The film “The Interview,” overall, predictably follows the formulaic stylings of Director-Actor Seth Rogen, whose projects are always irreverent and coarse, with several expected and gratuitous scenes that left this reviewer thinking, “Why?” 

The controversial film reportedly resulted in the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a cyber-attack that experts predict could end up costing the media-giant millions of dollars. It was only screened in Asheville Jan. 9-16 at the independent Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. on Merrimon Avenue.

In “The Interview,” Seth Rogen plays Aaron Rapaport, producer of a popular infotainment television show, starring over-the top-moronic host Dave Skylark, played by James Franco. 

After running into an old college mate whose found success producing for the highly regarded “60 Minutes,” Rapaport is forced to re-examine the direction of his own career in news, and decides he wants more.  

Simultaneously, North Korea has just bombed an uninhabited South Pacific island, spurring panic in the West that a nuclear conflict may be imminent.  

When Skylark discovers that Kim Jong Un is his biggest super-fan, he proposes to Rapaport that they go snag an interview with the elusive dictator in order to gain the credibility that his best friend is struggling to achieve.   

When the CIA discovers their intentions, they decide to enlist the duo to help the U.S. government assassinate Kim Jong Un.  

In the first act of the movie, it’s truly hard to decide what’s worse: Franco’s attempts at acting, or the cheap dialogue that consistently falls flat as the writers clumsily move the ridiculous plot forward to the main events.  

The cinematography, lighting and set design are quite skillfully worked.  

Indeed, a montage of Rapaport traveling to China to meet Kim Jong Un’s representatives is downright masterfully shot, even evoking a sense that there may be some depth here. 

Certainly, the greatest success of the film is Skylark’s bizarre fraternization with Kim Jong Un; a satirical portrayal of The Decider that makes a mockery out of the man whose portrait, in the actual North Korea resides, by law, in every home, on every street corner and on every subway train and platform.  

Kim Jong Un is played by the talented Randall Park, whose outstanding performance truly saves the film, as he carries Franco through the funniest dialogue of the movie.  

Diana Bang, who plays a close aide to the dictator and love interest to Rapaport, also contributes a fresh performance — and notably wields a machine gun with enough aplomb to please The Godfather himself.  

Lizzy Caplan also co-stars, her sharp wit wasted in an under-written role.  

For all it’s shortcomings, Rogen’s latest volume in this line of stoner-humor genre is at least entertaining, and in an unforeseen real-life twist, it’s limited release sparked some important dialogue regarding freedom of expression. 

But by now, the theatrical reviews are in on this most controversial film of the year, and the overwhelming majority opinion is a resounding: “Meh.”

This reviewer’s conclusion: I didn’t hate it.