The best satire since Dr Strangelove, The Interview Review

The Interview ( Rated R )

The plot is simple, a big celebrity journalist David Skylark is set to interview Kim Jong Un, then he gets the task of assassinating him for the C.I.A. The story is silly and pretty outlandish, packed with the type of humor you expect from these guys. This is a loud, crude, violent and extremely over the top film. You will either love or hate the humor, and to really appreciate the movie you have to like Rogen and Franco's style. 

James Franco is even further over the top than ever before, but his performance has a subtle brilliance, and Skylark maybe his best character yet. Seth Rogen played things mildly straight, which really grounded Franco's character, Rogan's performance was simple but effective. Which is the film's greatest strength, while it is incredibly stupid and even insane, the writing is the best this team has ever done. While This Is The End was a great parody. There was nothing that witty about it,  it was funny because of it's premise and the spot on performances, however, The Interview is brilliant because it is very clever.

There is no denying that the jokes in the movie are stupid, it is simply that brand of humor, but the brilliance lies in the fact that the film was very thorough in its research. The film is very clever in how it pokes fun at Kim Jong Un, and as silly as the film can be with its mixture of truth and satire are blended stupendously. The climax of the film is brilliant not because of the gags, but because beneath the surface, there is something honestly believable about it, as crazy as that may seem. On the most basic level, the film does tell the truth about North Korea and Kim Jong Un. While he may not be a Katy Perry fan, I would not be surprised if the way his demeanor is depicted, is not far from the truth.

Either you will get the jokes and the satire, or it will just be too stupid on the surface and, far too crude for you to enjoy. While the film is heavy handed, it was done with purpose and not only does it make the most of its premise, it made a great statement about North Korea's plight. The film is insensitive to Kim Jong Un's camp, but the film does not make fun of the North Korean people; in fact, it sheds light on their situation.

If you are expecting a funny adventure, The Interview will not disappoint but beneath the surface of this crude and extremely stupid film, however, is also one of the most brilliant films I have seen in a long time. The writing is terrific and the performances keep the film from falling flat on its face. Lastly, I will say that the climax delivers, and is both incredibly satisfying and utterly hilarious.