Well, it’s ambitions were certainly up there. First announced two years ago, we kind of totally forgot about “Rapturepalooza,” but Anna Kendrick and John Francis Daley had signed on for a comedy that was aiming to be something like “Zombieland” meets “The Big Lebowski.” But judging by this new trailer for the movie, the filmmakers missed the mark…and then some…
Commercial director Paul Middleditch makes his feature debut on this one, and with a reported budget under $2 million, man does it ever show. Shoddy effects aside, this looks pretty tedious all around, and as much as everyone keeps trying to push him as a leading man and/or major supporting player, we still don’t see it happening for Craig Robinson (and we love the guy). Either he hasn’t found the right material or what he’s given just doesn’t work, but his antichrist here is woefully unfunny. Meanwhile, comedy rings like Rob Corddry and Ken Jeong (who will show up for anything) barely register. And the usually magnetic Kendrick seems totally lost here. As for Daley? We miss Sam Weir.
“Rapturepalooza” goes On Demand and opens in limited release on May 10th. But if you want end of the world laffs, you might be better off waiting for “This Is The End” or “The World’s End” later this year. And hey Hollywood, after that? No more apocalypse comedies for a while, okay? [The Film Stage]