Absolutely Hilarious

Rating: 7/10 (18 June 2013)

After seeing the trailer for this movie, I had mixed expectations. Mostly this stemmed from the fact that this is the first directing effort from Rogen and Goldberg, and although I have enjoyed some of Rogen and Goldberg's previous movies (like Superbad), I was worried that they might not be up for directing just yet. As for the actors, I love Seth and the rest of the Apatow crew, but this movie in particular struck me as one that would be overdone, with too many ridiculous cameos and plot points, and become unfunny as a result.
It turns out I was actually right about it being completely ridiculous, but I was dead wrong about it being unfunny. I honestly haven't laughed this hard in a two hour span since the original Hangover; scene after scene in this movie is just filled with hilarity. The concept here is really fresh as well. I loved that the actors played themselves, as that really opened the door for some unique moments, and as the script plays out, you can't help but admire Rogen and Goldberg for their creativity.
All of the actors in this film are hilarious, but in particular Mcbride, Robinson, and Franco consistently had me laughing. Jonah Hill's role is not at all what you'd expect, and I also really enjoyed him. As for Rogen and Baruchel, they take more of a backseat on the laughs, choosing instead to make their characters the heart of the movie. This is really important, especially in a film this raunchy and over-the-top.
In addition to the stellar main cast, this movie is littered with several cameos, all of which are hilarious. I won't reveal many names so as not to give anything away, but Michael Cera in particular had the entire theater struggling for air. I don't even usually think of Cera as that funny, but he's great in this movie. Emma Watson also stands out in her cameo role.
The one gripe I have with the film is it does trail off slightly near the end. The last ten or fifteen minutes of the film were a bit less funny than I would've hoped, but I thought the conclusion was ultimately satisfying.
I am definitely going to go see this again, mostly because I'm sure I missed some of the jokes by laughing right over top of the them. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes raunchy comedies, and bring all your friends, because it definitely makes it better.
So, I was wrong. Rogen and Goldberg proved to me that they are ready for the director's chair(s), and I'm definitely excited to see what they come up with next.
RATING: 8/10