Interview: Seth Rogen

Writer, actor and comedian Seth Rogen is well on his way to becoming one of the movie biz’s biggest stars.

Having come to mainstream attention as the goofball slacker who gets Katherine Heigl pregnant in Knocked Up, as well as co-writing and starring in Superbad and Pineapple Express, this cuddly fuzzball with an infectious laugh is the poster boy for the new wave of Hollywood comedy.

A protégé of Judd Apatow, the wunderkind producer and director often said to be the architect of the so-called ‘scat pack’ phenomenon, Rogen has also been busy becoming an animation expert, having let his talk do the walking in Shrek the Third, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Horton Hears a Who! and Kung Fu Panda.

Now, Rogen has a box seat for the dawning of what may be the next generation of cinema: 3D. Not tacky red-and-blue glasses, mind you, but the mind-blowing digital immersion of Monsters vs. Aliens; the first film created in, rather than converted to, 3D.

Rogen voices Bicarbonate Ostylezene Benzoate (or B.O.B.), an indestructible mass of blue goo. As a certified ‘monster,’ B.O.B. is tucked away in a secret military facility with Dr. Cockroach, a mad insect scientist; The Missing Link, a 20,000-year-old fish-mammal; Insectosaurus, a 150-metre tall grub; and Susan, a 15-metre tall woman. The motley lot are let loose to combat an invasion led by Gallaxhar, a gawky alien who wishes to destroy Earth.

“I’d done a few other animated movies, and while I had good experiences in all of them I didn’t feel like anything I had done was exceptionally hilarious,” Rogen explains.

“So it was important to me in this one that my character had a clear joke, and when they explained B.O.B. was this indestructible, shapeless mass with no brain, I thought ‘that’s funny, I can do that!’”

A riotously funny monster mash that kids will adore, Monsters vs. Aliens also comes with a healthy dose of satirical humour to keep parents amused. Film geeks especially will get a real kick out of the many references to classic sci-fi and monster movies, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

“I love those kinds of movies – anyone who lost their virginity as old as me is very into science fiction,” Rogen says, laughing.

As the head honcho of DreamWorks Animation, Jeffrey Katzenberg is the public face of the push for 3D filmmaking. Katzenberg has been a target of minor ridicule for his outlandish statements while promoting Monsters vs. Aliens, describing 3D as the “third revolution” of cinema (after sound and colour) and boldly predicting that all movies will one day be watched in 3D. When asked for his take, Rogen is a bit more circumspect.

“There’s some declarative statements being made that I will not make, because I don’t want to look stupid in 10 years when not every movie is made in 3D,” he says cautiously.

“It would be interesting; but that being said, would Superbad be better in 3D? Probably not.”

The coming year will be another busy one for Rogen. In addition to Monsters vs. Aliens, he stars in Observe & Report and alongside Adam Sandler in Funny People (Apatow’s hotly anticipated next film). Described by Rogen as “a step in a different direction for our ragtag crew of comedians,” Funny People also features a beloved local lad by the name of Eric Bana.

“I’ve heard Eric’s been telling people all over the country that I kick a football like a girl. I’ll have to ask him about that one,” he laughs.

Looking further ahead, Rogen and writing partner Evan Goldberg are working on The Green Hornet, a reimagining of a classic radio serial about a masked vigilante and his Asian sidekick.

In addition to writing, Rogen will also produce and star in the title role. When asked about the accuracy of their adaptation to the source, Rogen is typically honest.

“The specifics of the comic are not that interesting to us,” he explains.

“Evan and I are really just using it as a way to make the superhero movie we’ve always wanted to make, and the fact that it’s called The Green Hornet is so the studio will give us enough money.”

In addition to working with idols like Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell, Rogen has his eye on the future generation of comedians, endeavouring to give up-and-comers the same support and encouragement he received while working for Judd Apatow and Sacha Baren Cohen.

“You have to be constantly aware that you are not what is always current,” he explains.

“Right now, the movies that Evan and I are making are current, but in five years maybe they won’t be.

“What you hope to do is meet the guys who will be current in five years, and learn from them.”