Movie Review - This Is the End

This Is the End **½ (R) Seth Rogen shares writing and directing credits, while also starring in this raunchy ensemble comedy in which he and a bunch of mostly-comedic actor pals play jerky versions of themselves coping with what may their last days on Earth. Rogen and Jay Baruchel go to a huge party at James Franco’s new house in the hills above Los Angeles. During the night of revelry, much of the city, and most of the guests, vanish during a massive earthquake that may also have implications ranging from alien invasion to The Apocalypse. Those three, plus Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride spend most of the rest of the film trying to figure out what’s going on, and to survive whatever menaces are lurking outside their barricaded walls.

The comedy comes from many directions and levels, mocking themselves, other celebs and the whole Hollywood culture, with plenty of grossout gags, references to other films and clashes among the characters. The f/x are big and scary. The script is almost a collage of elements guaranteed to variably regale and offend every demographic one might find. It will be called heretical by some, stupid by others, and hilarious by many, with younger males likely comprising most of the latter category. I laughed a lot, and wanted to like the whole package more than I did. Alas, my age may be showing again, despite my staunch resistance to maturity. (6/12/13)