KPIX 5's Mike Sugerman Recruits Moviegoers To Screen 'The Interview'
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) – At first, "The Interview" wasn't going to be shown anywhere, after threats of violence from North Korean hackers. But an about face by Sony Pictures has led the movie to be available just about everywhere, in theaters and online.
Seth Rogen, who stars in the movie with James Franco, sent out this tweet after Sony made the announcement.
So we did.
With the lure of free popcorn, KPIX 5's Mike Sugerman recruited about a dozen people to watch "The Interview" in our newsroom, arguably one of the most controversial movies of all-time.
We asked our guests, some of the first ever to screen the film, to review it. When we asked them if they liked it, most of them raised their hands.
"It's hard to make me laugh, I think, and I got a few good laughs," said Renuka Nayak.
Earl Thibodeau had a different view. "I wouldn't say I didn't laugh, but as far as would I have paid to go see it? No."
And as for the controversy surrounding the movie and its makers, Carl Riccitelli said, "North Korea should lighten up. They should have watched the movie before they did all the nasties that they did, if they did it."
Peter Nester said, "I can definitely see why North Korea did not want this movie to be released."
Sugerman said he liked the film. "It's no Airplane or Annie Hall, but it's funny," he said. "Drags a bit in the middle, and is really gross and juvenile, but what do you expect of Seth Rogen?"
