This Is the End

The most notable information in the credits for This is the End is that it is based on a short film by its writers and directors, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. I haven't seen this short film, but I have seen the feature-length film, and I'm sure the short packed more of a punch. As funny as the feature can be, it's spread way too thin.

The terrific premise has a group of actors, led by Rogen, playing themselves and dealing with the apocalypse. Rogen hosts his buddy, Jay Baruchel, who hates Los Angeles. After a great afternoon of video games and weed, Rogen drags him to a party at James Franco's house, where all sorts of performers, mostly associated with the films of Rogen, are attending, including Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Michael Cera. For awhile they poke gentle fun at each other, mostly Cera, who is portrayed as a first-class asshole.

Then some kind of earthquake hits, and people are sucked up into the sky by a blue light. Baruchel, who has a working knowledge of the Book of Revelation, thinks it's the apocalypse. Anyhow, most of the partygoers are killed, falling into a huge pit formed in Franco's front yard. The remaining hunker down in Franco's mansion, bickering with each other and trying to survive.

The best part of the film is how the actors make fun of themselves, amplifying the personality traits of how we think they are. Franco is a pretentious prima donna, Hill is an obsequious phony, and Danny McBride is, well, horrible. Rogen, given that he wrote the thing, comes off best, a good guy, while Baruchel is sort of the hero, but also an insufferable scold.

That being said, a little of this does not go a long way. I imagine the actors had more fun with this than the general public. There were some really great scenes--my favorite was when an axe-wielding Emma Watson takes refuge in the house, but leaves after overhearing them men talking about raping her. Hermione Granger wield an ax and the work "fuck" is priceless.

Other bits aren't as successful, such as a long colloquy between Franco and McBride about where to aim one's ejaculation, or when Hill becomes possessed by a demon, and Baruchel attempts to exorcise him. Little toss off lines work best, such as when Hill, demon-possessed, starts spouting Latin, and Franco thinks it's Hebrew. "I went to Hebrew school for six years," Rogen says, "and that's not Hebrew."

The film also attempts to have a moral, as each character must prove themselves worthy of the rapture. That's kind of lame, as are the special effects. I think this film's spiritual ancestor is Ghostbusters, which of course was much better and more accomplished. This Is the End, though, is mildly amusing and not a bad way to kill an evening.