”This is the End” (2013)

Longtime collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have joined forces once again. “This is the End” is a raunchy, insider's look at Hollywood friendships set amidst an indulgent party and a biblical apocalypse. Having co-written “SuperBad” (2007) and “Pineapple Express” (2008) the comedic powerhouse duo was in familiar company while scripting this film however this is their first crack behind the camera as they make their directorial debut.

Rogen also acts in the movie but wisely takes a more subdued role allowing the rest of the saturated cast to shine. Perhaps he also wanted to propel some of his lesser known buddies into the limelight. This feat is made easier by the fact that the actors are playing themselves in name albeit as caricatures of how they are publicly perceived. Featuring a slew of cameos1 and slightly more expanded roles for Emma Watson and Michael Cera, who shows some range here from his “good kid” image, the core actors of the film are also numerous.

This is a who's who of the next generation of comedy titans.

The movie opens with a reunion of old Canadian friends Rogen and Jay Baruchel at the Los Angeles airport. The self-deprecating humor begins immediately as a member of the paparazzi accuses Rogen of playing himself in every movie after which he reels off his signature laugh. Despite participating in an epic weed smoking video game whirlwind, Baruchel acts as the foil to the shallow world of the young and successful Hollywood glitterati. He is the heart and soul of the movie, providing a bridge from the audience to the gluttonous buffoonery of the attendees of a lavish party at James Franco's house. The guest list includes a new age Jonah Hill and the steady comedic presence of Craig Robinson. As Franco oozes pretension, Baruchel's discomfort increases.

That's when the absurdity of the drug and sex filled soiree gets a wake up call from a sudden and unspecified cataclysm. Enter instant bedlam. The long list of familiar faces quickly dwindles as nearly all of the actors are hilariously dispatched. Luckily for the audience, some of the funniest up and coming comedians pull through ... and James Franco.

As survivor mode settles in, food and water are inventoried and a plan for rationing is developed. It seems like this band of merry fellows just might weather the storm until the party crashing Danny McBride wakes up oblivious to the previous night's catastrophe and promptly devours the store of supplies for breakfast.

The movie is outrageously smutty, a truly R rated adult comedy. Leave the kids at home and prepare for your more delicate senses to be shocked if you see this one. However, it is also silly and fun loving. Judd Apatow's fingerprints are all over this production, even though he is not directly connected with it.

Whether you have enjoyed or despised these Apatow protégées in their previous films like “Knocked Up” (2007) or “Get Him to the Greek” (2010) will probably determine how you receive this film as it is more of the same. Where “This is the End” innovates is in its new brand of referential humor.

It is a movie conscious of other movies and of itself. So much of the subtext assumes a familiarity with the actors' bodies of work that a second viewing would probably reveal even more inside jokes. This comes off as self-obsessed, but in the end the loving lenses through which it all takes place allows the jokes to take center stage.

Seemingly self-congratulatory at times, every actors' willingness to make themselves look like jackasses mitigates this effect (We're looking at you, Channing). One of the signs to being cool after all is an ability to laugh at yourself.

Rogen and Goldberg have admitted that there was heavy improvisation on set. This infuses spontaneous energy to the film but also gives it a chapter-like structure as the skits are strung together. This disjointed mixture of improv and script is hit or miss but is delivered in such a steady barrage that when the laughter lulls you only have to wait a short time for another gut buster.

Overall though we thought there were enough memorable exchanges to make the movie worthwhile. This skit-oriented dialogue has the feel of a showdown. If you enjoy comedy roasts, this is for you.

The result is a strong debut for Rogen and Goldberg as directors. Not in a classic sense -- since the movie lacks a cohesive narrative progression -- but they accomplish something unique along the way and get a lot from the cast. The directors write about what they know here. In this case it's drug-fueled parties, friendship, cynical skepticism, the movie industry and potty humor.

There are elements of the trademark bromance and fanboy cinephile exultation in this mishmash horror-comedy. While they don't quite seamlessly pull off this genre mixing à la “Shaun of the Dead” (2004), they do stumble upon a new identity for movie parody. The comedy never grinds to a halt even though it stalls at times. It works as a disaster blockbuster or creature comfort comedy.

Rating: $$$ out of $$$$$.


The Reel Deal Rating System:

$ - Wait until it is on television.
$$$ - Worth renting as a new release.
$$$$$ - Worth going to opening night.

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