This Is the End

“This Is the End” is a riotously funny movie about six comedic stars trapped in one mansion as the Apocalypse unfolds around them. The personalities are funny, the situation is funny, everything is funny.

The first great comedy of 2013.

When Jay Baruchel (all stars play themselves) flies into LA to stay with Seth Rogen, he’s disappointed to learn that Seth wants them to go to a party at James Franco’s house. Baruchel doesn’t feel like part of the gang, and isn’t fond of Hollywood parties. Nevertheless, they go, and indeed, find a who’s who of young Hollywood in attendance. Michael Cera, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Jason Segel, Rihanna, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling and many others are in attendance. As expected, Jay doesn’t fit in well.

On a run for cigarettes, Rogen and Baruchel experience an earthquake, followed by blue beams of light that suck people into the sky. Running for safety back to Franco’s, they watch as several of the party guests fall to their deaths in a giant sinkhole that has opened in the front lawn. A handful of the stars retreat back into the house for safety as fires begin to rage throughout the area. Rogen and Baruchel are joined by Jonah Hill, James Franco and Craig Robinson as the sole survivors. They quickly realize they’ll have to survive a shortage of food and water… and Danny McBride.

Are the events that are occurring truly the Apocalypse? If so, what hope do the stars have for survival?

I can’t even start to explain how funny this movie is. Every single thing about it worked for me, and I left the theatre cracking up. This film is destined for comedy classic status, or at the very least cult classic status.

The primary source of comedy here is the willingness of these stars to pillory their own personas for the sake of humor. They universally come across as afraid, a bit dim, and a bit diva. The conflicts between them are hysterical. Arguments break out over the smallest things, occasionally followed by over-apologetic makeup conversations. They fight over food, water and pornography, then play by making a home-made sequel to “The Pineapple Express”. Together, they’re crass and juvenile, busting on each other and outright fighting in a foul-mouthed, funny fashion.

Watching them banter and bitch amongst each other is funny, of course, but the high concept allows for great comedic situations that I won’t spoil here. All the while these six goof around in the safety of Franco’s Hollywood home, the mysterious events outside their door are intensifying. I’ll just add that there are numerous, over the top scenes that go way beyond the level of an axe wielding Emma Watson robbing them of their water and them drinking their own urine (both of which were shown in trailers). It culminates in a finale so funny that I think I have to temper myself… not that I haven’t already showered enough hyperbole on this movie, but I may go overboard talking about the last 20 minutes.

“This Is the End” was a fantastic comedy that had me laughing from beginning to end and made me want to see it again immediately. I can’t imagine it not making my ten best list for this year. If somehow it falls off, 2013 will have been a great, great year for movies.

A++

Daniel Fogarty