By paNOW Staff

The Interview premieres in Saskatoon

Jan 3, 2015 | 7:42 AM

In the middle of international controversy and terror threats – The Interview premiered in Saskatoon at the Roxy Theatre Friday. 

“Because the bigger chains in Saskatoon weren’t releasing this movie we thought this would be a good chance for us,” theatre assistant manager Callen Diederichs said. 

The Interview, originally released online on Christmas Day, tells the tale of a journalist setting up an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un which then turns into an attempt on his life. 

An alleged hack of Sony Pictures and terror threats from North Korea prompted the film studio and movie theatres across North America to pull the film from theatres. But those allegations didn’t deter The Roxy.

“Because we don’t know where the hacks came from I think it’s a good idea not to give into any censorship and this would be a dangerous precedent for theatres to have an outside force dictating what movies we can play,” Diederichs said.

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Diederichs added when the news hit that theatres were avoiding The Interview, they joked that they should show it, and that joke turned into reality on Jan. 2 when the film premiered as a matinee. 

And while only 12 people braved the cold and the snow – reviews were mixed. 

“I don’t like stupid humour it was over-hyped,” one man said. “I understand why Kim Jong-Un is pissed about it though.”

“It’s more offensive than usual, it’s just ridiculous the whole thing is ridiculous,” said another viewer. “It’s funny in an offensive manner. I think you laugh because you’re embarrassed for them, it’s so ridiculous.”

Other viewers were big Seth Rogen and James Franco fans, but even they felt the movie fell well short of being great. 

“I’ve seen better from those two — the ending was a little abrupt. Even for it being a stupid comedy I thought the jokes were a little to racist and a little too sexist,” said one fan. “It was okay but it could have been a lot better.”

The Interview is playing at the Roxy Theatre until Jan. 8.

-With files from News Talk’s Bryn Levy and Francois Biber

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow