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Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (or have no interest in movies – so why are you here?), you'll have heard about ‘The Interview.’ Sony Pictures’ film about North Korea got the People’s Republic all hot and bothered about the portrayal of their Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. So bothered, there were allegedly threats thrown about, and Sony delayed the film’s release. But it's finally arrived on our shores, and you may be asking - what was all the fuss about?
‘The Interview’ is about Dave Skylark (James Franco), a Michael Parkinson wannabe TV host, and his producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogan). No one takes these two journalists seriously, despite having their own hit celebrity interview show. When they find out that Kim Jong-un is a big fan, they book him in an effort to raise their journo cred. The CIA gets wind of this and recruits the pair to assassinate Kim. Needless to say, nothing quite goes to plan.
Brought to us by the team behind ‘Bad Neighbours’ and ‘This is the End’, ‘The Interview’ is more of the same. It’s a bromance, full of butt jokes and bad language, silly sight gags, and sexual innuendo. It’s not classy, but... it’s not stupid. If you’re paying attention, it has an amount of commentary on mass media and the appetites of the general public. It tells us nothing new politically about North Korea, but does point out that everything we do know is fed to us through the media.
Franco and Rogan are exactly as expected – hamming it up, using every facial expression known to mankind, and relishing the experience. Randall Park (‘Bad Neighbours’) deserves kudos as Kim Jong-un, playing him as a cheerful psychotic with daddy issues. Diana Bang (‘Bates Motel’) and Lizzy Caplan (‘Masters of Sex’) round out the main cast, and both provide very decent performances.
It’s a bromance, full of butt jokes and bad language, silly sight gags, and sexual innuendo.
Franco and Rogan play off each other very well, with admirable comic timing. Rogan and writing partner Evan Goldberg direct, and it’s clear they’ve brought the same energy and style to this film as to their others. However, some of Dave and Aaron's arguments and discussions drag on pointlessly, and while the action is passable, there’s one really nail-biting fight scene (I promise, that’ll be hilarious once you’ve seen it) that is simply waaaaay too long. The soundtrack is kinda epic, full of current hits and Asian influences. The editing is a little choppy, but suits the nature of the film.
‘The Interview’ is an entertaining, debauched, but surprisingly interesting film. If you liked ‘Bad Neighbours’ and ‘This is the End’, then you’re sure to enjoy this. If those films aren’t your cup of tea, ‘The Interview’ probably won’t be either.
Also, there’s a puppy.
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