With all of the zombie and end-of-the-world themed films released over the past couple of years, moviegoers will be treated to yet another apocalyptic film this week called “This Is the End.” Unlike the other films, viewers won’t likely be sitting on the edge of their seats in horror since this movie is a comedy made by funny guys Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson and Jay Baruchel.

In “This Is the End,” all of the actors play fictional versions of themselves.  In addition to the actors listed above, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Mindy Kaling show up in this film.  The movie takes place in apocalyptic Los Angeles where we find Rogen, Robinson, Baruchel and Hill hiding out in Franco’s apartment.  Cabin fever eats at the guys and eventually they have to leave the apartment to find supplies and run into other actors and the monster that is ravaging L.A.  The guys struggle to survive and maintain their friendships in the midst of the chaos.

During an interview with USA Today, Rogen and Baruchel dished on details of the film and how they came up with each character’s persona.  According to Baruchel, they worked by taking “the funniest/lamest (things) about each of us, and then magnifying that exponentially to a comedic extent.”

The other actors were allowed to contribute to their character somewhat, but a lot of them requested changes after seeing the direction Rogen was taking their characters.  Some of the actors were concerned that people would take how they are portrayed in the film seriously since they are using their real names.  For example, Hill is portrayed as pretentious because of the Oscar nomination he received for “Moneyball” and Cera is depicted as a sex fiend.  Rogen said that everyone wanted changes but Franco.

“I’m so unconcerned with that kind of thing,” Franco said. “Of course there’s a bit of me in a role that I do. But…thinking that I’m a big pothead because I did “Pineapple Express” or thinking that I’m gay because I did “Milk” — I think it’s a mild form of insanity to believe that those are who I am, when I’m obviously playing characters.”

The film has already received a lot of positive reviews.  Richard Roeper said that the film is, “one of the most tasteless, ridiculous and hilarious comedies of the 21st century.”  It’s hard to imagine a world–even an apocalyptic one–that isn’t hilarious when you put Rogen, Hill and Franco together.