Cert 15
112 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong sex referencs, very strong language, bloody violence
For the last couple of months there has been a 'will-they?', 'won't they?' saga surrounding Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's The Interview.
It has even been suggested that those who dared to see it were at risk of terrorist attack from North Korean sympathisers.
At first Sony appeared to take these so seriously it was withdrawn from release at US cinemas.
Then, it was decided that internet audiences could be allowed access and, thereafter, it was finally brought to the big screen.
The cynics among us might suggest that all of the above had just been an elaborate publicity ruse, created because of the studio's lack of faith in its product.
When one sees leaked emails from senior staff describing the film as another Rogen/James Franco 'misfire', this theory becomes believable.
There have been suggestions that Sony has made cuts to The Interview to prevent causing offence to North Koreans.
If that is the case, it is impossible to see where.
The movie portrays their leader, Kim Jong-un as a drug-taking, Katy Perry-loving sex addict who doesn't mind killing his own citizens.
I am wondering which the North Koreans might find most offensive.
Randall Park plays the North Korean leader who invites American chat show host Dave Skylark (Franco) to his home for a live interview.
He hopes he can persuade the intellectually challenged Skylark that the world has got it wrong in its reporting of the secretive dictatorship.
Meanwhile, Rogen plays Skylark's producer who sees the interview has his big chance for some serious journalism.
Along the way, the pair get into a series of scrapes, a couple of which are actually quite funny but most which aren't.
In fact, the problem with The Interview is that it misses the mark way too often. The gags keep on coming but few can even raise a smile.
At the same time, Rogen and Franco do the drug-fuelled double act which is becoming tedious.
Was it worthy of the controversy? Nope.
Sony Pictures UK chief executive Peter Taylor in a leaked email: "The unanimous point of view here is that this (is) another misfire from the pairing (Seth Rogen and James Franco).
Laughs: three
Jumps: none
Vomit: yes
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 4/10