This is the End film review

This is the End is nothing like any other Apocalypse movie.  No one is trying to save the world, they're each just out to save themselves.  The lack of heroism may be frustrating for some, but it certainly rings true.  This film is firmly placed in the here and now, painting today's stars as self-absorbed, self-obsessed, and selfish.  They deal with their difficulties (or don't) by using excessive quantities of drugs, playing games, making movies...and when the reality of the situation sinks in they treat it like a reality show, complete with a video confessional and voting members off.  The idea of voting someone off in circumstances that seem certain to spell that individual's death is pretty dark.  And it is this satirical edge that provides the film with many of its best moments.

The bunch of over-privileged douchebags are very entertaining, though.  They quibble and they get distracted and sometimes they accidentally do something useful.  It's hilarious.  It's also not for the faint-hearted.  There are more f-bombs than I've heard in any other recent film.  There's blood, there's gore, there's supernatural activity, and some sexually perverted conversations.  Its R16 rating is well-deserved.

So, while the tone is blokey and coarse there is an underlying intelligence I really appreciated.  The cast is heaving with recognisable names and faces, and the actors all appear as "themselves".  I found it quite clever that each character was a mix of who they are and who they are seen to be by the public.  They take the piss out of themselves as much as they take the piss out of celebrity-mania, and also give us pretty believable characters to follow and enjoy.

So, I enjoyed the film greatly.  I laughed a lot.  I was constantly taken by surprise and frequently grossed out.   Where the film lost me was in its denouement.  It sets itself up for a cheesy, satisfying conclusion and I was happy enough to buy it.  But then it continues.  The [spoiler alert] following interpretation of what heaven could look like was just uncomfortable to watch.  I found it crass and irreligious.  You'd think that could have been expected by now, but actually I felt it contradicted the whole theology laid out all through the film.  It was funny, but it didn't work for me.

Interestingly enough I read online that the heaven sequence was not in the original cut of the film.  It was added in response to test audiences who all wished to see what came next.  Well...I would have preferred the original ending.  Stupid test audiences.

See this film if you would rather laugh about the end of the world than try to prevent it.