The Interview

Of course, "The Interview" was already watchable through free file sharing. It was more descent than expected and overall still meaningful to release it.

It is a bromance comedy with low humor taking place in a geopolitical setting, but still make sense that they insisted to use Kim Jong-Un name instead of obvious fake name. And it is still subversive enough for North Korea, not because of Kim's assassination, but because it clearly said the problem is not Kim, but North Korea's system itself and it suggested revolution, even though the film is essentially nothing to do with North Korea.

Actually annoyed by James Franco character most of the times because he is so stupid and not very funny. But in the end, his character paid off and the climax was surprisingly moving(!). Rogen/Franco just followed their own formula of silly bromance comedy as they did in "This Is the End" : Franco character is such a jerk, but still he has some gold in his heart. It was as good as "This Is the End" (this is a compliment), and this movie has some gold although 90% is a hit-and miss silly jokes.

I think NYT review took this movie too seriously with saying "Its lesson is that American pop culture is inescapable, our great achievement and most popular export, the weapon we wield abroad and the glue trap we struggle with at home. In the mirror the movie holds up, we are at our best when we are funny, stupid, sincere and immature, and that’s why everybody loves us". Although it is somewhat true and I assume Rogen /Franco was aware of it, summarizing in that way, kills the very pleasure of watching just an entertainment, at least for its target audience. Let the kids play.