This Is the End (2013)

Tags

Comedy, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Emma Watson, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Movie, Seth Rogen, This is the End

So none of you guys invited Jason Segel…?

Well, if you’re looking for theological accuracy, this one probably isn’t for you.  But, if you want to have a few laughs (and see Hollywood types get terrorized during the apocalypse), you’re in luck.

It’s an all star cast of guys who some people love and some people hate.  Yes, all the polarizing actors are there.  Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel…even Michael Cera, all playing themselves.  The good thing is, they know how to have fun with their images, especially James Franco.  I enjoyed his performance the best, followed closely by Danny McBride.

Not much room for women in this one, aside from a brief appearance by Emma Watson, and I think it suffers a little for that.

Still, it’s a comedy, and what’s important is if I laughed.  And yes, I did.  Not throughout the whole thing, but enough to say it’s worth a watch.

7.2/10 

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Tags

Chevy Chase, Clark Duke, Comedy, Craig Robinson, Crispin Glover, Hot Tub Time Machine, John Cusack, Lizzy Caplan, Movie, Rob Corddry

what could possibly go wrong...?

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John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke, Lizzy Caplan, Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover

Jacob: Guys!  This is scientifically possible.
Lou: Oh my God, okay professor Hawking, tell me in your robot voice how this is scientifically possible.
Jacob: Alright, I write Stargate fan fiction, so I think I know what I’m talking about right now!
Lou: …I seriously almost passed out you’re such a dork.

A retelling of the Shakespeare play by the same name, this-…just kidding, it’s about 4 guys that get transported back to the 80s via some sort of time portal in a hot tub.

You know, I could talk about whether or not this movie was funny enough to recommend (just barely) or how likable each of the 4 main actors were (Robinson and Duke – pretty likable, Cusack – somewhat likable, Corddry – not so likable), but the stuff I really want to discuss is fairly spoileriffic.  Well, okay, it’s totally filled with spoilers because it’s all about the end of the movie.

So if you don’t want any spoilers, stop reading when you see the spoiler warnings below and just skip to the end.  If you’ve seen the movie and don’t mind the spoilers, please continue.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS AHHHH RUN AWAY SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS! Okay, so here’s my question about the end of the movie.  Was that supposed to be a happy ending?  The 3 guys get back to the present and suddenly their lives are totally different, apparently for the better, but…they don’t remember any of it!  There’s 24 years of joyful life experiences that none of them remember.  Corddry’s character remembers because he stayed in the past, but the others don’t at all.  That would make me frickin’ miserable!  Cusack is now married (I think) to the completely un-aged Caplan, but again, doesn’t remember a bit of it.  Sure, moving forward from there it should be good times…that is until he forgets their anniversary, her birthday, and everything else about her because from his perspective he’s only known her for about an hour.  Oh well, just wanted to get that off my chest.  I know I shouldn’t care in a goofball comedy, but I needed something to write about. END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS YOU CAN START READING AGAIN END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS.

I’d say this movie is about on the level of She’s Out of My League as far as laughs go.  It seems like a slightly better movie than that one though.  Maybe because of the generally more talented cast, but I’m not sure.  Either way, this isn’t a “can’t miss”, but it is a “can rent”.

It’s better to live a good life not remembered than a tough life remembered…?

10 – 2 because it could have been funnier – 1.2 for the characters really not being all the sympathetic/likable – .3 because couldn’t they have at least TRIED to age Lizzy Kaplan at the end? = 6.5