After hitting it big in the summer of 2007, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and their menagerie of raunchy actors had higher aspirations for cinematic glory than many other comic actors, namely those like Adam Sandler, who would do the same movie every year. Instead, they went after darker projects and more dramatic films (Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” and Seth Rogen in “50/50”).

However, the time has come for a reunion, the kind that on the surface holds many similarities to another Adam Sandler flick “Grown Ups” which also dealt with many famous comedians hanging and getting into various shenanigans. Instead of a breezy weekend with the guys, Seth Rogen and co. tackle something a little more intriguing; the end of the world. “This Is The End” tackles the subject with humor, scares and the kind of insanity that you’d be hard pressed to find in any other movie this year.

Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel are having a guys weekend, when Seth decides they should go to James Franco’s crazy party. While Jay feels left out, especially by Jonah Hill who Jay despises, Seth ignores him in order to hang with the fellas, like Craig Robinson and James Franco. While the two’s friendship is strained, a little event called the apocalypse occurs, sending many of their party goers to their doom and leaving only Seth, James, Craig, Jay and Jonah alive. Surviving demons, starvation and (gulp!) Emma Watson, this group will be put to the test in ways that defy mere description.

Let me just say this right up front: this movie is not for everyone. The easily offended will find it sacrilegious, those against insane violence will find it putrid, and many will find it sexist; it also makes light of drugs and has way too many inappropriate gags. All of that is true (although it’s depictions of religion and women are actually fairly positive, surprisingly so), but you know what else is true?

This movie is beyond hilarious.

In fact, this is the funniest movie I’ve seen in a theatre. My sides hurt from laughing. To boot, these characters feel so real ,the emotional moments work as well as the funny ones, even more so in some cases. This is just a superbly well made movie, one that has to be one of the funniest movies made in recent years.

First off, this cast, consisting of a cavalcade of all-star comics, doesn’t have a dud in the bunch. Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel play perfect buddies, having ups and downs but also caring for each other deep down. James Franco also does well, being a bit more of a straight man with an eccentric side, especially towards Seth Rogen. Jonah Hill also fares superbly, excelling with his many hilarious lines, plus Craig Robinson steals the whole show, and his showdown with an apocalyptic demon is impossible not to generate a cheer from even the most cynical audience member. Danny McBride, one of my favorite comedy actors before I even saw this flick, elevates my already high opinion of him with his perfect performance here, being a terrible person that you love to hate but one that has some of the movies best moments. Oh, and Michael Cera is a super good sport for allowing this depiction of himself to go forward; I’m not gonna spoil anything only to say that the way he acts in this flicks is both horrible and flat out uproarious.

I was really worried that the film’s concept of guys surviving the apocalypse wouldn’t be sufficient for a feature length flick, but it surprisingly does, mainly for the intriguing story route it takes. It’s a lot more fun to be surprised by this flick, so I’ll keep quiet, but I will note how every single twist and turn this movie takes is unpredictable and amazingly fun to watch. This film doesn’t just push boundaries, it annihilates them, in a frenzy of raunch and spectacle that decimates any semblance of good taste in it’s path, and “This Is The End” is all the better for it.

As if that weren’t enough, the movie has another surprise; a good emotional core that helps ground even the movies more crazy moments. At it’s heart, “This Is The End” is an ode to guy friends, and how much they care about one another. Like soldiers, they have each other’s backs and in this movie, such friendships are put to the test. Some (like anyone’s friendship with Danny McBride) prove to nonexistent, while others (namely Seth and Jay’s friendship) prove to be greater than they could’ve thought possible. Amidst the setting of the apocalypse, this surprisingly effective massage adds another dimension to the proceedings, boosting it to the next level of quality cinema.

I feel sorry for any other comedy that has to come out after “This Is The End”, since they’ll have such massive expectations to meet after people witness this amazing comedy. Far and away one of the best experiences I’ve had with a comedy, “This Is The End” is one of the year’s best movies so far and winds up becoming equal parts a celebration of quality friendship and a showcase for comedy that will leave you dazzled, disgusted and delighted. Simply put, this a terrific film that makes for a wonderful time at the cinema, especially the ending, which I guarantee will leave you laughing, cheering and ecstatic.