Review: The biggest surprise in ‘The Interview’ saga? It’s actually good

Posted on January 2, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

So how many movies out there can say they produced promises of war by a tyrannical despot and terrorist threats against theater chains showing the film, resulted in its studio being hacked in what may be the first ever cyber attack against a corporation by a nation state, and ultimately became a symbol of creative expression and free speech to an entire country, complete with a speech by President Obama urging its release to the public?
In that, I’d have to say “The Interview” stands alone.
It sure has been a wild and crazy road for the comedy from writers/directors Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg (“This is the End”) about a plot to assassinate North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un.

With all of the buzz and insanity surrounding the film, however, the question remained: is it any good? Of course, when it comes to protecting the freedom of speech and creative expression, good art should weigh the same as bad art. Fortunately, despite my own misgivings, “The Interview” is actually a pretty good comedy. It’s not going to win any Oscars to be sure, but the film produces a lot of laughs and has just enough depth and self-awareness to keep it on an even keel to the end. Sure it’s vulgar and filled with colorful language, but by now, you should really expect a Seth Rogen film to have all of that.

Since the closest theater showing of “The Interview” was two hours away, I settled for watching it online, and invited a friend over to watch it with me, because I’ve always believed comedies need to be seen in a group setting to get the most out of them. We both ending up agreeing that not only was the film better than we expected, the overly dramatic response by the North Korean government to the film proves its points better than anything Rogen or Goldbert could have done.

“The Interview” was never meant to be the symbol it has become, but as a comedy, it is a decent movie with two great comedic actors in their element, even if that element is vulgar and profane. So, in the event we do go to war with North Korea over a movie, at least it was a funny one.

The film is rated R for pervasive language, crude and sexual humor, nudity, some drug use and bloody violence.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.