Overview
It outraged tyrants, terrified theatre chains and knocked one of Hollywood's most powerful executives out of a job. Now, after months of speculation and controversy, The Interview has finally arrived. Releasing in actual, physical cinemas next week after months of free publicity courtesy of the North Korean government, the ironic thing about this supremely silly comedy is that, were it not for all the hubbub, it probably would have come and gone unnoticed. Instead, it's become one of the most talked-about movies in years.
All this attention in turn begs the question: is this movie really worth all the fuss? The answer, unsurprisingly, is no. Conceived and directed by Seth Rogen, along with his long-term friend and writing partner Evan Goldberg, The Interview is exactly what it looks like: a ridiculous, juvenile, funny-ish dick-and-fart comedy that should be taken seriously by absolutely no one.
Rogen stars, alongside James Franco, as a pair of hapless showbiz journalists recruited by the CIA. Their mission (in case you've been living under a rock): infiltrate Pyongyang under the guise of interviewing Kim Jong-Un, only to covertly slip the North Korean dictator a deadly dose of poison. Things get more complicated, however, when Franco's character falls victim to Kim's propagandistic charms. Turns out despots and egotistical talk show hosts actually have quite a lot in common.
Despite its outrageous premise, The Interview feels very much in line with the rest of Rogen's films, right down to the central bromance and the obligatory drug-montage. To their credit, the screenplay does make a few wild stabs at geopolitical commentary — particularly interesting is the idea that Kim (Randall Park) is basically just a sheltered kid living in the shadow of his father. For the most part though, the filmmaker's stick with what they know: improvised jabs at pop culture mixed with a healthy dose of toilet humour.
The film's two leads have solid comedic chemistry, although at times the laughs are hindered by the general dickishness of Franco's character. In terms of the supporting cast, Lizzy Caplan gets short changed in her role as an attractive CIA handler, but Korean-Canadian actress Diana Bang gets some great moments as Sook, the head of Kim's propaganda department. However, it's Park who is undoubtedly the standout of the picture, the actor bringing an awkward, sheepish quality to his turn as the North Korean leader that is at once funny, sympathetic and unsettling.