Film review: This is the End (7 out of 10)

While this didn’t exceed expectations dramatically, it was certainly better than I feared.

There have been plenty of movies where actors played themselves in cameo roles to good effect.

But this film takes the idea to the extreme with just about everyone playing themself, although exaggerating their perceived personna in many cases.

It’s a brave move in a profession where image is the key ingredient to success.

But the likes of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel and certainly Michael Cera certainly don’t worry about image in this movie.

The plot sees Rogen and Baruchel drop in at a house-warming party at James Franco’s self-designed fortress of a home.

Lots of famous guests are there, many indulging themselves to the extreme.

Then the apocalypse starts outside.

Soon there are only a handful of actors left trying to survive.

The strength of the film lies in the one-line remarks and in fact the first few minutes are the funniest as Rogen and Baruchel meet in the airport and end up trying to avoid someone with a video camera.

This isn’t a subtle film. There are all kinds of excesses that will come as no surprise to those familiar with a lot of the work of the main cast.

For the first two-thirds of the movie the plot is straightforward enough, but I found the final act completely bonkers, as if the writers ran out of ideas and decided to let their imagination run riot.

Some of the jokes went over my head and to appreciate others fully you need to have seen the films referenced, particularly Pineapple Express.

However, there are some really funny moments with Jonah Hill providing more than his share of laughs.

Film details: This is the End (15) 107mins

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley

Steve Payne