The World’s End, the third and final film in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Cornetto trilogy, might not be exactly what fans of the director and actor were expecting. The duo experimented with crossing and parodying genres (zombie and romance movies in Shaun of the Dead, cop pictures in Hot Fuzz), but while The World’s End does feature an Invasion of the Body Snatchers-like premise, it’s the most emotionally mature of the three collaborations and perhaps even the best.
The World’s End‘s story is about five middled aged friends returning back to their home town in an attempt to redo a childhood feat. Gary King (Pegg), a forty-something man child, reunites his pals Oliver (Martin Freeman), Steven (Paddy Considine), Peter (Eddie Marsan), and Andrew (Nick Frost) in an attempt to finish a pub crawl they tried to do when they were nineteen, culminating at the bar “The World’s End.” The weary gang, led by the enthusiastic and eager King, reluctantly go back to their roots, reliving the past, and meeting former townspeople they haven’t seen in years, all while drinking massive amounts of beer.
For the first half of the film, The World’s End really explores Gary’s inability to grow up. He lives in the exact same way he did back when he was nineteen, wearing the same clothes, having the same hair-cut, and even driving the same car, which dates back to 1989. All of his friends have gone their separate ways and matured. Oliver has become a real estate agent who always wears a bluetooth receiver, Steven is an architect lovesick with Oliver’s sister Sam (Rosamund Pike), Peter sells cars for his dad while trying to run his family, and Andrew is a lawyer who’s sobered up since his teenage years and carries a grudge against Gary. While Gary still lives in the past, his friends live in the present, and the center of the film relies on how Gary tries to cope with his problem. It’s often dealt with humorously, but it’s an issue that Wright takes a serious approach on.
Even in the second half, when the gang discovers that alien-robot-like hybrids have taken over the town, creating homogeneity (which the friends refer to earlier in the picture as “Starbucked”) and threatening the human race entirely, the movie’s emotional core still revolves around Gary’s child-like manner. Despite the fact that his friends’ lives are in jeopardy, Gary still insists on finishing the pub crawl, using any means possible. His friends all moan and disapprove, but due to the fact Gary has alerted everyone in town about their journey, they must trudge on to make sure no one grows suspicious of them.
Like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, The World’s End has plenty of dazzling and stunning action sequences full of Jackie Chan style moves. It’s impossible to deny Edgar Wright’s talent as a filmmaker. His blend of comedy and fighting has never been so stylistic and strong (in many scenes, Wright uses long tracking shots of the group fighting off the alien robots, getting visually impressive results). Even outside the action, the direction of The World’s End is superb. Wright commonly uses unique transition and utilizes recurring images to create more humor. It’s clear that Wright has thought through the movie and the results are very worthwhile.
But I feel the movie’s greatest strength is the movie’s message. So many of these comedies today have oafish buffoons who go through life stumbling over their shoelaces without learning a thing, shrugging off any emotional connection (the Hangover movies are a prime example of this behavior). Wright and Pegg have more respect for their characters, and The World’s End doesn’t attempt to fool audiences that Gary’s been living an idealistic life. Without giving anything away, the picture ends in such an unexpected and somewhat poignant manner I was a bit shocked and surprised.
The World’s End may not be the funniest of the trilogy (that would be Shaun of the Dead), but I consider it to be the most rewarding and thus far remains one of the biggest highlights of 2013.
I’m with you there regarding this culminating film. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found here. Still, my kids and I were still repeating dialogue after the film — always a good sign, I think. Thanks, ckckred.
By: le0pard13 on August 26, 2013
at 9:44 am
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you enjoyed it as well. I’ve got the movie on repeat in my head and feel like seeing it a second time already.
By: ckckred on August 26, 2013
at 7:02 pm
This wasn’t the best of the three, but still great in its own right. It definitely is the most heartfelt and really brings up all of the emotions that were found in Shaun and Hot Fuzz, but develops it even more. Good review.
By: CMrok93 on August 26, 2013
at 11:53 am
Thanks! Yeah, I agree with you with it being the most emotional. Shaun and Hot Fuzz might be a bit funnier but I was really impressed what Wright did with this film.
By: ckckred on August 26, 2013
at 7:01 pm
Nice review, and I’m pretty much right there with you. I loved this movie, and think it’s quite possibly the best we’ve seen from Edgar Wright yet. 🙂
By: Chris on August 26, 2013
at 1:55 pm
Thanks! Yeah, Edgar Wright always seems to deliver hits. I’m looking forward to his Ant-Man picture.
By: ckckred on August 26, 2013
at 7:00 pm
Great review man. Looking forward to seeing this, might have to make a day of it with the first two. Great to hear you think it’s the best.
By: Gene on August 26, 2013
at 4:08 pm
Thanks! I think Shaun is the funniest, but The World’s End is the strongest from a directorial standpoint. I really loved how Wright stylized the film.
By: ckckred on August 26, 2013
at 7:00 pm
Glad to see you enjoyed it. As you say; it’s not up to Shaun’s high standards, but it’s still got plenty of laughs.
By: Three Rows Back on August 26, 2013
at 5:31 pm
Thanks! I think Shaun’s still the funniest of the three (I’ll be watching it again tonight), but I really enjoyed this as well. I hope Wright and Pegg will make another film together.
By: ckckred on August 26, 2013
at 6:59 pm
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
By: Buddy2Blogger on August 26, 2013
at 7:45 pm
Hmmm, I must be the only one who didn’t think highly of this one. I mean there were some funny parts and I really think this is the weakest film of the Cornetto trilogy by far.
By: ruth on August 26, 2013
at 9:29 pm
Thanks for the comment. I know a few others who didn’t like it much as well, but I really appreciated the tone. I think Shaun’s a bit funnier, but I liked what Wright did.
By: ckckred on August 27, 2013
at 12:33 pm
Even the worst of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy is still pretty great. I enjoyed this.
By: Mark Hobin on August 29, 2013
at 2:22 am
Thanks for the comment. I think this might not be the funniest but I think it’s the strongest in terms of direction and screenwriting.
By: ckckred on August 30, 2013
at 7:11 am
Good review. My favourite is Hot Fuzz, but i agree with many of your points on this film. Keep it up
By: filmingyouin14 on August 31, 2013
at 10:51 am
Thanks! I think Hot Fuzz is pretty great as well. I think Shaun’s the funniest, but I love pretty much all of Edgar Wright’s work.
By: ckckred on September 1, 2013
at 9:51 am
Definitely with you on that. We would love for you to check out our film review site for movie enthusiasts.
By: filmingyouin14 on September 1, 2013
at 9:57 am
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at 7:01 am