The Interview - directed by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park, Diana Bang, Lizzy Caplan, Eminem, Rob Lowe
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rated: R16 - Loads of profanity, brief topless scene, bloody violence, drug use, comical sex scenes.
Kind of a tough movie to review in isolation this one.
Famously the film itself was overshadowed in the days prior to release by the Sony Studios leaks and the threats of violence against cinemas showing the film.
North Korea? Opportunistic 'hackers' or as the conspiracy nuts would have it - the studio itself drumming up press for a mediocre movie?
We may never know for sure.
However it might be one of the few (probably the only) benefits of being in this part of the world and being subject to delayed releases that the time that has passed since the stalled US release has reduced the controversy somewhat and means that the film can be viewed more on its own merits rather than as a cause celebre for freedom of speech.
And that - it turns out- is quite ironic because this movie does have that very issue close to its heart.
Not perhaps as close to its heart as juvenile potty humour but still....
Frequent writing partners Rogen and Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express, This Is the End) act as co-directors on this film.
Its a detail that I had forgotten right until the end of the film and I have to say I had assumed that it was the work of a specialist director such as Greg Mottola or David Gordon Green.
"The Interview" is a damned nicely shot film with some very nice production design and plentiful effects.
Rogen and Goldberg have directed before with the pretty decent "This Is the End" but whereas their work on that one was solid and workmanlike with this one they do very, very well indeed.
It flows nicely with effective pacing and even manages to provide some layers to the Kim Jong Un character.
A lot of credit for this must also go to Randall Park who does a terrific job in the role.
He creates a genuine character from a man who appears distinctly lacking in anything remotely like it in reality.
(Not that we ever get a proper look at the real man but then whose fault is that?)
But props to the directors for the manner in which they handle the nuances of the character and the changes that he goes through.
On top of that the writer-directors have a few things to say about the state of the media today.
Running a lowbrow TV interview show something like a mix of TMZ, Fox News and Oprah host Dave Skylark (Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapaport (Rogen) usually deal with 'issues' such as Eminem coming out as gay (an hilarious scene and possibly the highlight of the movie), Matthew McConaughey's alleged sexual dalliance with a goat and Rob Lowe's secret hair loss (also a hoot).
Provided the rare opportunity to interview a real subject of note about important issues - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un- the pair are recruited by the CIA to assassinate him as well.
So the very attractive Agent Lacey (the always wonderful Lizzy Caplan) becomes their handler and equips them with concealed handshake poison.
We are not here for a believable plot!
Rapaport is convinced that the busty, spectacle clad brunette is 'honeypotting' Dave.
This term alongside the gender opposite 'honeydicking' is used to describe using sexual appeal to coerce someone into doing something.
It also highlights the films main failing.
It overuses the same joke far too often.
The Honeypotting line is used more times than I can recall throughout the entire movie.
Repetition like this can work but here it does not.
Also much of Franco's comedic dialogue falls flat.
We don't expect depth from a Franco or Rogen performance in this kind of film nor do we necessarily want it but it underlines the one note tone of the characters every time a line fails.
And when juvenile dick and fart jokes fail they fail harder than most.
Its not all bad news and there is enough here that works to make this an enjoyable flick with a fair few funny moments.
I loved the opening propaganda song sung by a super sweet North Korean child containing the anti-US sentiment "May they drown in their own blood and feces" and "Die America, Die".
And despite having seen pretty much the entire scene in summary numerous times in trailers the 'secure the package' bit still works.
If nothing else "The Interview" wears its R rating with pride.
With sex, drug use, bare boobs, visual boner jokes, hardcore profanity and some delightfully bloody violence this is not one to take Granny to.
Yes- a lot of it does come off as merely childish but it is undeniably fun and there really is a genuine attempt to say something about the media and about North Korea.
For all the offence that the real Kim Jong Un took at this film I imagine the parts that really chapped his ass weren't the fat jokes or the Daddy issue barbs but the moments where the lies he tells his people are laid bare and his true nature is revealed (at least the one I imagine most people believe).
He is a figure who relies on a Godlike perception to rule over his country and it is effectively stripped down here.
I suspect that it was the truth that got to him more than the parody or caricature.
Not to paint this movie as some sort of razor sharp political commentary - it is certainly far from it.
But it is a frequently funny, nicely shot movie that kept me entertained for all of its length and if I felt slightly smug about defying the wishes of whoever took action against this film then hell- I'll take that and add an extra four or five points to the score.
RATING: 68 / 100
CONCLUSION: A surprisingly well made film far from hilarious but plenty funny enough
Running Time: 112 minutes
Rated: R16 - Loads of profanity, brief topless scene, bloody violence, drug use, comical sex scenes.
Kind of a tough movie to review in isolation this one.
Famously the film itself was overshadowed in the days prior to release by the Sony Studios leaks and the threats of violence against cinemas showing the film.
North Korea? Opportunistic 'hackers' or as the conspiracy nuts would have it - the studio itself drumming up press for a mediocre movie?
We may never know for sure.
However it might be one of the few (probably the only) benefits of being in this part of the world and being subject to delayed releases that the time that has passed since the stalled US release has reduced the controversy somewhat and means that the film can be viewed more on its own merits rather than as a cause celebre for freedom of speech.
And that - it turns out- is quite ironic because this movie does have that very issue close to its heart.
Not perhaps as close to its heart as juvenile potty humour but still....
Frequent writing partners Rogen and Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express, This Is the End) act as co-directors on this film.
Its a detail that I had forgotten right until the end of the film and I have to say I had assumed that it was the work of a specialist director such as Greg Mottola or David Gordon Green.
"The Interview" is a damned nicely shot film with some very nice production design and plentiful effects.
Rogen and Goldberg have directed before with the pretty decent "This Is the End" but whereas their work on that one was solid and workmanlike with this one they do very, very well indeed.
It flows nicely with effective pacing and even manages to provide some layers to the Kim Jong Un character.
A lot of credit for this must also go to Randall Park who does a terrific job in the role.
He creates a genuine character from a man who appears distinctly lacking in anything remotely like it in reality.
(Not that we ever get a proper look at the real man but then whose fault is that?)
But props to the directors for the manner in which they handle the nuances of the character and the changes that he goes through.
On top of that the writer-directors have a few things to say about the state of the media today.
 |
| (L-R) Rogen & Franco, Diana Bang as Sook, Randall Park as Kim and Lizzy Caplan as Agent Lacey |
Provided the rare opportunity to interview a real subject of note about important issues - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un- the pair are recruited by the CIA to assassinate him as well.
So the very attractive Agent Lacey (the always wonderful Lizzy Caplan) becomes their handler and equips them with concealed handshake poison.
We are not here for a believable plot!
Rapaport is convinced that the busty, spectacle clad brunette is 'honeypotting' Dave.
This term alongside the gender opposite 'honeydicking' is used to describe using sexual appeal to coerce someone into doing something.
It also highlights the films main failing.
It overuses the same joke far too often.
The Honeypotting line is used more times than I can recall throughout the entire movie.
Repetition like this can work but here it does not.
Also much of Franco's comedic dialogue falls flat.
We don't expect depth from a Franco or Rogen performance in this kind of film nor do we necessarily want it but it underlines the one note tone of the characters every time a line fails.
And when juvenile dick and fart jokes fail they fail harder than most.
Its not all bad news and there is enough here that works to make this an enjoyable flick with a fair few funny moments.
I loved the opening propaganda song sung by a super sweet North Korean child containing the anti-US sentiment "May they drown in their own blood and feces" and "Die America, Die".
And despite having seen pretty much the entire scene in summary numerous times in trailers the 'secure the package' bit still works.
 |
| As funny as some of the Kim Jong stuff is the Eminem and Rob Lowe scenes steal the show |
With sex, drug use, bare boobs, visual boner jokes, hardcore profanity and some delightfully bloody violence this is not one to take Granny to.
Yes- a lot of it does come off as merely childish but it is undeniably fun and there really is a genuine attempt to say something about the media and about North Korea.
For all the offence that the real Kim Jong Un took at this film I imagine the parts that really chapped his ass weren't the fat jokes or the Daddy issue barbs but the moments where the lies he tells his people are laid bare and his true nature is revealed (at least the one I imagine most people believe).
He is a figure who relies on a Godlike perception to rule over his country and it is effectively stripped down here.
I suspect that it was the truth that got to him more than the parody or caricature.
Not to paint this movie as some sort of razor sharp political commentary - it is certainly far from it.
But it is a frequently funny, nicely shot movie that kept me entertained for all of its length and if I felt slightly smug about defying the wishes of whoever took action against this film then hell- I'll take that and add an extra four or five points to the score.
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