This is the End (2013)

Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Starrin: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel

Six Los Angeles celebrities are stuck in James Franco’s house after a series of devastating events just destroyed the city. Inside, the group not only have to face the apocalypse, but themselves.

If gay jokes, blasphemy and self-indulgence is your thing, then ‘This is the End’ is sure satisfy, as it shamelessly ticks all these boxes. The film depicts the end times, judgment day, the biblical apocalypse, the end of the world.

Written, directed by and starring Seth Rogen, the film screams self-indulgence as him and his friends star as themselves (although slightly fictional) in this apocalyptic fantasy comedy. Long-time friends Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel hang out at Seth’s place until he suggests they go to James Franco’s housewarming party. Reluctant at first, Jay agrees.

Arriving at James’s house, Jay feels uncomfortable and him and Seth decide to go to the store, when a rapture suddenly occurs – yup, people being sucked up into the air in a beam of light – up to heaven the good people go.

Returning to James’ house, a huge sinkhole appears in front of the house, sucking in (the bad) people. Jay, Seth, James, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson board up the house as monsters start roaming around the house. Danny McBride – who arrived uninvited at the party – wakes up unawares of what happened – and makes himself at home. Soon, tensions rise and gay jokes and homosexual insinuations in abundance bombard the (viewer’s) ears.

Did I enjoy the movie? Well, yeah, I did. It certainly was a very different kind of apocalyptic movie, and some of the visual effects were darn good. I also loved the fact the chaos arrived without warning. Apart from the self-indulgence, the film is also pure satire – which maybe accounts for the sense of self-indulgence, who knows. There are many very funny moments, and there are some unfunny moments, as well as annoying moments. There’s loads of blasphemy, which I could live with, although I thought the ending was taking it a bit too far.

If you’re not deeply religious or homophobic, then I’m sure you will be entertained by the antics of our misfit heroes. You have to choose your audience wisely if intended for a movie night. This is not a family friendly movie!

‘This is the End’ was a box office hit, earning $126.5 million on a budget of around $40 million. It received 33 award nominations, winning 10 including Funniest Motion Picture, Best Comedy Director, and Best Comedy Film of the Year.

Would I watch it again? I doubt it…then again, maybe.