2.5 stars (out of four)
A movie doesn't have to involve the attempted assassination of a living dictator to qualify as poorly conceived. In the past year alone, we've seen a biblical icon become a burly action hero ("Noah"), a classic villain become kinda nice ("Maleficent"), a horror movie seek scares in a Ouija board ("Ouija"), families treat South Africa like Hawaii ("Blended") and two stunning women (Sofia Vergara, Sharon Stone) pursue a threesome with a newbie, unimpressive gigolo (John Turturro), whose pimp is played by Woody Allen ("Fading Gigolo"). Yes, a comedy in which American morons target North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un is pushing things a bit farther. But let's not act as if "The Interview" is the only risky concept to make it into theaters.
And it's certainly a big deal that "The Interview," whose theatrical release and all future possibility of being seen was canceled by Sony on Dec. 17, became available to watch online a week later and arrived on a few big screens the following day. This entire saga has been, in a word, bizarre. Not that the threats and restrictions and controversy can be boiled down to one word. But all that aside-as much as an unprecedented event in both politics and entertainment can be tabled-the time has come to at last determine if talk show host Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapaport (Seth Rogen) attempting to kill the reclusive leader (Randall Park) is under-appreciated genius or a misguided flop that will benefit from the hype.
Not surprisingly, it's neither. It's somewhat funny, mostly pointless, definitely questionable and arguably harmless. The interview of "The Interview" takes place because Kim, besides for enjoying "The Big Bang Theory," loves "Skylark Tonight," on which Dave usually focuses on accidents involving celebrity genitalia. So the "supreme leader" grants the world's most difficult-to-secure interview to a dope who thinks the first rule of journalism is "Give the people what they want." Aaron says that applies more to circuses and demolition derbies, but to North Korea they go.
Directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg ("This is the End") from a story they conceived with writer Dan Sterling ("South Park,""The Office"), "The Interview" probably wouldn't have ruffled international feathers had the interview subject-whom a CIA operative (Lizzy Caplan) understandably entrusts Dave to take out, clarifying that she doesn't mean, as the guys think, "take him out to a meal"-been a nameless head of a fake country. This movie isn't saying anything politically, other than recognizing the power of propaganda and the historical déjà vu of people manipulated into supporting a cruel dictator. It both derives laughs from nonsense (Dave wanting to interview a goat who allegedly had sex with Matthew McConaughey) and struggles to make its subject matter comedic. When Dave thinks his subject is actually a fun party animal and Aaron insists that his partner is ignoring the concentration camps and firing squads, you can hear the concept's gears grinding to a halt, becoming sentient and asking, "Really, this is what this movie is about?"
Comedy long has and should deal with difficult subjects. "Four Lions," the 2010 British comedy about suicide bombers, is one of the most successful examples of all time of filmmakers pulling off something that seems like a terrible, offensive idea. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Team America: World Police" was funnier than "The Interview," and a lot more pointed as satire.
But the movie remains an amusing, awkward combination of absurd and real. (It's also, following "Horrible Bosses 2," the second comedy in a month to mine humor from liking Katy Perry.) While Rogen and Franco made better co-conspirators in "Pineapple Express," they allow themselves to look like idiots and ensure "The Interview" depicts ridiculous behavior by everyone involved. The film neither makes inflammatory statements nor exploits the fear and emotions of true life.
You can't say the same for "The Book Thief," which tried to make Nazi Germany look cute, or "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," which exploited 9/11 and earned a Best Picture nomination. So I'm glad we're talking about what value "The Interview" may or may not have, and if just because a movie can be made means that it should. This conversation should happen more often, not because censorship is the answer but because too much insulting garbage slips through the cracks without the discussion it deserves.
Watch Matt review the week's big new movies Fridays at 11:30 a.m. on NBC.
mpais@tribune.com
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