USA 2014
Opening February 5, 2015
Directed by: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Writing credits: Dan Sterling, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Principal actors: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Randall Park
The talk-show host, Dave Skylark (Franco) and his producer Aaron Rappaport (Rogen) are looking for a real news story to show the world that they are serious newsmen. Their current show ‘Skylark Tonight’ is all about celebrity gossip which leaves Rappaport feeling like a loser in the news game. The surprise discovery that North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un (Park) is a fan provides them with an opportunity to change their image.
As soon as these two ‘bros’ land this far-fetched interview the CIA pays them a visit. The CIA’s intention is to turn the interview into the assassination of Kim Jong-Un. Once Skylark and Rappaport are recruited to this mission all sense of propriety is thrown out the window. The trip to Pyongyang turns into a frat boy adventure.
There is nothing that is too much to say or do in this film. The violence is gratuitous; the humor is both smutty and infantile which provided for a dubious cinematic experience. Without all the controversy surrounding this film I would expect most would have waited for this to appear on TV. Many are attempting to make this film more than what it is meant to be. If you must see it, try to view it as it is - of dubious taste, racist, misogynist and marginal.
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