

Title: The Interview

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Evan Goldberg

Starring:Seth Rogen, James Franco, Randall Park

Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins



What It Is: Dave Skylark is a popular talk show and entertainment host, and Aaron Rapaport is his best friend and producer though their show is very popular Aaron begins to question exactly what they’re doing since they’re aren’t breaking important news like other “news” shows. To disprove this theory Dave seeks out reclusive leader of North Korea (and a huge fan of his) Kim Jong Un for an exclusive interview. After finding out that they’re going through with it Central Intelligence Agent Lacey (Lizzy Caplan) decided the best course of action for Dave and Aaron is to assassinate the “Dear Leader” and she has given them all the tools necessary to do so.

What We Think: Let’s side step the controversy that surrounds the film and talk about the film itself, and what it is. What it is is a very funny movie! Rogen and Franco maintain the chemistry from their two previous entries in what I’m calling the Milk Way trilogy. Rogen plays the straight man ocne again to Franco’s overzealous, and possibly insane Dave Skylark. However, when it gets down to it this is Randall Park’s show and he knocks it out of the park as the leader of North Korea, despite Franco looking to steal every scene. Not every joke hits though, and the middle third is particularly sagging. Diana Bang who plays one of Un’s right hand people is also a great character. There’s a bunch of cameos here but they’re simply a sidenote.

Our Grade: B-, This is a movie that due to the surrounding controversies people are expectign way too much from. In the end it’s simply a serviceable comedy that has many many funny moments. It’s overly reliant on some toilet humor in spots, and perhaps in a nod to Team America they find the need to bundle up tons of exposition in the best way possible…with a montage. And there seems to be an abundance of them throughout.