Apocalypse Movie Now

Now on DVD and Blu-Ray is Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's end-of-the-world comedy, This Is The End. If I had to describe this movie in one sentence, that sentence would be the following: If you have ever wondered what would happen to a bunch of celebrities during the apocalypse, watching this film will give you a ridiculous if not cleverly scripted look at that scenario. 

The movie starts with Jay Baruchel arriving in L.A. and meeting up with Seth Rogen. They head over to James Franco's house-warming party where a cavalcade of stars make short but sweet cameos. The party gets interrupted by the end of the world. All of the stereotypical "global destruction" stuff starts happening including the skies turning to fire, bottomless pits open up in the ground and demons and pestilence are prominent. The three friends have to barricade themselves in James' house along with Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride. 

It's humorous to think about this ideas conception. Obviously, it was spawned from the rumors of the end of the Mayan calender bringing about the end of the world. As Seth and Evan were developing it, I can imagine Seth asking, "Wouldn't it be a riot if we made an apocalypse comedy where we all play ourselves?" That may be the funniest part of this film. It was amusing to see these celebrities in there "natural" personality. Obviously, these people are still putting on their "screen face" but I can't say it's not entertaining. I especially like the part when Emma Watson breaks down the door and attacks the group with an ax. 



The movie is rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence. It had a budget of about $32 million and, from its 12th release until it left theaters last week, made just over $100 million.

The following are a few trivial facts from IMDB.com about the movie that amused me:

"According to Seth Rogen, Danny McBride was the person who made everyone laugh and break character the most. At one point, it took 18 takes and over an hour for the cast to get a joke on film because Mcbride's delivery kept making everyone laugh."

"Seth Rogen stated in an interview that at one point during production every main cast member took him aside and told him that they couldn't do what he was asking him to because it was going too far and getting too extreme. James Franco was the only cast member that never turned anything down."

"Seth Rogen gave an interview where he described how the script by himself and Evan Goldberg combined real characteristics of the actors who then produced bizarre alt-version of themselves with elements that had absolutely nothing in common with the cast. Rogen cited Michael Cera's portrayal in the film - a drug-using, ass-grabbing, utterly obnoxious loudmouth - as funny because that character has nothing at all in common with how Cera behaves in real life."

One element in this movie that I REALLY appreciate is that something like 50% of the dialogue was improvised. That is the main reason that I give this movie a 6 out of 10 points for comedic quality.