The apocalyptic comedy This is the End will open at a multiplex near you on June 12. In This is the End we are introduced to six friends by the names of Seth Rogen (Seth Rogen), James Franco (James Franco), Jonah Hill (Jonah Hill), Craig Robinson (Craig Robinson), Jay Baruchel (Jay Baruchel) and Danny McBride (Danny McBride), who attempt to stay alive while the world ends. As always, we answer every questions that you could possibly have about This is the End.
Q: Is there any chance that I will like This is the End?
A: Yes. There are a lot of chances, actually.
Q: How is This is the End not one big circle jerk?
A: While it's true that there is plenty of literal masturbation in This is the End, it's also the case that, metaphorically, the film does a surprisingly good job of appearing to exist for the lone purpose of satisfying its stars' egos.
Q: To what "end" does the title This is the End refer?
A: The apocalypse as described in the Book of Revelation.
Q: So if I am a devout Christian, I will love This is the End?
A: Ha.
Q: Why are all of these characters hanging out together during the apocalypse?
A: They are attending a party thrown by James Franco (James Franco) when the apocalypse begins.
Q: Is everyone having a good time at the party?
A: Jay Baruchel (Jay Baruchel) is not having a good time.
Q: Why not?
A: Jay Baruchel (Jay Baruchel) is basically our point-of-view character. Even though Baruchel (Jay Baruchel) is a fairly famous actor, he only knows Franco (James Franco), Craig Robinson (Craig Robinson) and Jonah Hill (Jonah Hill) through his longtime friend, Seth Rogen (Seth Rogen), and he feels like an outcast when he is around all of them.
Q: Is there any real-life basis for this dynamic?
A: I have no idea and don't particularly care. It's a movie.
Q: When does the apocalypse occur?
A: On the night of the party, the good people are taken to heaven while the rest have to fend for themselves in a horrifying landscape of volcanoes, earthquakes and roaming demon beasts.
Q: Where does an idea like this even come from?
A: It's based on Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel's short film, Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse.
Q: Do we see a lot of celebrity deaths in This is the End?
A: Yes.
Q: Which character does the most with a small amount of screen time in This is the End?
A: Michael Cera (Michael Cera).
Q: Which character does the most with a moderate amount of screen time?
A: Emma Watson (Emma Watson).
Q: Wait, how does Danny McBride fit into all of this?
A: Danny McBride (Danny McBride) comes to the party uninvited, then sleeps through the beginning of the apocalypse. Regardless, he joins the other five holed up at James Franco's house.
Q: I don't understand what this movie is about.
A: It's probably for the best.
Q: Is each actor portraying himself or herself as how he or she actually is in real life?
A: Though they all are playing themselves -- and I'm sure there are some overlapping tropes -- the actors definitely play exaggerated versions of themselves. For example, I'm sure in real life Danny McBride has uttered a funny insult, but it's doubtful that he has an appetite for human flesh. (That said, I have no inside information regarding either of those two assumptions.)
Q: What are these famous actors doing while just sitting around James Franco's house?
A: As mentioned before, there is masturbation. And there are a lot of references to James Franco's lesser movies. But, eventually, the group starts to run out of food and water, forcing them to leave the relatively safe confines of James Franco's house.
Q: How many references are made about James Franco portrayal of the Green Goblin in Spider-Man 3?
A: Two
Q: If I am a fan of Pineapple Express, will I like This is the End?
A: A lot.
Q: How in the world are you telling me that this is a good movie?
A: Honestly, I don't know, but I laughed a lot. It's the funniest movie of 2013 so far (to be fair, there hasn't been a lot of competition for that title) and by far the most fucked-up movie of 2013.
Q: Is there a chance that This is the End is too insidery?
A: It's possible, but I honestly don't think so. Though a working knowledge of each actor's past work probably would help.
Q: What's the best thing you overheard about This is the End on the way out of the theater?
A: Someone said, "Jonah Hill gets raped by the devil, and that's like the sixth-most-fucked-up thing that happens."
Q: Wait, what?
A: Yeah.
Q: What's the fifth-most-fucked-up thing that happens?
A: Without giving too much away, it involves the Devil's penis.
Q: If you could choose what quote to put on the This is the End movie poster, what would it be?
A: "Jonah Hill gets raped by the devil, and that's like the sixth-most-fucked-up thing that happens."
Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter.
This story appears in Issue 53 of our weekly iPad magazine, Huffington, in the iTunes App store, available Friday, June 14.
