The Interview Review
RYAN: It’s unprecedented what happened with this movie – almost taking down a movie studio and threatening national security – all completely unintentionally of course. But still it’s something that made history in a crazy way.
CAROLINE: It’s very interesting to look at what happened, what it’s about, how North Korea reacted and it’s really all just a comedy. I think it’s funny how many stars talked about it as art and freedom of expression. Of course film as a medium is an art form but we’re talking about a Seth Rogen and James Franco comedy, people.
RYAN: Exactly so. It’s crazy that North Korea threatened our country if the movie were to be distributed and then theaters dropped it and Sony pulled out, only to eventually send it to some indie theaters and put it out digitally where it all made almost $20 million which was projected for it’s actually theatrical release at one point. The whole terrorism phenomena around this movie is one thing but let’s talk about the actual movie.
CAROLINE: Yes, how was it?
RYAN: Good, not great. It has some moments and I actually did LOL a couple times. But it’s really a bromance piece for real life besties James and Seth.
CAROLINE: I know you love James because he played the Wizard in Oz the Great and Powerful.
RYAN: Right and I just think he’s a prolific, cool dude. But I can’t believe I’m gonna say Seth is better than him in this. James isn’t bad, but he overacts as much as anyone is capable of overacting. It’s almost like he’s playing a caricature of an actor in a comedy; just chewing the scenery. And it was consistent in the film. I was scratching my head about it, like, “Why didn’t anyone tell him to dial it back a notch or three?” It would have really made the movie better.
CAROLINE: How’s Seth?
RYAN: He co-driected and as far as his acting, he’s way more natural than James and I actually liked Seth better in this, which I regret to say.
CAROLINE: How’s the humor?
RYAN: It’s fair. We don’t’ really love the over-the-top potty or gross jokes and there is enough of that in there to annoy. But there are also some funny moments too and some good cameos.
CAROLINE: How’s the actor who plays Kim Jong Un?
RYAN: He’s Randall Park. He’s born and raised in LA and has been in a ton of things. He really doesn’t do a President Kim impression. He plays him in a very jokey manner, almost cartoony. I know the film is about his assassination but it’s really not all that harsh about North Korea. They assert some of the typical conditions we hear about that county but the movie is such a broad comedy that I can’t believe it really sparked the reaction it did.
CAROLINE: It really is all quite unbelievable.
RYAN: James and Seth have such great rapport and you can see how much fun they’re having. And James’s costumes are to die for. I want to own everything he wore in this movie. Just gorgeous clothes put together beautifully.
CAROLINE: Any effects like in This is the End?
RYAN: A few but it’s not as big as that movie. It does get pretty violent at the end though.
CAROLINE: So what’s your bottom line?
RYAN: It’s no This is the End. I remember first seeing the trailer and thinking how great it looked because I like these actors and then the whole fiasco happened. It’s a brilliant example of no such thing as bad publicity. Granted no one wants a terrorist threat but it certainly got everyone on earth talking about this movie. And by now it’s practically our American duty to view it.
Nathan January 6, 2015
I think I’ll just wait till someone compiles a “funny moments” on youtube.