Somehow, I found myself at my second movie premiere in a month. This time it was for Observe and Report, starring none other than my hero, Seth Rogen. The screening took place at the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, a place swarming with off-brand superheroes, one saggy-suited Spiderman, and a surprisingly authentic-looking Heath Ledger-style Joker.

After an hour in the blazing sun (in what might be the smelliest line I’ve ever endured), we reached the front just in time to see Seth Rogen step out of his limo. I was only 50 or 60 feet away and barely managed to hold it together.

Inside the enormous theater, we grabbed our free popcorn and soda and made our way to our seats, just two rows from the massive screen. I took a moment to apologize to my neck in advance. Then I turned around, and there he was. Seth Rogen. Just 15 rows behind me. Squeal!

The movie began. And let me tell you, the rumors about this being a major shift for Rogen were absolutely true. His portrayal of Ronnie, a mall security guard with a fractured sense of reality and a heavy emotional weight, felt like a role better suited for someone like Danny McBride: hugely talented, if lesser known, and already fluent in tragicomic rage.

Written and directed by Jody Hill (of Eastbound and Down and The Foot Fist Way fame), this film definitely won’t sit easily with Rogen’s mainstream fanbase. It’s darker, weirder, and far more unsettling than you’d expect.

There are a few standouts: Michael Peña adds levity as Ronnie’s unpredictable partner. Anna Faris turns in a killer performance as the disinterested object of Ronnie’s misguided affections. And Ray Liotta, ever the authority figure, tries to keep pace with Rogen’s spiraling character, though Ronnie’s violent inner world may be too much for even a seasoned cop movie veteran.

There’s a lot of darkness here overall. If The Foot Fist Way worked for you, Observe and Report might be its spiritual cousin, just meaner. It’s a divisive movie, and there’s no comfortable middle ground. You’ll either love it or hate it. Personally, I genuinely enjoyed it. And just for the record, this ain’t nothing like Paul Blart.

After this delightfully dark comedy ended, we began making our way to the exit. On our way out, we passed Seth Rogen, who was chatting with his crew. The ushers kept the line moving, but my friend pulled us back in hopes of catching a better glimpse of Rogen. That’s when Danny McBride came into view and my brain short-circuited.

I love Rogen, but McBride has quietly and consistently stolen my heart, from his unforgettable turn as Red in Pineapple Express to The Foot Fist Way and, of course, the legendary Kenny Powers in Eastbound & Down. Just as I was trying to keep it together, the ushers swooped in again and shuffled us into the lobby.

We lingered long enough to see Aziz Ansari, who nailed a couple of hilarious moments in the film, walk by with a fellow Human Giant cast member. Seth, with his girlfriend by his side, passed right in front of me. I froze. Completely. They were in their limo before I even realized what had happened.

Then the miracle of miracles happened. My friend spotted Danny McBride leaving the theater and we hung back, hoping for a moment with him. I called out his name, but immediately lost my nerve and scurried in the opposite direction. Thankfully, my friend pulled me back just in time as McBride had stopped to take pictures and sign autographs with fans.

I waited patiently, and when he began to walk away, I approached and asked for a photo. He kindly obliged. We chatted briefly (I embarrassingly tried to quote Kenny Powers’ lines to him) and he shook my hand before disappearing into the night with his group. I was left completely stunned.

But the night wasn’t over. As we headed toward the elevator to retrieve our car, we found ourselves sharing the ride with Rogen’s parents and family. I only recognized them because they’d appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that week.

We chatted casually about the chaos of premiere-night parking and even shared a few laughs with Seth’s dad. I was in disbelief. We exited the elevator and returned to real life.

Huge thanks to my friend (and neighbor) for pushing me into this unforgettable night and thank you to Danny McBride for making my year.