This Is the End

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2013)

I saw some short clips from this upcoming film, and obviously I was attracted by its many great names in the cast, but I don't think I realised they were all playing mock versions of themselves, so I was really looking forward to it. Basically in Los Angeles, actor Jay Baruchel is joining friend and fellow actor Seth Rogen (also writing and directing) at a housewarming party hosted by James Franco, with many other celebrity guests attending to dabble in alcohol, drugs, sex and other immoral acts. With so many stars, like Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Rihanna, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling, David Krumholtz, Kevin Hart and Aziz Ansari, Baruchel feels uncomfortable. He and Rogen leave for a moment to get some cigarettes from the store, and all of the sudden what seems like an earthquake wrecks the place, and beams of blue light shoot down from the sky and take people away, but when they return to Franco's house there is no sign of any destruction. Moments later however the party evacuates when they do have an earthquake, the Hollywood hills are on fire, explosions and crashes cause chaos, and the ground opens up with fire, with many celebrities falling into the fiery abyss below, it is the biggest natural disaster to strike California. Survivors Rogen, Baruchel, Franco, Hill and Robinson stay in the safety of Franco's house, boarding up the doors and windows, knowing that they are famous actors they believe that they be rescued very soon, but until then they try to make whatever food and drink they have last as long as possible, as well as having drugs and a gun ready to use. A night passes and Danny McBride appears, he had gatecrashed the party, he is unaware of the disaster happening and wastes supplies, he does not believe in any devastation, until a man appears through a crack in the wall and is decapitated in front of them. Still waiting for help they pass the time making a cheap home camera sequel to 2008 film Pineapple Express, which most of them appeared, but of course tensions rise between them, including about Rogen and Baruchel's friendship being estranged, and Baruchel's theory reading the Book of Revelation in the Bible that what is happening is the Apocalypse. They are soon joined by Emma Watson who had been hiding elsewhere outside, she is allowed to stay, but the group argue about finding her attractive, and the word "rape" is mentioned in the conversation, and confusion makes her threaten them to take all their drinks and she runs out. Franco remembers there is a storage of water coolers in the cellar, Robinson draws the short straw to go outside and try to get into it, but a something monstrous scares him back inside, but then Franco realises the cellar is right under their feet, so using whatever they have to get to it, and they manage it. McBride's behaviour as time passes have become more and more agitated, with much of what they have being lost because of him, so he is evicted by the group, he tries to kill them using the gun, but it is a prop, and angry he leaves. Robinson is the first to believe the Apocalypse theory, and they come to the conclusion that the blue beams of light are the Rapture, they are taking people to Heaven for doing good, and with Baruchel they explore the house next door for supplies, and secretly Hill wishes Baruchel to die. Hill with this sinful prayer is raped by an incubus, and becomes possessed with supernatural strength, he chases Rogen and Franco, while the two outside run from a demonic bull, and on return they all tie Hill down to perform an exorcism, until a fire occurs, setting the house and Hill on fire, forcing them all outside. Robinson regrets his mistakes life and sacrifices himself to the giant winged demon coming for them so the others can escape, and this succeeds as he is unexpectedly taken by the Rapture to Heaven, this gives the group hope that if they find their inner good they will be taken too. They are captured on their journey to find safety by a group of cannibals, led by McBride, who has Channing Tatum as his sex slave, Franco similarly sacrifices himself for the others, he does get the beam of light appear, but his cockiness at going to Heaven causes it to disappear, and the cannibals eat him alive. The gigantic demon with a fiery large penis comes to consume Rogen and Baruchel, awaiting death they reconcile their friendship, all the sudden a blue light starts taking Baruchel, he tries to pull Rogen up with him, but Rogen lets go to fall into the mouth of the monster, but the Rapture takes him too, and the demon is defeated. Rogen and Baruchel are welcomed into Heaven by Robinson who is now an angel with a halo above his head, he explains that being in Heaven is paradise and they can have anything they wish, so while Rogen gets a Segway the film ends Baruchel wishing for the reunion of the Backstreet Boys (Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean and Kevin Scott Richardson) singing "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" for a heavenly party. Also starring Martin Starr and Evan Goldberg (also writing and directing). The stars all send themselves up really well, the story is a funny and interesting way to satirise narcissism of Tinseltown, filled with spoofs and references of Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist and reality show video diaries, and of course the slapstick and over the top jokes work great, the Backstreet Boys is a highlight, it is a most enjoyable apocalyptic comedy. Very good!