Rapture-Palooza

Rapture-Palooza follows young couple Ben (John Francis Daley) and Lindsey (Anna Kendrick) as they’re forced to adapt to a post-rapture existence, with problems ensuing as no less than the Antichrist (Craig Robinson’s The Beast) decides to make Lindsey his bride. Despite its similarities to 2013’s lackluster This is the End – complete with a starring turn from Robinson – Rapture-Palooza initially establishes itself as a very different (and far more promising) monster than its big-budget companion. Filmmaker Paul Middleditch, along with scripter Chris Matheson, does an effective job of establishing the parameters of the movie’s unusual universe as well as the oddball characters that reside inside it, with, in terms of the latter, the frequently hilarious depiction of Lindsey’s parents (John Michael Higgins’ Mr. Lewis and Ana Gasteyer’s Mrs. Lewis) certainly ranking as an early highlight within the proceedings. The decidedly one-note bent of Matheson’s screenplay does, however, become more and more problematic as time progresses, as Rapture-palooza, past a certain point, becomes entirely focused on Robinson’s obnoxious character and his continuing (and far-from-funny) efforts at bedding Lindsey. Robinson’s grating performance becomes increasingly difficult to stomach and ensures that one’s interest slowly-but-surely begins to diminish, with the wholly ineffective third act, which is devoted entirely to the protagonists’ attempts at vanquishing The Beast, suffering from a palpably interminable feel that cements Rapture-palooza‘s status as a thoroughly misguided comedy.

** out of ****