Disc Reviews

This Is The End Blu-ray Review

• 5th Nov 2013

So the apocalypse it seems is upon us, and it strikes right at the moment that Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah hill, and various other celebrities are attending a house warming party at James Franco’s house. Yes this time out Rogen has decided to get his buddies together to play “themselves” in this concept comedy that hits more often than it misses.

The film begins with Rogen and Baruchel joining the party madness and us being introduced to realm life actors playing heightened versions of themselves (Jonah Hill is too nice, Craig Robinson sings offensive songs, Michael Cera is a coke addict etc). But after 15 minutes of tomfoolery the earthquakes erupt and before we know it – several big name comedians are dead and only six remain trapped in Franco’s house together – forced to work together in order to survive whilst they are low on supplies. And it is in this set up where most of the gags come. The group are forced to share, be considerate of others needs, formulate plans of how to obtain more supplies and even provide basic entertainment. How quickly this all melts between the group keeps the film ticking along.

This is your ideal movie in with beer and friends type fiasco. There is the occasional slump in the pace when they feel the need to create actual dramatic threads in the film, but for the most part it keeps on an even path.

Danny McBride literally steals almost every scene he is in as the most unwanted guest in the house and his scenes are worth the price of the disc alone. But to keep you entertained there is a wealth of extras on the disc as well including various behind the scene moments from the film – including the celeb-heavy party. Rogen and Writing/directing partner Evan Goldberg provide an amusing commentary. There are a few deleted scenes, a gag reel as well, but the outtakes is perhaps the funniest extra where there is almost 10 full minutes of James Franco and Danny McBride throwing masturbatory related insults back and forth at each other in other to provide enough material for a fairly small scene in the film.

Steven Hurst