The Interview

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At this point, reviewing The Interview is really beyond the point of what it has come to represent.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month or so, you'll have heard about The Interview, its controversy, and the fact that North Korea had to step in and hack Sony Pictures.

In all honesty, it's been a bit of a travesty for Sony Pictures in recent weeks as employee data was stolen, relationships with actors, directors, producers, and distributers were likely damaged, and at the end of the day, the film isn't seeing a wide release. It was a costly hack, but I'm proud and glad that Sony reversed their original decision to cancel The Interview completely, and surprise everyone with a Christmas-time release after all. And no, for all of you out there wondering, this was 100% NOT a publicity stunt. It may have gotten the film far more press than it ever would have gotten normally, but in the end, Sony will not see much "positive" from the events that have taken place.

Like I said earlier, it doesn't really matter what score I give it anymore. Personally, I think everyone who is comfortable watching an R-rated comedy should watch it just to spite North Korea...or at least make the purchase of a ticket/VOD rental in support (the movie is up on YouTube, Google Play, and Xbox Market right now by the way). But you don't come here for my political views, you come here for my reviews. So was The Interview worth all the hubbub?

Live feed from Franco and Rogen's hiding spot the
past few weeks...

I think we all know by now, that no, The Interview does not live up to the historical precedent that it is setting. It's a James Franco, Seth Rogen buddy movie, and not their best one either. That's not to say, however, that it is a waste of time. The basic plot is that idiot interviewer, Dave Skylark (Franco) finds out he has a fan in North Korea dictator, Kim Jong Un, and decides to set up an interview with him, knowing that it will be huge for his career. The CIA contacts Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Rogen) and requests that they assassinate KJU while in North Korea (which begs the possibly unrealistic question: did the CIA have a similar ask of Dennis Rodman?). The film plays out about how you would expect it to and there truly aren't that many surprises along the way. As far as controversy goes, I would imagine it's extremely offensive to KJU (like I give a s**t about that) but it paints the actual people of North Korea in a good light as citizens who have been fooled and treated poorly for three dictatorships. Early reviews from other critics indicated that The Interview isn't all that great and I would have agreed with them before all of the previous events have taken place. Watching it, after knowing what has transpired, really elevated the film to something a little more special in my eyes. There seemed to be a hidden amount of real life weight behind the proceedings simply because you remember the road that this film took to get to your living room. It's an interesting sensation that The Interview has a pretty exclusive claim to.

"Supreme Leader. That is not cake. It's a cigar."

With regards to the humor itself, I wouldn't say it's hilarious, but I had a good time watching it. At times it can be very biting of KJU, and at other times its the typical sexual jokes that come with a Franco/Rogen comedy. A few scenes are hilarious and they had me laughing a good bit, but I imagine that there were several where the jokes would have fallen flat in a movie theater audience. The trailer did give away most of the "appropriate" good jokes, but there are still some funny situations and dialogue to be had throughout. Just don't be expecting to laugh at this as much as you did at Neighbors or This is the End. As a social commentary, the film does a decent job at taking jabs at both the U.S. and North Korea, but never really provides any truly meaningful, thought-provoking material in this realm. In fairness, it most likely wasn't created knowing that it would have this much of an impact so I find it hard to fault them for that.

A few other things that I enjoyed about The Interview would include the fact that it's got a well crafted soundtrack that has Asian influences to fit with the theme. There are a few really misplaced songs here and there, but most of the time it's great. The film also has a decent amount of (funny) action that is surprisingly gory. I won't go into too much more detail but let's just say that I really got a good hoot from KJU's final scene.

"You must protect the puppy with your life!"

Stripping away all the press surrounding it, the hacking, the emails, the cancellation and subsequent "Will they? Wont they" chaos, and the fact that it became an international incident, The Interview is simply a decent, approaching "good", comedy. I enjoyed it enough for a single view, and maybe one more down the road, but it's not Franco or Rogen's best work, nor is it their funniest. However, when you add everything back into the equation, The Interview really does become something with a little bit more bite, a little bit more naughtiness, and a little bit more controversy. The effect is ever so slight, but I don't deny that it's there.

Like I recommended before, watch it just for the simple fact of sticking it to North Korea and Kim Jong Un. If nothing else you'll come away from the film feeling like you stood up for something important.

CONS:

• As a social commentary, it wasn't all that biting
• Certainly not Rogen and Franco's funniest
• Skylark is so incredibly stupid that he starts to wear on you and makes the character very unbelievable. At one point he believes that KJU can talk to dolphins...
• Some poorly chosen songs for certain scenes, many of which are also coupled with atrocious editing
• The commercials gave away what would have been some good laughs
• Not too many plot twists or surprises

PROS:

• Although it's not Franco or Rogen's best, there are still plenty of laughs to be had. A few scenes in particular are hilarious
• The road to get here was an arduous one, with metaphorical bodies littering the sides of it. The film earns some extra weight as you watch knowing that it became an international incident
• I couldn't help but feel how surreal it would be to interview KJU. Unrealistic of course, but if the day ever happens that an American gets the chance to interview him, I'll be watching
• A mostly well-crafted soundtrack
• Moves along at a brisk pace and keeps a smile on your face
• Some fun, funny, and gory action scenes
• Kim Jong Un's final scene
• Freedom of speech baby!!

Rath's Review Score: 8/10