Show biz pals’ apocalypse goof eventually runs out of ideas

  • By Cary Darling Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  • Thursday, June 13, 2013 1:03pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

The world won’t end with just a bang or a whimper, but also a truckload of sophomoric humor and Hollywood in-jokes.

At least that’s the way Seth Rogen and a bunch of his movie-star buddies see it in “This Is the End,” a riff on the apocalypse that’s closer in spirit to Harold and Kumar than Genesis and Revelations.

Directed and written by Rogen and friend Evan Goldberg (who wrote “Pineapple Express”), and based on a short film by Jason Stone, “This Is the End” is one extended meta joke about stardom and celebrity that goes on too long and gets derailed by the pair’s desire to keep upping the level of comedic absurdity and cheesy special effects.

Still, there are lots of low-brow laughs, especially in the first half.

As with everyone else in the film, Rogen plays himself, or at least a crude caricature of his geeky persona. He has invited Jay Baruchel (“Tropic Thunder”), an actor friend and fellow Canadian, to L.A. for some down time. They head over to James Franco’s new place for a house party, and that’s where the whole crew — Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Rihanna, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Mindy Kaling, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Paul Rudd, basically anyone who has ever walked by a Judd Apatow set — is ready to have a good time.

But then the Rapture happens (Spoiler alert: None of the celebs gets called to heaven), massive quakes reduce L.A. to rubble, and Seth, Jay, Craig, James, Danny and Jonah are left to fend for themselves amid an atmosphere of camaraderie, cowardice and cracks about each others’ movies.

The film is at its buddy-movie, Hollywood-skewering best when staying on the human level. Even the usually repellent McBride has a few good lines.

Yet as events become more supernatural, “This Is the End” spirals into over-the-top silliness — Hill getting possessed probably sounded good on paper — as Seth and Jay struggle to find a way to get into heaven. It’s as if Rogen and Goldberg, making their directing debut, couldn’t keep up the conceit.

It’s an apocalypse of a different sort for filmmakers when they run out of ideas long before their movie ends.

“This is the End” HH

Seth Rogen goes for the trifecta, writing, directing and starring in a too-long film about the apocalypse from the view of a bunch of party boys. There are laughs along the way, until the story runs out of ideas and goes off the rails. With Craig Robinson, James Franco, Jonah Hill and Jay Baruchel.

Rated: Rated: R for content, nudity, language.

Showing: Alderwood Mall, Everett Stadium, Galaxy Monroe, Stanwood, Meridian, Oak Tree, Varsity, Woodinville, Cascade Mall.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.