This is the End

Genre: Comedy
Director: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen 
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogan, Craig Robinson, Jay Baruchel & Jonah Hill
Running: 107 Mins

A gathering of "stoners" and every Seth Rogen cohort you can think of, turn up for James Franco's house warming. Sounds like a lot of fun, especially if you are actually friends with these guys. But unfortunately, a seat in a dark room with a big ass screen is as close as we are going to get to witnessing the adventure of six of the funniest guys in Hollywood (at the moment); Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel. 

Seth Rogen plans a weekend of consistent weed smoking and 3D television with Jay Baruchel. Much to Jay's disappointment, a the change of plan results in the attendance of James Franco's house warming party featuring a bunch of Hollywood comedic personalities; an atmosphere that Jay would have liked to avoid. However Jay isn't forced to endure the vanity of Jonah Hill for too long as an apparent Earth Quake ruptures the centre of Hollywood, opening up the ground and swallowing many victims (most of the party actually). A group of six are barricaded in Franco's house with very little food and not much patience, resulting in the hilarious circumstance that showcases the witty humour and the chemistry involved with each actor. This is the end depends on the bond that each personality share with each other in the real world, carrying that over, resulting in an effortless movie that comes across extremely well rounded, even if it does become stupidly far-fetched toward the end.

If you enjoyed "Superbad" (2008) and "Knocked up" (2007), you will love this. If you don't enjoy crude humour and you are not one for recognising a bunch of movie references when you hear them, well then you will struggle to engage and I for one, pity you. This is the end survives on crude dialogue and a lot of references relating to the career of each actor and movies in general. As seen in Superbad and Knocked up, the cast are serious movie fans, with a premise that sets out to both mock and praise Hollywood movies. This is the end is very similar; but original due to the casts official identity, slagging their own personal experiences in Hollywood, regretting some of their own flicks which makes for great comedy.

If you include cameo's such as Michael Cera, Emma Watson and many more, the overall cast is huge and gives you so much more than the trailer shows us (which is rare might I add). However, the star of the show is James Franco who, following on from his role in Pineapple Express continues to show his comedic side. James Franco is simply hilarious, and partly out shines the "true" comedians if you like.

This is the end is by no means consistently funny, with the last 20 minutes appearing extremely nuts and a bit silly. But we forget these guys are constantly "high", once again going with a "dizzy stoner" premise that worked so well in Pineapple Express and Knocked Up. You will find scenes being noticeably set up for the next. And while Jay Baruchul and Craig Robinson get themselves into some funny situations, it is the back to back bickering from each individual that really makes this movie memorable.

This is the end is no "Superbad" which is not too unfortunate as it succeeds in trying so desperately to move on, however fans of Seth Rogen and co will have such a good time with this one.

Overall: Great cast  - Far-fetched - Not consistently funny - but, when it's funny...it's hilarious

7.5/10

See it if you liked: Superbad, Knocked up and Pineapple Express.

The Watch

The watch is the latest attempt in reviving the career of Ben Stiller. Unfortunately for him, I am sure most will agree that the last time we laughed at his comedic performance was in Tropic Thunder...four years ago; anything after that was complete and utter horse shit! (apologies).

We follow the happy-go-lucky life of Evan (Ben Stiller), who is your local community savour in a small suburban area. In a Town unified by trust and friendship, it is when Evan's managerial position in Castco comes under scrutiny following the conspicuous murder of the stores late-night security guy.

Evan, who once thrived on the saftey of the residents makes it his mission to track down the killer and end this suburban nightmare. Offering to join the band waggon is Bob (Vince Vaughn), Franklin (Jonah Hill) and quirky Englishman Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade). And so it is from there we witness the formality of the neighbourhood watch consisting of four idiots that are now involved in each others lives to further the investigation of the mysterious murder. The car crash comedy is thrown at you once the watch discover a steel ball which turns out to be the property of an Alien. Once the discovery is made, Evan and co decide to ignore the law of the town Sgt Bressman (Will Forte), a sarcastic idiot who struggles to ignore Evan's intervention.

The Watch consists of a reasonably good cast, who to be frank, were once funny, could not have been more dull in this latest attempt at comedy. It is often phrased that critics do not give the genre of comedy the credit it deserves because too many dramas are stealing the awards. Well, an award will never provide the proof of a good comedy, the majority will decide if certain movies are worth the entertainment, so as I am part of the majority of movie buffs, trust me, with 90 minutes of filming, the watch consists of two..maybe three funny scenes.

Watching this gave me horrific flashbacks of Tower Heist which again provided a decent cast (Stiller...) but failed to make me choke on my popcorn, in fact watching both these movies I had hoped to choke on my popcorn purposely! The jokes showed a lack of ambition which consisted of penis jokes that you would have grown ever so tired of, and CUM, aka semen! (although that was one of three funny scenes).

It could have been so much better, after all, the idea of four individuals hunting a local alien sounds hilarious, so either the cast was wrong or maybe the script should have been used as toilet paper. Vince Vaughn was humorous in parts but down right annoying in most. Ben Stiller's character just bugged me. He was basically the dull baby sitter who was provided with a character that is enrolled to take the matter (Alien on the loose) seriously, while Richard Ayoade apparently has a hilarious reputation in the IT crowd?, this is a horrible example of what he can provide the big screen. Jonah Hill's Franklin provided the movie with the three laughs I mentioned previously.

The best possible ending for this movie was that they all get abducted by the toy-r-us life form and die...unfortunately that doesn't happen!

Overall; There isn't many comedies out at the moment, so I understand the need for a cheap laugh on the weekend. So either just rent "21 Jump street" or go see "A few best men" which to be honest provided me with better gags than the Watch.

4/10