The Interview (2014)

James Franco mugs through The Interview like a TV host who thinks the teleprompter is a mirror, and the movie runs on that one note for 112 minutes. Seth Rogen plays his producer, the guy who wants to do real journalism, and he spends most of the movie reacting to Franco with the face of someone who has lost control of everything. Their friendship is the best part. The jokes, though, keep circling the same few ideas until they’re worn smooth, and the middle stretch wanders. Lizzy Caplan has a CIA part that’s mostly giving instructions and sighing, and she makes the most of every sigh. Randall Park gives the sharpest performance in the film, with comic timing that keeps catching the leads off guard. Critics landed at 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels about right. A 5.1 because the leads are fun and the movie keeps repeating itself. $536 says you open your next work meeting like a late-night talk show host and nobody claps.

What works: Seth Rogen and James Franco have easy chemistry as best friends in over their heads, and Randall Park’s timing is excellent.

What doesn’t: The jokes repeat until they wear out, and at 112 minutes the whole thing needed a much tighter edit.

Who it’s for: Grown-up fans of Rogen and Franco’s goofy buddy comedies who don’t mind the same joke a few extra times.