When acting in a crude comedy, one must be prepared to be the butt of jokes. Murphy had a good attitude about this. In the film, nearly all the members of the Stanton Party, including himself, had no positive images. They all appeared as a bunch of sleazy guys, even in such dire circumstances, still trying to take advantage of a beautiful girl.
Emma Watson holstered her gun, and Jonah Hill was the first to step forward with a righteous look, "I volunteer to be the first to sacrifice!"
But luck was not on his side, as Emma Watson smacked him on the nose with the handle of her hammer, causing blood to flow immediately.
Emma Watson went into berserk mode, swinging her hammer directly at the groin of a human-shaped statue, smashing it to pieces.
"I'm not fucking joking!" she shouted sternly.
Thus, the Stanton Party members were robbed by a twenty-year-old girl.
By this point in the film, whether it was Murphy or the other Stanton Party members, none of them could be considered good people.
The only positive aspect of the Stanton Party was their deep brotherly bond. Despite being cowardly, despicable, and sleazy, none of them abandoned their brothers in any situation.
This was also a typical comedy element, emphasizing lifelong friendship.
For example, even when Jonah Hill turned into a zombie, the other Stanton Party members tried every possible way to save him.
However, the process of him turning into a zombie had many viewers laughing, as it involved him being raped by a demon...
The main theme throughout the film's narrative was "friendship." The five close friends of the Stanton Party led the entire plot, particularly Seth Rogen and Robert Downey Jr.
From their initial bickering before the party, to the escalation of conflicts while taking refuge at James Franco's house during the apocalypse, and finally to their reconciliation when they both ascended to heaven, the story followed a standard three-act structure. This gave the film a complete framework, allowing it to stand out from lower-quality comedies that merely strung together disjointed jokes.
In the process of depicting friendship, the "apocalypse" setting brought unavoidable elements of conflict: nobody wanted to die, everyone wanted to survive, but their relationships complicated matters. This intertwining of selflessness and selfishness led to various comedic situations.
The climax of the film occurred when Murphy ascended to heaven. After witnessing James Franco's self-sacrifice that led him to ascend, Murphy wanted to emulate him. Just then, Robert Downey Jr. was trying to rescue Channing Tatum, who was a human dog slave, from a group of villains and was shot. Murphy heroically stepped in front of Downey Jr. to take the bullet, and at the moment he was ready to receive the bullet, a beam of light enveloped him, lifting him towards the sky.
However, as he ascended, he saw Emma Watson dragging her hammer through the ruins. Remembering his previous intention to rape her and being robbed instead, he let out a string of expletives and gave her the middle finger. Consequently, his ascent was cut short, and he fell back down, humorously emphasizing the importance of friendship over grandstanding.
This blend of self-deprecation and touching moments kept the film consistently entertaining without becoming preachy.
As a crude comedy, the film excelled in its portrayal of vulgar humor. The Stanton Party members were endearingly sleazy: Jonah Hill, with his small gestures and coquettish voice, even became a demon's victim; Franco's house was decorated with a painting depicting "Seth Rogen vs. James Franco vs. Robert Downey Jr. and Jonah Hill."
In their time of crisis, only the Stanton Party members could enjoy the food Franco had hidden. Even when Emma Watson was around, they chose to starve rather than share with her.
The loyalty and camaraderie among the Stanton Party were unshakeable. Despite initial conflicts, Seth Rogen and Robert Downey Jr. eventually bonded, vowing to stay together forever.
In the film's conclusion, the prophecies of the New Testament's "Revelation" finally came true, as God lifted the righteous to heaven. Robert Downey Jr., Seth Rogen, and James Franco passed the test and ascended to heaven, where they were welcomed by Whitney Houston.
In the shining paradise, Whitney Houston led the souls in a heartfelt rendition of "I Will Always Love You," clearly a tribute to the Stanton Party.
With Houston's song, the film concluded.
In the packed theater of the Hollywood Chinese Theatre, the audience erupted in applause. Murphy stood up and was the first to walk over to Seth Rogen, giving him a hearty hug.
"Absolutely brilliant!" Murphy didn't hold back his praise. "This is an outstanding comedy."
Gadot also shook Rogen's hand. "It was fantastic!"
"Thank you..." Rogen, usually not great with words, kept repeating, "Thank you, thank you..."
Many people came over to congratulate him. Murphy, understanding the situation, discreetly pulled Gadot aside. Though he was the film's investor, this moment belonged to Rogen, Hill, and Franco.
"It was great, wasn't it?" Carla Feis's voice sounded nearby.
Murphy nodded. "Even better than I expected."
"Seth Rogen has a real talent for comedy," Gadot remarked. "I think he could become a top-tier comedy director."
In the end, the success of a comedy film depends on its reception in the market.
So, the true measure of this film's success would be its performance in theaters.
As Rogen, Hill, and Franco went to the press conference, Murphy chatted with Feis for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, he left the Hollywood Chinese Theatre with Gadot and returned to their villa.
He knew that today belonged to Rogen, Hill, and Franco.
The film stood out in the crowded comedy genre, but Murphy's opinion wasn't the final word. Ultimately, it was the audience's reception that mattered.
The next morning, after a run, Murphy opened his computer to check the reviews on several rating websites.
"'This Is the End' was my most anticipated comedy of the year. The cast alone is unbeatable, and the fact that all the Stanton Party's celebrity friends made appearances makes it even better."
"The Stanton Party members were despicable and sleazy, but somehow they exuded a boyish charm! I couldn't hate them, even Jonah Hill, who usually annoys me. The film had a large cast, but everyone had a solid performance without overshadowing each other, showing strong chemistry. No wonder they're famous as the Stanton Party."
"If the quality of a comedy is judged by how much you remember and how much you laugh, then this film is a king!"
This was a comment from a user on IMDb, highly rated and supported by many.
The initial rating for "This Is the End" was 8.1, a good start for a crude comedy.
"People either love this film or hate it. Fortunately, I'm in the former group. Although everyone knows that the actors are not playing their real selves, it was still incredibly fun to watch."
"Seth Rogen grasps the essence of comedy, writing with no limits; Jonah Hill is incredibly annoying, but his character's death was satisfying. If you think it's okay to be in the same room with 'Hermione' and plan to sleep with her, think again. She's a heroine herself. And Murphy, an opportunist, can never go to heaven..."
Seeing this, Murphy couldn't help but smile.
On social media, there were also numerous comments.
"'This Is the End' is the most shameless, lowest, and most absurd comedy of the year. The Stanton Party friends created a hilarious and dirty movie, filled with dark humor, many cameos, and shocking scenes. Seeing Rihanna, Emma Watson, Channing Tatum, and Murphy Stanton in such unexpected roles was a treat."
"Also, the actors' banter and numerous jokes poking fun at themselves and their own works added a layer of self-deprecation. Especially the reconciliation scene between Seth Rogen and Robert Downey Jr. was touching. Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' was a perfect ending, symbolizing the deep brotherly love among the Stanton Party."
"Finally, my personal rating for 'This Is the End' is an A!"
After browsing these reviews, Murphy casually surfed social media, surprised to find someone had Photoshopped his image alongside Emma Watson's, making her look quite resentful...
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