By NATALIE SACKET & CHRIS PUNTO
Columnists
Keeping up with the kind if movies we’ve been watching, we decided to raise our American flags up high, look down the barrel of some commie guns, and watch
“The Interview” (2014)
Chris’ Review- 4 out of 5 Katy Perrys
This movie has been surrounded by controversy. Yes, in case you haven’t heard, North Korea threatened that if we show this movie, they would consider it an act of war and retaliate with full force. Well, guess what, you bunch of communists? I haven’t heard any nuke sirens yet! And by the way, this movie was awesome.
If you are not a fan Seth Rogan and James Franco, skip my side of the article. Go straight to Natalie’s side. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. However, if you are one of those people with a raunchy funny bone then we have a lot to talk about. This movie, although slow to get started, was absolutely hilarious.
Aside from all the crude humor in this film, the acting was great. James Franco plays the equivalent of a male bimbo talk show host and Seth Rogan, who wrote, directed and acted for this movie, was the voice of reason. There were also some pretty funny performances by Randall Park and Lizzy Caplan that might not have been the structural pillars of the comedy, but still held some weight.
Bottom line: If we risked a nuclear war to support our constitutional right to distribute and watch this movie, it is the job of every red-blooded American to watch this movie at least once.
Natalie’s Review- 2 Stars of ‘Merica out of 5
“The Interview” is a subpar, comedy that has only garnered so much publicity because it managed to anger one of the most feared men on earth.
For those that have not been keeping up with current events, Sony was hacked after releasing “The Interview” due to the film’s direct satirical attack on North Korea, particularly its leader, Kim Jong Un. Due to the country’s threat on the United States, a patriotic uproar commenced. WE HATE CENSORSHIP. I understand why North Korea would be offended, but threatened by it? The only thing this film truly threatens is the quality of comedy in America. Of course, knowing this is a James Franco and Seth Rogan film, I was expecting a balance between crude nd silly humor. There was no balance, simply crude and poorly crafted jokes and stupidity. There were way too many jokes about things coming out of/going into rear ends.
This cheap humor was perpetuated by the performance of Franco as Dave Skylark. This character was so outstandingly obnoxious that I caught myself cringing and rolling my eyes on numerous occasions. His strange and slightly humorous relationship with Kim Jong Un was the only comedy I enjoyed about this film. Apparently Kim, the fearless leader of North Korea, is a huge fan of puppies, margaritas and Katy Perry music.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of political satire. There are just some lines in such a genre, all of which “The Interview” crossed. The film instantly begins with a young Korean girl singing about how overjoyed she would be if Americans are killed, raped and drowned in blood and feces. Not a particularly pleasant way to start a film, and it didn’t get much better from there.
What frustrated me about this film is that it had so much potential to send a deeper message. Obviously Franco and Rogan sent one: “We don’t care what anyone, even Kim Jong Un, thinks.” “The Interview” was obviously created with the understanding that toes would be stepped on. With the conscious decision to cross that line and leap over boundaries, a much deeper message in regards to politics and the effects of propaganda could have been conveyed. Instead, “The Interview” chooses the easy route of slob comedy and gutter humor, leaving me very disappointed.
Bottom Line: Watch it if you want to promote the attitude of “We’re America, so we do what we want.” If you’re looking for a good laugh and an enjoyable film, look elsewhere.