Here is an odd one. This film opened June 12, did well at the box office, and departed. In early September it came back. Not on DVD, Netflix or Red Box, but really back – in theaters. Since I missed the first run, here is what I found out during the re-release.
Seth Rogan co-directs and co-writes. He also co-stars. TITE is about the Hollywood elite between ages 20 and 40 showing up at James Franco’s house for a big party. Everybody is a big star. They appear under their own names. Drugs, sex, bad language and bad behavior are the rule.
Then El Poopo hits El Fanno. A 9.7 earthquake hits Los Angeles. Big sinkholes are devouring the Earth. The Hollywood hills are in flames. Smoke is everywhere. Fires are out of control. Satellite TV is gone. There is no Internet service. Cell phones go blank. Most of the big stars are sucked into a big hole in the ground. The five main stars and a couple of others are stuck inside JF’s house. There is not much water, so they do the smart thing and use up all the remaining drugs and party as long as they can. Good move.
As time passes, they realize they are in big trouble. This does not stop them from doing stupid things meant to entertain us. Most of these things involve massive violent bloodletting and stupendous stupidity. Along the way they re-enact scenes from The Exorcist, The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby and just about every film of this nature they can think of. They satirize ideas of Heaven and Hell and sit around petrified. Not of death but of not being able to reach their dealers to get more drugs. Most of the film is very claustrophobic because it takes place in a few of the rooms in the JF home.
Eventually they go outside and face up to their fate. It turns out to be a plea from Hollywood. Seth R. seems to be saying “Hey, we are big stars living the drug culture but we are really good people who should go to Heaven. Please?” Okay, Seth you can go to Heaven. Just don’t make a sequel.
Filmed for $32 million, there are some good effects and some that look a little cheesy. Due to budget cuts, they had to film in Louisiana instead of Los Angeles – LA instead of L.A., so to speak. Looked real to me.
In case you don’t make the second theatrical release, TITE will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on Oct. 1 – unless the end really happens before then. If it does, forget it and, goodbye. If the end does not happen, seeing TITE is up to you. No matter what, a new review will appear in this space next week. I hope.
Rated 2.2 out of 4.0 Apocalypse Now’s. Or later. Whatever.
