Danny McBride and James Franco argue about the magazine
Jay and Seth reuniting, eating at Carl’s Jr., smoking, gaming, and hearing the Backstreet Boys is proposed. The celebrity party is proposed for Franco's self-mockery, Mindy Kaling and Michael Cera, Jonah and Jay, Jason Segel and Kevin Hart, Craig Robinson's song, and Cera in the bathroom. The guests dying in rapid succession after the apocalypse begins is proposed. Jonah playing with the gun and the Milky Way argument are proposed. Danny McBride's breakfast entrance is proposed as the point when the film rises to another level. The homemade Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red is proposed. The group's conversation about Emma Watson and her armed departure is proposed, with the scene's sexual-threat humor acknowledged as potentially harder to stage later. Danny McBride and James Franco's escalating argument over the pornographic magazine is the leading choice. McBride's water outburst and expulsion are proposed as a close alternate. Possessed Jonah's exorcism is selected as another leading scene. Danny McBride returning with Channing Tatum as his gimp is proposed. The Backstreet Boys ending in heaven is proposed as an audacious final sequence.
In the discussion (12)
- Jay and Seth reuniting, eating at Carl’s Jr., smoking, gaming, and hearing the Backstreet Boys is proposed.
- The celebrity party is proposed for Franco's self-mockery, Mindy Kaling and Michael Cera, Jonah and Jay, Jason Segel and Kevin Hart, Craig Robinson's song, and Cera in the bathroom.
- The guests dying in rapid succession after the apocalypse begins is proposed.
- Jonah playing with the gun and the Milky Way argument are proposed.
- Danny McBride's breakfast entrance is proposed as the point when the film rises to another level.
- The homemade Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red is proposed.
- The group's conversation about Emma Watson and her armed departure is proposed, with the scene's sexual-threat humor acknowledged as potentially harder to stage later.
- Danny McBride and James Franco's escalating argument over the pornographic magazine is the leading choice.
- McBride's water outburst and expulsion are proposed as a close alternate.
- Possessed Jonah's exorcism is selected as another leading scene.
- Danny McBride returning with Channing Tatum as his gimp is proposed.
- The Backstreet Boys ending in heaven is proposed as an audacious final sequence.
Danny McBride is the funniest person of his generation
Danny McBride is declared the funniest performer of the prior fifteen years and the successor to Will Ferrell. His recurring overconfident persona is compared with Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Will Ferrell. His entrances, breakfast, ration argument, insults, and laughter at Michael Cera’s death are cited as examples. The limited-film-role, heat-check shape of his career is praised rather than treated as a weakness. Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red is identified as an apocalypse project within the film and as the prospective real sequel plot.
In the discussion (5)
- Danny McBride is declared the funniest performer of the prior fifteen years and the successor to Will Ferrell.
- His recurring overconfident persona is compared with Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Will Ferrell.
- His entrances, breakfast, ration argument, insults, and laughter at Michael Cera’s death are cited as examples.
- The limited-film-role, heat-check shape of his career is praised rather than treated as a weakness.
- Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red is identified as an apocalypse project within the film and as the prospective real sequel plot.
Danny McBride, personal dynamics, specificity, and fan service
Danny McBride is the leading answer because he repeatedly broke the other actors during filming. The David Spade theory of nonthreatening celebrity desirability is said to be validated by Mindy Kaling’s Michael Cera speech. The Jay–Seth friendship tension and their relationship with Seth’s Los Angeles friends feel rooted in real dynamics. Jonah Hill and James Franco insulting one another is praised for blurring performance and real friction. The timely Lindsay Lohan joke and Jonah identifying himself to God as being from Moneyball are praised. The enormous demon anatomy, recurring jokes about Seth, and period pop-culture references are praised for specificity. The detailed apocalypse inventory and its conversion into 127 Hours are praised. Jay Baruchel’s later account of disliking Jonah during filming is used to validate the tension onscreen. Dicks up and Scarface style are praised as compact group-decision jokes. Superbad and Pineapple Express fan service is praised for supplying reunion energy without conventional sequels. Combining a one-night party comedy with Night of the Living Dead is praised as a potent premise. Jonah's dog Aja and the video-confessional device are praised.
In the discussion (12)
- Danny McBride is the leading answer because he repeatedly broke the other actors during filming.
- The David Spade theory of nonthreatening celebrity desirability is said to be validated by Mindy Kaling’s Michael Cera speech.
- The Jay–Seth friendship tension and their relationship with Seth’s Los Angeles friends feel rooted in real dynamics.
- Jonah Hill and James Franco insulting one another is praised for blurring performance and real friction.
- The timely Lindsay Lohan joke and Jonah identifying himself to God as being from Moneyball are praised.
- The enormous demon anatomy, recurring jokes about Seth, and period pop-culture references are praised for specificity.
- The detailed apocalypse inventory and its conversion into 127 Hours are praised.
- Jay Baruchel’s later account of disliking Jonah during filming is used to validate the tension onscreen.
- Dicks up and Scarface style are praised as compact group-decision jokes.
- Superbad and Pineapple Express fan service is praised for supplying reunion energy without conventional sequels.
- Combining a one-night party comedy with Night of the Living Dead is praised as a potent premise.
- Jonah's dog Aja and the video-confessional device are praised.
Danny McBride's entrance
Danny McBride's breakfast entrance wins for its slow reveal and hand movement. Jay and Seth fleeing the convenience store amid crashes is an alternate.
In the discussion (2)
- Danny McBride's breakfast entrance wins for its slow reveal and hand movement.
- Jay and Seth fleeing the convenience store amid crashes is an alternate.
Missing post-credit scene in hell
The abandoned post-credit scene with Franco, McBride, Jonah, and Hitler smoking in hell is identified as the missing piece. The panel argues the film should return to hell after the heaven ending and include more condemned figures.
In the discussion (2)
- The abandoned post-credit scene with Franco, McBride, Jonah, and Hitler smoking in hell is identified as the missing piece.
- The panel argues the film should return to hell after the heaven ending and include more condemned figures.
Franco context, party length, 3D television, and weed culture
The party is considered five or six minutes too short, while Craig Robinson’s departure could be shortened. James Franco’s centrality and onscreen friendship with Seth Rogen are uncomfortable in light of their later estrangement and Franco’s disappearance from major films. Emma Watson’s discomfort with improvised material is discussed with Seth Rogen’s later acceptance that communication failed. 3D televisions are identified as a dated technological fad. The movie’s heavy marijuana culture is judged less funny after legalization and saturation. The proposed Hitler scene remains disputed rather than a unanimous missed opportunity.
In the discussion (6)
- The party is considered five or six minutes too short, while Craig Robinson’s departure could be shortened.
- James Franco’s centrality and onscreen friendship with Seth Rogen are uncomfortable in light of their later estrangement and Franco’s disappearance from major films.
- Emma Watson’s discomfort with improvised material is discussed with Seth Rogen’s later acceptance that communication failed.
- 3D televisions are identified as a dated technological fad.
- The movie’s heavy marijuana culture is judged less funny after legalization and saturation.
- The proposed Hitler scene remains disputed rather than a unanimous missed opportunity.
Best Apatow-adjacent movie; Danny McBride is funniest
This Is the End is argued to be the best Apatow-adjacent film, ahead of Knocked Up and Superbad. The reason given is that friendship saves the characters without forcing them into nuclear-family maturity. The film’s willingness to kill major comic actors supports its refusal of a reassuring growth arc. Danny McBride being the funniest performer of the generation is offered as a separate hottest take. His control over his own television projects is praised as the reason he avoided weaker studio vehicles.
In the discussion (5)
- This Is the End is argued to be the best Apatow-adjacent film, ahead of Knocked Up and Superbad.
- The reason given is that friendship saves the characters without forcing them into nuclear-family maturity.
- The film’s willingness to kill major comic actors supports its refusal of a reassuring growth arc.
- Danny McBride being the funniest performer of the generation is offered as a separate hottest take.
- His control over his own television projects is praised as the reason he avoided weaker studio vehicles.
No winner
No performance is judged improperly overacted; Michael Cera’s heightened performance is considered appropriate.
In the discussion (1)
- No performance is judged improperly overacted; Michael Cera’s heightened performance is considered appropriate.
Brian Huskey
Dave Krumholtz is considered but judged too recognizable. Brian Huskey, whose character appears at the door and is immediately killed, wins.
In the discussion (2)
- Dave Krumholtz is considered but judged too recognizable.
- Brian Huskey, whose character appears at the door and is immediately killed, wins.
Michael Cera
Michael Cera wins decisively for his brief, manic celebrity caricature. His willingness to play a grotesque version of himself is the basis for the choice. The category’s possible future renaming is discussed but Dion Waiters is retained.
In the discussion (3)
- Michael Cera wins decisively for his brief, manic celebrity caricature.
- His willingness to play a grotesque version of himself is the basis for the choice.
- The category’s possible future renaming is discussed but Dion Waiters is retained.
Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and movie pitches
Seth Rogen is placed at or near apex between this film and Neighbors. Jonah Hill is assigned The Wolf of Wall Street or Moneyball rather than this film. James Franco is placed near apex, with 127 Hours as an alternate. Danny McBride is accepted at apex based on Eastbound & Down and this film. Craig Robinson is placed near apex through Hot Tub Time Machine, The Office, and this film. Michael Cera is assigned Superbad and Emma Watson is assigned Harry Potter. The Backstreet Boys and comedies overall are rejected as apex cases. The film is selected as apex mountain for audacious movie pitches. The use of Melrose is praised but its convenience is questioned. Aja, textbook twatage, and Channing Tate-yum are proposed for best resource/name-style phrases.
In the discussion (10)
- Seth Rogen is placed at or near apex between this film and Neighbors.
- Jonah Hill is assigned The Wolf of Wall Street or Moneyball rather than this film.
- James Franco is placed near apex, with 127 Hours as an alternate.
- Danny McBride is accepted at apex based on Eastbound & Down and this film.
- Craig Robinson is placed near apex through Hot Tub Time Machine, The Office, and this film.
- Michael Cera is assigned Superbad and Emma Watson is assigned Harry Potter.
- The Backstreet Boys and comedies overall are rejected as apex cases.
- The film is selected as apex mountain for audacious movie pitches.
- The use of Melrose is praised but its convenience is questioned.
- Aja, textbook twatage, and Channing Tate-yum are proposed for best resource/name-style phrases.
Prestige television version
A prestige television version is considered attractive because the premise could support much more party and survival material. The movie is described as a loose spiritual sequel to Pineapple Express.
In the discussion (2)
- A prestige television version is considered attractive because the premise could support much more party and survival material.
- The movie is described as a loose spiritual sequel to Pineapple Express.
Jon Bernthal as himself
Any of the recurring replacement characters could work, but Danny McBride is judged to overpower a Wayne Jenkins insertion. Jon Bernthal arriving as himself with his dog is the favored new wrinkle.
In the discussion (2)
- Any of the recurring replacement characters could work, but Danny McBride is judged to overpower a Wayne Jenkins insertion.
- Jon Bernthal arriving as himself with his dog is the favored new wrinkle.
Danny McBride
Danny McBride wins the film’s one Oscar without dispute.
In the discussion (1)
Pornographic magazine or penis sculpture
The crusted pornographic magazine is a leading choice because it anchors a major comic scene. The giant penis sculpture is another leading choice, with a joke about repairing its severed portion. Michael Cera’s yellow windbreaker, the gun, Franco’s paintings, Channing Tatum’s collar, and the Gandalf pipe are alternatives.
In the discussion (3)
- The crusted pornographic magazine is a leading choice because it anchors a major comic scene.
- The giant penis sculpture is another leading choice, with a joke about repairing its severed portion.
- Michael Cera’s yellow windbreaker, the gun, Franco’s paintings, Channing Tatum’s collar, and the Gandalf pipe are alternatives.
Be nice to your friends and be a good person
Be nice to your friends and be a good person are selected as the central lessons. Seth refusing to honor the burnt-match draw is offered as an honest survival response.
In the discussion (2)
- Be nice to your friends and be a good person are selected as the central lessons.
- Seth refusing to honor the burnt-match draw is offered as an honest survival response.
Danny McBride
Danny McBride wins unanimously because every appearance produces a major laugh. His comic appeal is described as reaching viewers with different relationships to the film. His life near longtime collaborators in South Carolina is praised. Eastbound & Down examples illustrate the depth of the panel’s attachment to his work. His selective career and continued work with longtime collaborators are praised.
In the discussion (6)
- Danny McBride wins unanimously because every appearance produces a major laugh.
- His comic appeal is described as reaching viewers with different relationships to the film.
- His life near longtime collaborators in South Carolina is praised.
- Eastbound & Down examples illustrate the depth of the panel’s attachment to his work.
- His selective career choices and avoidance of major flops are praised, with Your Highness named as an exception.
- His comic directness is contrasted with peers increasingly seeking dramatic respectability.
Most Rewatchable Scene
