A Review of “The Interview” by a Wholly Skeptical Viewer
Wasting my life.
Let me begin by saying that I was really, truly, irrevocably bored Tuesday night. Let me follow that up with a strong disclaimer that this movie is chock-full of classic “toilet humor”. You know, the stuff that’s so crappy it’s funny?
What is wholly impressive about this film was how accurately Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the writers and producers of the film, portrayed the “cult of personality” that Kim Jong-un effectively uses to coerce and control his population. North Koreans revere their leader as a god, savoring every word he says, believing that his prowess is incomparable, insurmountable, incredible. In the few documentaries made and released by various lucky news stations, the regard North Korean citizens hold for the Kim family is horrifying. The nation also continuously puts on a façade to its rare visitors, showcasing well-stocked groceries, clean streets, elaborate festivals, and well-fed people. The film made a big effort to exemplify these rituals; they also demonstrated the unwavering loyalty (though it may be fear) of the North Korean people to Kim. In one particularly gruesome scene, Kim Jong-un mourns the death of two key personnel. His reaction triggers immediate, over-the-top distress from the surrounding group. Nailed it.
Things the film didn’t quite nail on the head: Kim Jong-un is not nearly that good looking, nor does he have such a strong affinity for Katy Perry. The ridicule of the leader, though intended in good fun, actually delegitimizes just how powerful the guy is. Let’s be real. Kim Jong-un has millions of people at his literal disposal. He has nuclear weapons and the smarts to maintain a state of fear. If he were as crazy as the media and this film make him out to be, he wouldn’t still be around. To control an entire nation, regardless of how small it is, is an impressive and fearsome feat.
On the other hand, “The Interview” does represent how ruthless Kim Jong-un can be. During a key scene of the film, Kim reveals the cruel nature of governance he inherited from his father and grandfather, reasserting the degree of calamity he is more than willing to cause. Even Dave Skylark, James Franco’s idiot character, can see through the manipulative facade that Kim so effortlessly put on and understand the terribleness of the ruler.
Beyond the typical male-driven humor, the film is not an outstanding comedic masterpiece nor does it make long-lasting commentary on the devastating natures of dictatorships. What the film does absolutely achieve masterfully is the ridicule of American media. James Franco captures the essence of a typical idiot pretty-boy broadcaster who capitalizes on the idiocy of his viewing demographic. There are many jabs towards the methodology of American media, including the sensationalization of both the magnificent and mediocre.
“The Interview” was not worth all the hype. Simple as that. Hopefully, as with many things, the sensationalization of the dystopian hell the North Koreans currently suffer will give way to influential documentaries and efforts to alleviate their struggles. Unfortunately, ridicule and sub-par humor is much more profitable than the truth. Ever wonder what the rest of the world was doing while dystopian communities suffered in books like Lois Lowry’s The Giver or Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games? Making bank.