The Interview review: Hugely significant but not very good

Director: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen; Screenwriter: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Dan Sterling; Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park, Diana Bang; Running time: 112 mins; Certificate: 15

Long before it sparked an international incident, all The Interview wanted to do was make people laugh. Of course, the scandal it provoked overshadowed the film itself somewhat, leading to debate around much bigger issues such as censorship of art, cyber-privacy and why exactly Hollywood is still bankrolling Adam Sandler.

The Interview quietly slips into UK cinemas this weekend (it's already been widely circulated online and available on US Netflix), and now that the dust has settled it's easier to judge the film without the distraction of the baggage it carries.

Unfortunately, this is a largely forgettable affair, lacking the laughs of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's apocalyptic comedy This Is The End or any kind of smart satirical edge. Matt Stone and Trey Parker brilliantly explored similar ground in Team America and South Park, and here it quickly becomes apparent that it's much easier to lampoon through the filter of animation or puppets. Stone and Parker happily skewer the US/West as much as they do their enemies, but The Interview is a more one-sided affair, only lifting the mirror up to itself when it comes to celeb-obsessed culture.

The film sees James Franco and Rogen lead the cast as a pair of TV journalists for downmarket tabloid show Skylark Tonight. Their biggest triumph to date? Getting Eminem to come out live on air. Slim Shady reveals he's been leaving a "bread crumb trail of gayness" in his songs for years.

Franco plays the show's shallow host Dave Skylark, while Rogen is his best pal and producer Aaron Rapaport. An offer to interview North Korean leader Kim Jong-un proves too good to turn down, with both men keen to show they're capable of offering the world more than celebs coming out and segments of Joseph Gordon-Levitt kissing puppies. As Dave observes (in one of the few gags to provoke a chuckle), in 10 years' time "Frosty Nixon" director Ron Howard will be making a movie about this interview.

The CIA intercept Dave and Aaron, tasking them with assassinating the dictator with a deadly dose of ricin. It's here the familiar Rogenisms set in, albeit in a new and entirely outlandish scenario. Dave quickly forges a bond with Kim; they ride in tanks together, shoot hoops, party hard and discuss a shared love for Katy Perry's 'Firework'.

All this leaves Aaron out in the cold and the kill mission hanging in the balance. It'll come as no surprise to learn that the pendulum swings back and, like all these frat comedies, the central duo's bromance emerges stronger than ever.

The film's general lack of decent gags are only heightened by an off-key turn from Franco, whose desperate gurning fails to eek out any laughs, and a running time that trundles on for far too long. Whatever happened to snappy comedies that are over and done in 90 minutes? Still, there's at least a few memorable performances dotted across the film, notably Veep's Randall Park as Kim Jong-un, who swings impressively between misunderstood manchild and ruthless despot, and the criminally-underused Lizzy Caplan as a CIA agent heading up the mission.

The Interview will be looked back on as a Hollywood comedy of huge significance, it's just a shame it isn't really any good.

The Interview does work on an intriguing meta level in light of the Sony Hack, its two leads being plucky underdogs seeking to prove they're capable of more than disposable entertainment. However, this turns out to be a movie that just doesn't live up to its reputation. The Interview will be looked back on as a Hollywood comedy of huge significance, it's just a shame it isn't really any good.

Simon Reynolds

Movies Editor 

Simon has worked as a journalist for more than a decade, writing on staff and freelance for Hearst, Dennis, Future and Autovia titles before joining Cision in 2022.