I was a little worried when I
first saw trailers for This is the End
as the premise seemed to be remarkably similar to the forthcoming conclusion of
the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, The
World’s End. Fortunately though, it appears that the films have very little
in common. This is the End is an
apocalyptic comedy film written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
The pair, who have collaborated in the past with the likes of Superbad and Pineapple Express here deliver a film in which some of the funniest
names in Hollywood
(and Danny McBride) play versions of themselves during an apocalyptic event.
Rogen meets old friend and actor
Jay Baruchel at the airport for one of Jay’s infrequent visits to Tinsletown.
Hoping to catch up, Jay instead finds himself at James Franco’s house-warming
party where he feels uncomfortable and out of place with fellow actors and
celebrities. As he nips out for some cigarettes, Jay bares witness to what at
first appears to be an earthquake but soon becomes apparent to be something
much more destructive. As the end of the world turns the Hollywood Hills to
ash, a few actors are left holed up in James Franco’s house with nothing but a
few beers, some drugs and a milky bar to sustain them.