The Interview

The Interview's release is unique in irking North Korea as well as agitating the FBI and America's President. But what of the film itself? Real-life friends Seth Rogen and James Franco play a TV news producer and a sleazy celebrity TV presenter, who plan an interview with Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) as a ratings booster. Unexpectedly, Kim is a huge fan of Franco's show, and the two bond. However, American security forces coerce the duo into attempting to assassinate the North Korean leader with a poison handshake. There are some smart jabs lurking in the loose script and The Interview is striking as a piece of filmic design. As a spoof on popular culture and politics, it's naughty, dumb and patchily funny. And while Franco chews the scenery, Rogen and Park display excellent comic timing.