about every actor younger than 40 and older than 20.  Let me drop a few names: Michael Cera, Emma Watson, David Krumholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aziz Ansari etc. 

As the party is underway, literally all hell breaks loose.  In a panic the partygoers run outside thinking it's an earthquake (come on folks, get under the door), only to that most of them swallowed into the abyss.  Michael Cera is special; a falling lamppost harpoons him.  Trust me it was funny.  In today's day and age many have been so seared by secular habits that spiritual, even Biblical, analysis comes as unfamiliar.  The survivors: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, and Craig Robinson all take shelter in Franco's house as the world burns outside.  Never mind that the electricity should have gone out.  Never mind that boarding up your house with pretentious artwork is plain stupid.  It doesn't matter.  Intending to ration their remaining food, and drugs and soft drinks the group plan on waiting out whatever they think it is going on outside.  Danny McBride ("Your Highness") makes an entrance the next day, cooks, and eats most of their food. 

While spending your time waiting for something to happen, each gag getting funnier as they try to kill time, find food and water, video tape their confession, making sequels to "Pineapple Express" and figure out WTF is going on.  All sorts of incredible things happen including the possession and the "Exorcism of Jonah Hill.”  Is "This Is The End" sacrilegious?  Goldberg and Rogen don't attack Christianity per se, instead they attack themselves, and their petty Hollywood lives.  The film pretty much admits that actors are damned to hell.  It doesn’t matter how many awards they get, or how much their films bring in, or how much money they have.  This comical look at themselves will keep you laughing all the way to the end. 

Each of the "survivors" each stands out in their own way.  Jay as the sane thoughtful one, Franco as the de facto leader, Robinson as somewhat of a moralist, McBride as the douche bag house guest and Hill as the closet demon.  Seth Rogen stands out because he plays off everybody.  I don't recommend "This Is The End" to the religiously sensitive.  I think most people who can laugh at themselves and is used to R rated comedy as displayed by the likes of Rogen and McBride, will find this film heavenly.

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Comedy 

Year: 2013

Staring: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Producer(s): Evan Goldberg, Lawrence Grey, Seth Rogen, James Weaver

Writer: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Jason Stone

Rating: R

Running Time: 107 minutes

Release Date: 6/12/2013