‘This Is the End’ is A Riotous Good Time

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg hit it big with their 2007 movie “Superbad,” which was about the friendship between two teens as they graduated from high school and prepared for college. “This Is the End” focuses on similar themes. Jay Baruchel, an old friend of Rogen’s, visits him in L.A., desperate to keep their friendship close, despite Rogen’s adoption into a new tribe of Hollywood actors. To Baruchel’s disappointment, Rogen asks him to go to James Franco’s housewarming party.

The party goes on, with one hilarious scene after another, until the Hollywood hills goes up in flames, a massive earthquake shakes the city, enveloping celebrity after celebrity and bright blue beams of light shoot from the sky, sucking up individuals. Is it the end of the world?

Survivors include Franco, Rogen, Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robison. The six men seek refuge in Franco’s house and insanity ensues as they are forced to work together to stay alive and figure out what is happening to the world.

The film is chock full of celebrities, all playing themselves (sort-of). The stars play an exaggerated version of themselves; therefore, poking fun at the seriousness of Hollywood, a tactic which accomplishes the goal of the movie—tons of laughs.

“This Is the End” is downright hilarious. If you’re unfamiliar with the comedy stylings of Rogen and Goldberg, you must know that they are not conservative with the use of profanity and extremely inappropriate jokes. The two have mastered what I call “guy humor,” which others may also call “stoner humor,” in a way that has intrigued a generation. Their jokes are funny, smart and memorable. They are the ultimate class clowns who you can’t take your eyes off of.