The Interview (2014) - Movie Review

Sometimes, movies can surprise you. Other times, they don't.

Strangely, the latest creation of Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, The Interview, does both. On one hand, it definitely had a B-movie feel and was supposed to be campy, overdone, and exaggerated all around. On the other hand, I was surprised at how deftly it delivered blows through its satire.

I'll confess that I'm generally not a fan of comedies these days. Most films placed in the genre just seem to be unfunny and stale (I'm looking at you, Adam Sandler). However, The Interview was one of the first films in a long time that I can say was genuinely funny. Granted, there are your lion's share of crude jokes that somewhat repeat throughout the film, but the delivery and timing of James Franco and Seth Rogen is impeccable. From the opening scene, every single viewer can tell that this is going to be a ridiculous movie, and that's exactly what it is. It's exaggerated, improbable, outlandish, and somewhat predictable; but it takes itself seriously, and that's exactly what makes The Interview hilarious. The ending of the film retains this feel as well, but I won't spoil it for you. Just know that it's a little out there and ridiculous.

This exaggerated nature carries over to the acting. James Franco is drop-dead hilarious as Dave Skylark, a tabloid news journalist. His character is just plain dumb at times which would usually rub off on me the wrong way; however, he is a perfect foil to Seth Rogen's Aaron Rapoport, the producer of Skylark's show who wants to be taken more seriously by his peers. Their chemistry on-screen is electric, making even the overused jokes funny. Randall Park as Kim Jong-un is good as well, making his character seem pretty likable. Overall, the acting in The Interview is over the top: exactly like it has to be.

I also feel like the films delivers its satirical blows at the news media quite well. You might be asking if The Interview pokes fun at the government. Well, it doesn't. Most of the jokes about North Korea are a charicature and not really satire. The United States government as a whole is left high and dry here too. It is Skylark's news program that does the most damage. It invites celebrity guests such as Eminem, Rob Lowe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be interviewed about their personal lives. It pokes fun at how distracted the news media want us to be from real issues and focus on pointless fluff instead. The satire is subtle but easily discovered by those looking for it. I love a good satire, and while The Interview wasn't completely focused on that aspect of itself, it was well-delivered and quite comical. The character of Dave Skylark in general is good at poking fun at the news, as he is just plain dumb sometimes and takes himself very seriously while acting very stupid.

However, it isn't all good news for The Interview. The plot and direction cannot mask its biggest flaw: the film's second act. When the CIA show up at Skylark's home to ask them to assassinate Kim Jong-un, the movie takes a turn for the worse. It develops a more serious tone which really takes away from the comedy and satirical aspects of the film. Devolving into a spy comedy was not a smart move, as it just sucked all the life out of this otherwise good plot. This section of the film also tends to drag quite a bit, ruining the fast-paced feel of both the beginning and end. Despite this, there are still some clever moments regarding their mission, particularly when they screw up while in North Korea and at the film's conclusion. In general, the tone remains light enough for The Interview to still be an easily entertaining film.

Overall, The Interview is not the most memorable film of the year outside of its controversy. It is entertaining enough, but its midsection drags it down with generic spy-thriller sequences. Also, there could have been some more satire and a more poignant message; however, The Interview is still well worth your time for its many good laughs and just to see what all the fuss is about.

Rating: 7/10

Summary: Despite its bogged-down midsection, The Interview is a good action comedy that shows off some excellent chemistry between Seth Rogen and James Franco while also subtly making jabs at the news media.