This Is the End

by Oliver Layco

This Is the End is a film made by a group of friends for you and your group of friends. That’s the most basic way I could describe this. By the end of this movie you’re going to be comparing yourselves to the different actors throughout. Going in though, I was pretty weary that it would succumb to what happens to many movies today; the best parts would be in the trailer and the audience would be left scratching their heads. Fortunately, this was not the case and the jokes, pacing, and everything about it was just what I look for in a summer comedy; comedy in general for that matter. The casting was perfect because the actors just had to basically play themselves; and they do a good job of making us believe that that’s how they are in real life. Jay Baruchel plays Seth Rogen’s childhood friend and he comes for a visit in Los Angeles. They end up at a party in James Franco’s house when the apocalypse starts to happen. Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson round out the main group of survivors. Other actors found at the party include Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Rihanna, Kevin Hart, and Aziz Ansari. The list could go on and everyone seemed like they belonged there. As for the story, it was really well done and I wasn’t expecting it to go the way it did. Their end of the world scenario is something that I haven’t seen done in this capacity and they setup the standard for future copies. I could keep rambling on and on. The one liners are plenty, but not appropriate for a family setting. The only gripes I could say I have right now is that there’s one segment that may have gone on a bit long and whether or not it can stand up to repeat viewings. The latter of which I hope is for the better. Also, there’s an excellent ending with a surprise ensemble reunion. This is an excellent standalone film that doesn’t need a sequel. Everyone should make the effort to see this movie.

9 out of 10 Bigblue Leaps!!

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Nutshell Reviews is a collection of very short reviews of the most significant movies, books, music, and video games, from both the present day and days gone passed.