the interview
2015 review number 27:
The Interview: (Comedy): 71 out of 100: Here's the movie that was at the centre of the Sony hacking scandal last year. Many cinemas refused to screen this film when it was discovered that North Korea might have been behind a plot to bomb any cinema that screened it. That's because the film doesn't show Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, in a positive light.
The film begins with a young girl singing a song to an audience of North Koreans about how America is the enemy and why her fellow citizens should stand up against them. Cut to Dave Skylark (James Franco) interviewing the rapper Eminem who reveals on live TV that he is gay. Skylark is the host of a popular entertainment tabloid show where his famous guests seem to reveal something shocking and unknown about themselves. However, he is not happy just obtaining the truth from entertainers and wants to do bigger interviews to show the work that he is a credible journalist. One day he and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) discover that Kim Jong Un (Randall Park) is a fan of the show so they embark on securing an interview with him. As they prepare for their trip to Pyongyang, the CIA assigns them a mission to assassinate the dictator.
Even though there is some silly and juvenile comedy, I must admit that I had quite a fair bit of fun with this movie. It's not rocket science and it's disposable entertainment but sometimes movies are made for you to simply enjoy them and this is one of those movies. Franco overacts at times but his chemistry with Rogen is what makes the film funny. The bromance scenes between Skylark and Kim Jong Un are also a lot of fun.
Rogen directs with Evan Goldberg and this is their second film co-directing, the first one being "This is the End". If you are familiar with that movie you will know that there will be some crazy and hilarious scenes in this one. They keep things moving along at a steady pace that you won't notice the nearly two hour running time.
The forests of Vancouver stand in for Kim Jong Un's compound and the scenic views are an added bonus to the film. There's some decent sound effects too when there are several action scenes plus the music score helps heighten the tension between the Americans and the North Korean leader.
"The Interview" is definitely not for everyone as quite a few of the jokes will offend. If you don't mind some potty humour, then you will enjoy this movie. As to whether this movie is controversial or not, see it for yourself to make up your own mind. I thought it was just a huge fuss over nothing because it's a satire which shouldn't be taken too seriously.
Starring James Franco, Seth Rogen and Randall Park
(112 minutes)
Parental advice: Coarse language, sexual references, sex scene, nudity, drug use and violence
Additional scene during or after credits: After the credits we see a picture and dedication to Digby the dog, who Kim Jong Un gave to Dave Skylark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkJA1rb8Nxo (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Monday 16th February, 2015)
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