The Interview: Directed by Seth Rogan,and Evan Goldberg. Starring: Seth Rogan,and James Franco.1/24/2015 The consistently surprising thing about Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg "comedies" is that they are not very funny. Now that's not to say that they're bad, just that they all have something else that works much stronger in them than the moments that should invoke laughing. This Is the End was a better movie about friendship than a comedy about the world falling apart, relying more on shock value and gross outs than stuff that actually came off as funny. But I still liked that movie a lot. That comedy, combined with the group dynamic and a surprisingly funny look at God and the devil, made that movie. Neighbors wasn't that funny, but was at least genuine enough in its drama to not fall apart into something like Project X with a frat and a married couple. That brings us to The Interview, a movie that, while not exactly gut-busting hilarious, is still amusing. The Interview is about two reporters (James Franco and Seth Rogen) who go to North Korea to interview Kim-Jong Un. They are then tasked by the CIA with killing him. That's mainly for the comedy part of the film. While there are some funny parts (namely a sequence where Eminem reveals his true self) the film seem to have dialed the jokes back or at least had become more subtle about them. This Is the End took a sledgehammer to subtlety, which turned out to be quite funny throughout the film, but when looking back at it made you kind of feel like shit. The Interview is more of a film that makes you chuckle but gets better once you sit back and think about it. I like this aspect of it, but the problem is it feels like the jokes on the surface of the film really aren't that funny. There's a moment where Seth Rogen has to insert something into his anus. In the moment I didn't laugh, but the more I continue to think about it the more amused I am. The real question is what is it that works better than the comedy in this movie. Well this film is more subtle with that too. There's no big arching story that works better. The story of friendship between Kim and James Franco's character has some good parts, but then loses it a little near the end. The Seth Rogen romance portion actually works, it's pretty good. But they all come together eventually just balance out. The thing that really sells this movie is James Franco, Seth Rogen, and the rest of the cast. I was really surprised. This was a movie that could have been bad brought up by the fact that the people delivering the lines do it so well. James Franco is great with a big personality that is so funny, and when the film’s climax comes he's the one delivering the stand-up-and-cheer moments. Rogen is kind of in the backseat but is believable as more of the straight man in this situation. Randall Park is really a surprise hit as Kim..etc. As far as subtlety goes in with what it has to say...that's the sledgehammer. The film is basically attacking Kim-Jong Un, and that's not a bad thing but it is having a good time doing it. I mean seriously there are no pulled punches, especially with this film crazy and hilarious ending. I mean sure it’s all offensive,but all of it is in good fun out of making the Korean people. I know that’s not particularly good, but the film is not very concerned with them. The point is, while the film itself is not particularly funny (though that Eminem part is hilarious) like everything else in Goldberg and Rogen's catalogue, the actors just elevate it to the point of it being worth the viewing. I am a little surprised that the comedy was so subtle while the message is not, but it's still a wild time, and I enjoyed it. I give The Interview an 8 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek. Edited by Holly Clemons.
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CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |