The Interview (2014)
Certified: 15
Duration: 112 minutes
Directed by: Seth Rogen
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park, Diana Bang, Timothy Simons, Anders Holm, Charles Rahi Chun
KRS Releasing Ltd
After all the hullabaloo with North Korea’s threatening of merciless action, the hacking into Sony’s computer systems, terrorist threats against cinemas and the criticism that came Sony’s way when it cancelled the release of the film, The Interview is finally out in cinemas worldwide.
Its release in the US in digital rental form, followed by a limited cinema release, has led to the film becoming Sony’s most successful digital release to date.
The Interview is a hoot that was never meant to be taken seriously, very much in the same style of This is the End (2013).
Censorship about any subject matter that can or cannot be tackled in a movie or in any other art form for that matter, is not the prerogative of anyone to decide for others. However, if one is worried he may be made fun of in a movie, then one is to make sure not to create situations and scenarios where it makes it so easy for everyone under the sun to take pot shots at him, which is the case here.
The basic concept on which all the craziness of the movie occurs lies around a talk show called Skylark Tonight, which is a typically flashy show, where everything that is celebrity-connected happens; it is like the tabloid version of a real talk show.
Producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen) wants something different from the show – he wants his show to be journalistically credible, while Dave Skylark (James Franco), the peacock-styled presenter, just wants to be at the centre of attention.
The two have just finished recording the show’s 1,000th episode when they find out that Kim Jong-un (Randall Park), the leader of North Korea, is their fan and wants to be on the programme. He actually wants them to go to North Korea and interview him.
The CIA learn about this and get involved – they want the duo to help them kill Kim and push forward a coup d’êtat that will lead to the introduction of democracy in North Korea.
The plot content is fit enough for a Saturday Night Live skit and the movie’s production never attempts to be anything else. It knows that the concept and the content is an amalgamation of over-the-top stupid, low-level humour, tongue-in-cheek approach, childish satire and buddy bro-romance movie. Strangely enough, all this falls into place as The Interview manages to keep everyone on track with laughter forming part of the whole process.
Franco is at his whiny and pampered-looking best as he adores only one thing and that is himself, while Rogen is nerdishly funny. The two balance each other out with Rogen providing the bizarre and Franco the idiocy. However, the focal point and best performance of the show has to be that of Park, who plays the leader in question and is as loony as they come as he mixes his love for tanks, world destruction and Katy Perry!
Lizzy Caplan, who is always so underrated, is here really in good form, while the previously unknown Diana Bang is simply hilarious as the film’s treasure find.
As is the norm with this genre, some of the comedy moments are hit and miss, with the film registering many a hit. It is consistently amusing and even hilarious.