This is the End (2013)

JohnnyTwoToes is so so hugely disappointed with this misfire!

I must say I was stunned by this film. This Is The End is the newest film from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and if they thought people where going to laugh at this film then I must not know what funny is. The cast all play themselves as they converge at James Franco's home for a party. Until that is, the Apocalypse happens and literally all hell breaks loose and the group has to band together to survive while staying at Franco's place. 

With a cast that has Rogen, Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson and Emma Watson (yes, Hermione from the Harry Potter franchise) along with countless other cameos from Paul Rudd to Michael Cera to Rihanna this film should have been a laugh riot. I sat unmoved by anything that happened on screen. Who thought this was funny?

I am definitely no prude, but I have never seen such a gratuitously and unnecessarily vulgar film as bad as This Is The End. There was not one chuckle, not one moment of freshness in this film. If you want to enjoy watching people yell, curse, hurl vile and disgusting comments about perverse sex acts back and forth and for good measure watch people get stoned then this is your kind of film. Stoner films can be done well. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a perfect example. Dazed and Confused is another example. I can still appreciate a clever and wit film about people who do get high. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle is another example of how to do a stoner comedy. Sadly this wasn't one.

This Is The End was written by Rogan and Evan Goldberg who also did the screen story based on a short film "Jay and Seth Vs. The Apocalypse". If it was unintelligible as a short film of nine minutes, it is even worse at almost 120 minutes. The film is quite content to let the actors play themselves but they come across as a bunch of jerks. Who would want to hang out with these guys? Is this the image they want to go for. It tries to make a point towards the end of the film about being a good person, but it is too little, too late.

And to soil little Emma Watson in this film is unconscionable. She is however, old enough to know better but she is trying to break the image of being a wholesome little girl. This is not the film for her to break that image. I get that. There is a whole scene as the guys discuss the "Rapey Vibe" when Ms. Watson enters the house. It is not funny, but offensive especially to women who have been victims of rape. 

There is nothing that works in this film, with the exception of Henry Jackman's score. Except for a scene or two, the actors come out as jerks, the script is nonsensical and the film has NO redeeming qualities what so ever. How this garnered the rave reviews it received is beyond me. It cost about 32 million dollars to make it (Rogan and Goldberg asked for more) and brought in over 100 million at the box office. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that. I might have to amend or expand my 'Best and Worst' list of 2013 to throw this piece of crap in there. Do not waste your time. This Is The End-* out of 4