EVAN GOLDBERG, SETH ROGEN

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BB.5.

USA, 2013.  Columbia Pictures Corporation, Point Grey Pictures, Mandate Pictures.  Screen story and screenplay by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, based on the short film Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse by Seth Rogen, Jason Stone, Evan Goldberg.  Cinematography by Brandon Trost.  Produced by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, James Weaver.  Music by Henry Jackman.  Production Design by Chris L. Spellman.  Costume Design by Danny Glicker.  Film Editing by Zene Baker.  

One joke is spread quite thin over two hours as a group of popular comedic actors play fictionalized versions of themselves in an apocalyptic farce. Seth Rogen picks up surly Jay Baruchel from the airport and plans a big weekend for them, Rogen particularly sensitive to the fact that Baruchel hates spending time in L.A.  An invitation to James Franco‘s house for a party turns their time together sour as they find themselves with people Baruchel can’t stand.  How much worse it gets when the two of them, Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride are barricaded into Franco’s house when fireballs from the sky destroy Los Angeles and the apocalypse appears to be happening exactly as it is written in the book of Revelations. Food rationing, water shortages and the occasional drop-in by a famous movie star complicate their situation as these guys do their best to survive Scratch outside their door and their own pettiness within.  A few comic moments and what should be a promising setup is made difficult to watch thanks to painfully overdrawn direction that is too self-consciously clever to be as whimsical as it wants to be.  Rogen and Evan Goldberg direct a light comedy with a self-important, heavy hand, and are far too busy daring themselves to come up with something outrageous to ever convince you that they are having a good time.  Then there are the actors, who are so busy finding themselves funny that it is hard for the audience to get in on the action along with them, but their fans might have a good time.