Title – This is the End (2013)

Director – Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (feature debut)

Cast – Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Emma Watson

Plot – It’s the end of the world not as we know it! When Jay Baruchel arrives in LA to hang with old best bud Seth he finds himself at the house warming party of James Franco, a party that is attended by the who’s who of the Hollywood comedy fraternity. The night takes a turn for the worse when it seems the end has certainly come to LA if not the world. How will this group go when stuck inside Franco’s apartment as the world crumbles around them?

“I don’t wanna die at James Franco’s house.”

Review by Eddie on 20/07/2013

Well one thing is for sure – the end of the world has no right to be this funny! This is the End takes the light hearted approach towards the end of days and it’s work makes it one of if not the funniest movie you’ll see this year.

Seth Rogen and directing and writing buddy Evan Goldberg have adapted the short movie trailer Jay and Seth Verse the Apocalypse into this $33 million dollar laugh fest. A key to the success of this movie is the cast that they have assembled. Obviously all friends in real life, This is the End isn’t selfish enough to not include you on the jokes. A problem with some such films is the cast seem to be having fun while you are not (see Grown Up’s for a fantastic example of this). Rogen, Franco, Baruchel, McBride, Hill and Robinson all have their moment in the spotlight but scenes shine most when all these actors appear on screen simultaneously creating on many an occasion a side splitting pain of laughter.

This is the End has some elements that perhaps halter its structure. Some scenes feel unwarranted while others perhaps drag slightly to long. It also must be said that the last act of the film feels somewhat not right; perhaps due to the fact Rogen and Goldberg struggled with tying the film up nicely. These really are small qualms with a film though that’s truly hard to hate.

Congratulations must go out to all involved in This is the End. It’s a comedy film that could of easily fallen into self-depreciation and an excuse for all involved to catch up for a few drinks and unquestionable some illegal substances. The final product however is an end of the world you’re actually excited to be a part of, a rare thing indeed.

4 milky ways out of 5