Review of The Interview (2014) by John Eric D — 31 May 2015

The wait is finally over and the furor that was caused by the cancellation of The Interview from being released from theatres and in any other format has subsided. Sony released the film just in time for its Christmas day release as was originally planned, a day earlier with VOD and with so much attention on a silly film, the whole world is anxious to see what all the fuss is about. And the entire hubbub from The Interview wasn't as egregious as people would have thought or imagined, whether they lived in America or North Korea. Never meant to be a scathing, intelligent satire or something that would be regarded as a classic in later years, it is for the most part a goofy, R rated comedy full of childish jokes that are generally funny. But even through all the gross gags, it still nevertheless has something to say beneath its slapstick veneer on the state of politics. While it may be more remembered for its controversy, it should be appreciated for what it is. It's just a simple goofy comedy that isn't trying to change the world.

Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) is a longtime producer of Skylark Tonight, a tabloid TV show that interviews celebrities and the various happenings of actors in Hollywood. He hopes to do more extensive work in areas like 60 Minutes like he originally planned when he left college. Dave Skylark (James Franco) is the host of Skylark Tonight, a best friend to Aaron and an endlessly vapid guy who longs for the most attractive stories of the celebrities he interviews. In an attempt to branch themselves out to more serious material, they learn that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) is a fan of the show so Aaron and Dave seek out the mad leader to interview him. Upon learning that they both will meet and be in the same room as Kim Jong-un, the CIA with the help of Agent Lacey (Lizzy Caplan) enlists them in assassinating him to prevent a global nuclear strike on the United States.

The major selling point for a film like this is the pairing of Seth Rogen and James Franco, who have a great camaraderie and rapport with one another that is unlike many comedic pairings out today. It's always fun to see them on screen together and get into increasingly ludicrous situations that are rife with comedy. While their latest outing isn't on par with the great Pineapple Express, the heart and love is still there, keeping the bro love strong throughout like their past films The Interview and Pineapple Express. Franco proclaiming his love for Rogen with a multitude of Lord Of The Rings references was cute and something that rings true to their real life relationship. There's a reason why they continue to pair with each other and it's because they go so well off of each other, pushing The Interview to grounds of utter lunacy.

Franco pushes that more so than most as the childish, horn dog with a knack for saying ridiculous and perverse things. He runs on all cylinders here as a manic reporter who loves his job way too much. But he makes the role as Dave Skylark endearing in the end where you can't keep your eyes off of him. His effortless charm makes Skylark not so annoying in the end but someone you can hang out with. With anyone else, the character wouldn't have been so successful. Franco has that quality in him where he can simply take over proceedings, whether it's stuck under a rock in 127 Hours or a white, gang banging gangster in Spring Breakers. He's even more enigmatic at times than Alien with the same amount of confidence and blissful ignorance. Franco has never been more outrageous or willing to do or say anything for a tasteless laugh and the effort can't be helped but appreciated. He really gives it his all and was never funnier, sillier or outright stupid.

A large number of the best lines can be attributed to him based on his deliver alone and like one would expect to come completely out of nowhere. Franco excels at playing odd characters who don't know how dumb or strange they are. Saul is inherently more likable in the end but that's how it was meant to be. Skylark is a walking bobble head where Saul is more sweet and real. It takes a little while for Skylark to show some of those emotions later in the movie. Rogen as always plays a great schlubby straight man reacting to all the insanity around him with much nervousness and increasingly erratic motions. His more noble ideals clashed well with Franco's more wild behavior and made for an engaging pair. But I feel that his bromance relationship with Zac Efron in Neighbors that morphed into bitter enemies made for a more alive duo.

Rogen's character in Neighbors looked to be a little more fleshed out and the story was a little more relatable and down to earth. Neighbors worked so well not only because of Efron's and Rogen's chemistry but also his chemistry with Rose Byrne and her great comedic timing as Rogen's wife. There was a little bit more to work with on both ends that made the film more complete and as a whole in the end. Park was out of this world hilarious as Kim Jong-un and was one of the better comedic performances all of this year. I honestly couldn't wait till he showed up and took over things. It wasn't the portrayal I was expecting, but if it didn't go that way, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as funny or silly. Playing Jong-un as a total bro who just wants to party while being in charge of an entire nation that's hell bent on being nuclear armed was hilarious from start to finish that I kind of ended up liking him in the end. He brought out various unlikely emotions to the forefront that stretched out the performance and made it simply watchable on all fronts.

It made the lunacy of the plot more palpable and showed a willingness to go all out. Nervous to meet Skylark, he doesn't know how to approach a guy he adores which made it much cuter than you would think. They had amazing chemistry with each other and made for a very entertaining on screen bromance. He himself is like a child just like Skylark which made their unlikely pairing and broship all the more fun. The young dictator has embarrassing secrets like enjoying margaritas and listening to Katy Perry's Firework in his tank but allows them to be released due to Skylark's acceptance that he should like what he wants to like despite what anyone else thinks. One of the best parts was Kim Jong-un and Skylark in a pair of montages of them partying with girls, booze and drugs and taking a joy ride with Firework in tow and blowing up trees. Park was charismatic, funny and charming while bringing out surprisingly ample amounts of sympathy. But he was also menacing and showed a villainous side that wasn't seen before, making the turn a little surprising. Being in the shadow of his father and born into royalty has made him unsure of himself and his standing as supreme leader.

It's not often that living leaders are shown to be human and lampooned, but I'm glad that it was done here. It was similar to South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut where Saddam Hussein is engaged in a sexual relationship with Satan. Hussein being the oppressive, abuser and Satan being the weak willed, victim. That made for a fresh dynamic not yet seen and fun to see their relationship play out. With The Interview causing a wild uproar, its going to be hard to see if any other emotionally volatile, crazy dictators get lampooned in a similar manner. Diana Bang as Sook, who played the handler to Skylark and Rappaport as well as the producer for The Interview, was funny and had more than one moment where she stood out. Although she wasn't as strong as Byrne in Neighbors, she performed more than admirably and had some great chemistry with Rogen. Caplan was good as well as the forceful CIA agent in charge of training two bumbling idiots how to kill a world leader. She was good in an authoritative role with a cool, steely demeanor.

Directors, writers and producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have grown considerably since their earlier projects that are getting more willing to take on controversial and touchy subjects. But The Interview takes the cake as the most noteworthy of their films. While I consistently found myself laughing at The Interview, their directorial debut The Interview was a better film overall and never had any lull spots. With such an impressive cast of comedic talent and a plot that gets more insane, it was way more unpredictable and a little bit more fun. I would put it at a level below The Interview but on the same par as Neighbors. It dragged for some moments where I found myself waiting for them to travel to North Korean and meet the mad dictator. But overall I enjoyed the celebrity segments and the silliness that it provided. As soon as they went to North Korea, it was a little smoother.

As frequent collaborators on various projects, they make for a very formidable duo and are only beginning to hit their stride. Being that it's a Rogen/Franco/Goldberg film, one should expect crude as well as offensive content and not anticipate a grating movie that satires North Korea. If one is expecting it to be a politic heavy film, they will be incredibly disappointed and I would have if they went that route. Their films are usually gross and stupid but always have something to say beneath the childish humor. Neighbors was an honest portrayal of a couple with a baby trying to recapture their youth and a frat that doesn't want the party to ever end. The Interview was a satire on the selfishness of Hollywood celebrities as well as how the apocalypse would be handled in a more comedic way.

The Interview is a takedown of one of the most unpredictable and crazy dictators in the world and how his guarded image is used as a weapon to be in power of the secluded nation. It just so happens to be surrounded by dick, fart, gay and crap jokes. But it no way should be taken as nothing more than a silly movie with some controversial thoughts on the leader of a country. It's dumb and offensive like their past films; I found their other films to be a little bit funnier. Given how hilarious their other films are, it's not really a take down. It has a wild, frantic energy that is often unapologetic, but is a fun ride if one lets themselves go and realizes it's not really a big deal to get in a fuss about.

Not all the jokes hit, but more than enough make their mark to justify laughing at the illogical plot. It introduced a few hilarious terms that I have never heard of before that may be used more often because of this film. Many characters get "honeydipped" or "honeydicked" which means that a person is using another for their own personal gain, with the former happening between a woman doing it to a man and the latter with a guy doing it to another guy. With Dan Sterling as the writer, he brought much of the crude humor and political subtext that he would be most famous for during his work on The Daily Show and the first season of South Park. It doesn't reach the same peaks as those shows did, but Rogen and Goldberg aren't as intelligent and subversive with their content as Matt Stone or Trey Parker. Team America: World Police was far more biting, insulting and reverent in its takedown of celebrities, world policy and Kim Jong-Il. Those two are some of the best writers in the medium and it's hard to be on the same level as them. Some of the best parts were in the trailers but there was also plenty that was included in the film. It has a great unpredictable nature to it where you don't often see what is coming next. It had everything you'd expect from a Goldberg/Rogen/Franco movie with the right amount of political undertones so it wasn't the main focus. It's easy to judge whether one will like this movie and if they like stupid offensive humor, crude R rated gags, Seth Rogen and James Franco, you will be mainly pleased by what you see.

The ending is by far the most ridiculous sequence and possibly a little more insane than the ending of The Interview. Full of gun battles, fist fights and a hilarious climax, it's a make or break chain of events that perfectly extenuated the chaos of engaging with a power mad dictator. While it doesn't have a moment like in The Interview where Rogen sacrifices himself for Jay Baruchel so he could go to heaven which in turn causes him to go to heaven as well all while Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You played over it and an impromptu Backstreet Boys performance, there was plenty of brotherly sweetness between Franco and Rogen near the end.

The ending gets even more ludicrous when you realize what was said before and how it all matched up. The Interview isn't just chock full of dick jokes, but has something to say about the believability and veneer of those in power. The Interview paints Kim Jong-un as a man who doesn't pee or poo and is explained that he doesn't need one because he works so hard, that it gets broken down within his body. The people of North Korea buy it despite how illogical it is and fall into his self-made idolization of himself. Kim Jong-un gives Skylark questions that he wants to be asked that are fluff questions and provide no substance. It isn't that different than the media now and how we approach controversial issues with our own politicians and leaders.

While North Korea has a stern control over any and all types of media, we are clearly more lax but there are still outlets that favor one side over another and have a strong bias. Reporters don't really ask the hard questions and don't put these people through a rigorous interview. They aren't grilled as they should be and put to task for the wrongs they have done. Many politicians are built up to be infallible at all costs and avoid the important issues when asked. Another aspect I liked is when Skylark said that Kim Jong-un has to die and he was asked how many times can America make the same mistake by interfering with world affairs. He says as many times as it takes which shows the strong bull headedness of how we approach wars. Instead of going about it rationally, America tends to go in head first only thinking of the repercussions later.

The CIA wants him dead, realizing that a similar leader would simply pop up later on where not much has really changed. Getting rid of a leader that is deemed insane isn't enough to ensure that the country will prevail in the outcome of his ousting. The media is also satired as it blows everything out of proportion and only focuses on the most trivial of matters as Aaron would prove when revealing his disdain about reporting about Nicki Minaj's vagina flopping out at the Grammys. There were some great cameos here as well with celebrities revealing startling confessions. A Matthew McConaughey cameo would have been great and it would have been hilarious to hear more of his supposed tryst with a goat.

Whether Rogen, Goldberg, Franco and co like it or not, they were a part of history and will be remembered for a long while. With such a strong restriction on a movie and people clamoring to see it more than ever, it otherwise got more press than it would have if the terrorist threat wasn't issued at all. Now under a microscope and a stance for freedom of expression, it unjustly gets taken way too seriously and something that people expected to be a brilliant political satire. This is unfair because it's generally funny with some great comedic performances from all involved and a wacky plot that doesn't take itself too seriously. Of course there are better movies that satirize the media, political leaders and world diplomacy but you'd be hard-pressed to find another that is so bizarre and generally sweet. Four joyrides in a tank while blasting Katy Perry out of five.