SONY on Wednesday released online “The Interview,” the movie that has outraged North Korea for lampooning Kim Jong Un, giving an early Christmas present to U.S. viewers.

    The madcap, irreverent R-rated comedy was available for rent in the United States from 6 p.m. GMT on several platforms, a day before a limited release in about 200 cinemas on Christmas Day.

    It was being distributed on Google’s YouTube for a US$5.99 rental fee, on the Google Play app for Android devices and on a dedicated website.

    A bawdy, expletive-laden tale full of sexual innuendos and scatological humor, the film’s future had been in doubt after Sony said it was canceling the release after an embarrassing cyber-attack on its corporate network and threats against moviegoers.

    The United States has blamed the hack attack on North Korea, and U.S. President Barack Obama has threatened reprisals. But Sony also came under fire from Obama and free speech advocates for pulling the film, and the studio quickly performed an about-face.

    Starring American comic actors Seth Rogen and James Franco, the film is a silly, low-brow romp about a CIA plot to assassinate Kim.

    Almost two hours long, the film depicts how girl-chasing, hard-partying, always fashionable tabloid TV presenter Dave Skylark (Franco) and his bro-mance producer (Rogen) score an exclusive interview with the leader of the world’s most reclusive state.(SD-Agencies)